After getting our first glances of the East Falklands last night, we awoke in the west after navigating north of the islands through the night. On approaching Saunders, we were briefly accompanied by Peale’s dolphins, and distant sei whale blows were also seen. We spent the morning around the settlement, getting insights into farm life with shepherding and shearing demonstrations from expedition leader, Russ Evans. This culminated with a barbecue on land, where we were joined by many of the crew and the island’s dogs. We spent the afternoon exploring more of Saunders’ wildlife with a hike past gentoo and Magellanic penguins up to nesting black-browed albatrosses and rockhopper penguins.
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.