A visit to South Georgia provides incredibly beautiful sceneries and an overwhelming amount of wildlife. On this first day of exploring the wonders of this island we certainly got a convincing proof! The first wake-up call sounded at 04:45, and quite a few guests took the opportunity to get ashore before sunrise. We were at Gold Harbour, one of South Georgia´s most spectacular landing spots. Gold Harbour is formed like an amphitheater, with a wide, flat beach, framed by lush slopes and steep rocks with a glacier on top. The beach is home to a colony of king penguins as well as fur seals and elephant seals. Those who got up at normal wake-up time were shuttled to the beach just after breakfast and spent the whole morning ashore.
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!