The day started with a visit to St. Andrews Bay – the largest king penguin colony in South Georgia. There are 150,000 nesting pairs of king penguins as well as nesting gentoo penguins, Antarctic fur seals, elephant seals, and a whole host of predatory birds. To their delight, guests came ashore to meet the fur seals and penguins for the first time. After a delicious lunch, the ship repositioned to the beautiful Drygalski Fjord, where guests viewed Larsen Harbour and Drygalski Fjord with their rich birdlife and amazing, unique geology.
3/8/2023
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National Geographic Explorer
At Sea
We approached the Beagle Channel on our final day on board National Geographic Explorer . The winds had calmed, and the sun was shining. This resulted in the perfect opportunity to spot sei whales, which are often found in the waters of the Beagle Channel. Naturalist Sophie Van Der Hart provided us with the first lecture of the day, sharing insights about the evolution of whales. We learned how whales truly became the giants of our oceans. After lunch, climate change in the Antarctic was the topic for discussion. Naturalist Zac Brown guided us through the impacts this pristine environment is facing due to a rapidly changing climate and the things we can do to help. The afternoon’s activities came to a close with a delightful tea prepared by the hotel team. The captain’s farewell cocktail party gave us the chance to reflect on the expedition with a premiere of the guest slideshow. We celebrated a fantastic exploration of the Southern Ocean as the photos in the slideshow reminded us of the amazing wildlife and scenery we have witnessed along the way. Cheers!
