Revisit some of the most magical moments that guests experienced in 2024 aboard the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet in the wildest corners of the world.
This week's post includes photos of three different Antarctic penguin species, as well as two additional penguin species in the Galapagos Islands and Australia's Macquarie Island.
The last day of activities on our expedition was at the picturesque Santa Ana Island in the Solomon Islands. The shoreline of this small tropical island was lined with dense rainforest and coconut trees right up to the beach. Surrounding the Island was a vibrant fringing reef with a spectacular variety of healthy corals. We were greeted at the beach landing by the traditional Melanesian warrior welcome, and once ashore we had time to peruse the various local crafts and wooden carvings for sale. Once we were all gathered, we watched the special performance from the local community that represents the historical migration of the different groups of people who visited these islands. After the performances and music, we all had time to explore and head out for different activities, including bird watching, hiking, and snorkeling.
We had a beautiful day in the turquoise waters off Espiritu Santos. Some people kayaked and explored a mangrove forest while others did a challenging boulder hike to a gorgeous view. We saw a rare oarfish and mobula rays before deciding to don our snorkels and fins to go for a swim. Those not keen on getting in the water went for a Zodiac cruise. It was a wonderful day of exploration!
The day began at Buccaneer Cove, a place steeped in history, where choppy waters did not prevent us from enjoying a magical sunrise by kayak. As we paddled, we were surrounded by impressive volcanic formations emerging from the sea, vestiges of a past marked by pirates and explorers. In the afternoon at Puerto Egas, we walked along the coast where we observed sea lions resting, Sally Lightfoot crabs, and land iguanas. The highlight of the outing was when a female sea lion gave birth to a pup, which quickly attracted three Galapagos hawks, who fed on the placenta. In a protective act, the mother sea lion moved the baby to an improvised shelter to protect it from predators. This sighting was a vivid reminder of the delicate ecological balance of the Galapagos, where hawks, as top predators, and sea lions, with their protective instinct, play crucial roles in the survival and adaptation of species.
It was a whale of a day! The total lack of wind created a flat sea surface illuminated by partly sunny skies with a touch of fog, perfect conditions for kayaking and Zodiac cruising. Kayakers paddled among icebergs and/or just sat and enjoyed the vistas. The occasional humpback surfaced, sometimes unexpectedly near a kayak, providing an exciting exclamation point. Zodiac cruisers ventured farther from National Geographic Explorer and encountered 20-25 humpbacks scattered over a wide area. Many were lunge feeding - rising slowly from the depths with hundreds of gallons of water and krill in their large mouths which then was filtered through their baleen to retain the krill. As the whole process can be a bit messy, dozens of fulmars darted about the feeding whales to snatch leftovers. After getting out of the kayaks and Zodiacs, we prepared for the Polar Plunge. Nearly everyone chose to fully immerse themselves (albeit for a few seconds) into the truly frigid Antarctic waters for the thrill, the shock, and the coveted patch verifying the plunge. After lunch, we cruised via ship the scenic Gerlache Strait, and during recap, orcas were spotted! Watching the pod of 8-10 individuals provided a fitting cap to this whale of a day!
We commenced our day with an early morning snorkel on a beautiful island reef. Small groups of guests moved with the gentle current on the edge of the drop-off. The marine life was abundant and diverse. After breakfast, and when the tropical storm passed, we all crossed on a Zodiac from National Geographic Orion to the small village of Utupua where we were greeted by enthusiastic locals. A group of ‘warriors’, young and old, ran at each Zodiac in an exhilarating and light-hearted display. Everyone was thrilled with the show. We were treated to a welcome song and cultural dance, then we presented educational material to the chief and village teacher. An exploration of the village followed where we got to know the people, their lifestyle, and made new friends.
