There are a few days in our lives that may stand out as truly memorable, and one’s first time landing ashore at South Georgia might certainly be one of them. It may sound dramatic, but it really is hard to forget the first time you lay eyes on a colony of 73,000 pairs (or even 21,000) of king penguins – and these aren’t even the largest colonies! Spending the day at Right Whale Bay and Salisbury Plain, we were spoiled with phenomenal wildlife that competed with the even more spectacular scenery. An exciting diversity of weather conditions kept us on our toes throughout the day and reminded us of where we were in the world, and it certainly helped us appreciate the animals that call this island home. In between our landings, we were treated to excellent views of several albatross species as we cruised along the South Georgia coastline. Today was a day that left us feeling like we’d smashed it out of the park already, but we are up for the challenge to see how it can get even better in the upcoming days.
3/13/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea Towards the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia
A gently swaying National Geographic Endurance greeted the day. The wind and waves that our guests had become accustomed to during this voyage were nowhere in sight. Instead, a light breeze and calm seas lifted our spirits as we prepared for our final day on the ship. Sei whales, albatross, and dolphins welcomed us into the Beagle Channel before long. In between packing and reclaiming our passports, several presentations were given with a wide range of topics. First up, our undersea team shared footage from several dives in the Falklands, including a notable visit from some rather playful southern sea lions. Secondly, our National Geographic photographer spoke about photography and how it can be used to inspire conversation about wild places. Wrapping up our presentations for the day was our guest speaker, Mensun Bound, who provided a loose Q&A session on Shackleton. Captain Oliver and Expedition Leader Russ shared a few words about our epic voyage and sent us off to dinner. A day full of education and sightseeing – a great way to say farewell to our incredible guests.