We have arrived at South Georgia! The “Serengeti of the Southern Ocean,” South Georgia is one of the world’s most majestic and awe-inspiring places. After a very gentle night at sea, we caught our first glimpse of the island from across the breakfast table. After the morning’s navigation and a talk from our naturalist Sheri about her experience living on South Georgia, we arrived at the sight of our afternoon operation. Salisbury Plain is the home of over 60,000 king penguin pairs, and countless southern elephant seals, sub-Antarctic fur seals, giant petrels, skuas, snowy sheathbills, pipits, and on and on. We walked dumbstruck among the animals, wondering if it was real or just a Halloween trick. What a marvelous introduction to an incredibly special place.
3/12/2025
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea towards Ushuaia
It was a day for reflection. Our journey was coming to an end as we left the Falklands behind and National Geographic Endurance steamed towards South America and Ushuaia. The seas were kind to us, and despite low winds, we had black-browed albatross, among other birds, around us. In the morning, we listened to the naturalists onboard as they presented on different subjects in the ice lounge. Land-ho! Mid-morning we had land in sight, South America was appearing on the horizon. Upon entering the Beagle Channel, we saw possibly a hundred sei whales. While the seabirds were waiting for the wind on the surface, the whales were feeding a short distance from the ship. As our vessel waited for the pilot to arrive, we could still see whale blows in the distance. We enjoyed a teatime extravaganza with Chef Sara and her team. Cheese and wine brought most of the ship’s inhabitants to deck 8, and while sipping wine we watched sea lions, dolphins, and stunning views of Tierra del Fuego go by until it was time for Captain Aaron’s farewell toast. As much as we are reflecting on our expedition today, it has also been a day of celebration! It has been an incredible journey of many miles, great people, and wonderful experiences. Thank you all!
