I’ve been to South Georgia twice before, but I never made a pre-dawn landing at a king penguin colony. I was delighted when we made a 4:30 AM landing on the beach at Gold Harbour this morning. It was quite an experience to watch as day broke while noticing the sounds and smells of elephant seals and penguins. We returned to the ship for breakfast before making a second landing that included a long hike. We climbed through tussock grass and made our way above the colony and onto the ridgeline. We enjoyed spectacular views of the ship in the bay. Take a look at our photos to see images that tell the story of this spectacular location.
11/29/2022
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea
National Geographic Endurance set sail from the western edge of the Falkland Islands late last evening, and we enjoyed a relaxing day at sea. Guests were treated to smooth seas with plenty of albatrosses soaring about the vessel. The morning was full of educational opportunities. The undersea team shared photos collected while exploring the diverse underwater environments that the Falkland Islands provide. Next came a presentation by marine biologist Connor Ryan who spoke about the dynamics of how plankton and seabirds dictate the ecological rhythms of the upper layer of the ocean. Such a trip as we have had is certainly hard to summarize. Over the past three weeks, we visited some of the most spectacular and densely populated wildlife regions on our planet. Today was a day of reflection, photo editing, fine food, and contemplation of all that has occurred.
