With this phrase from Sir Ernest Shackleton, I set off from Ushuaia to Falklands, South Georgia, Elephant Island, Orkney island, Antarctica and the South Shetland Islands. An expedition to the little-visited far south of our planet,the seventh continent.
FALKLAND ISLANDS
After two days of rough seas I reach the Falkland Islands.
A wonderful first introduction to the exuberant fauna and flora. I see my first penguins,rock hoppers,one of the eight species I’ll see. I visit a‘White browed albatross’colony with thousands of birds, on cliffs that provide the necessary thermals.
Stanley, the capital, is the last place I can still shop. Nice is different but interesting to have a beer in one of the pubs. It feels “British.”
Next days at sea we will be chased by wandering albatrosses, petrels and whales. I spot orcas but too far away to get them on camera.
After two days at sea we pass‘Shag rock’ a breeding ground for ‘ blue eyedshags‘, a warm-up for South Georgia.
SOUTH GEORGIA
Wow, next morning, with beautiful weather, I’m ready to discover the unknown.
South Georgia
is home to the greatest intensity of wildlife on the planet. You have to see this once in your life, experience it. The next few days we will make three different landings in different places.
We visit Grytviken, with church and 18 inhabitants and as icing on the cake: fighting sea elephants in the small harbour. The story of Shackleton runs like a thread through my journey.
He arrived in Grytviken after a rough trip across the island from ‘Elephant Island’,where he had to leave behind 22 crew members. He saved them 45 days later.
South Georgia
is home to the greatest intensity of wildlife on the planet. You have to see this once in your life, experience it. The next few days we will make three different landings in different places.
We visit Grytviken, with church and 18 inhabitants and as icing on the cake: fighting sea elephants in the small harbour. The story of Shackleton runs like a thread through my journey.
He arrived in Grytviken after a rough trip across the island from ‘Elephant Island’,where he had to leave behind 22 crew members. He saved them 45 days later.
ANTARCTICA – THE SEVENTH CONTINENT
Through Elephant Island, where I had a lot of snowfall, to Antarctica.
The seventh continent, beautiful weather. Our last day on the Peninsula maneuvering between ice floes, colossal icebergs we spot various seals, (crab seal and weddell seal) and of course the iconic ‘leopard seal’,indeed resembles a snake. Adelai, chinstrap and gentoo penguin in his tens of thousands, everywhere I see penguins. Skuas and petrels are always present to steal an unattended egg or chick. Sheatbills walk like white chickens through the colonies.
When the anchor lights up, “orcas!” blared through the speakers. A range of “oeh…” and “ah…” as a result. This is so indescribable. My pictures speak for themselves.
THE DRAKE PASSAGE – POLAR PLUNGE
The
‘drake passage’
known for its high waves, but fortunately not at my crossing, is the last obstacle before I see the green mountains of ‘Terra del Fuego’ (Fireland – Argentina, ed.) in the distance.
‘drake passage’
known for its high waves, but fortunately not at my crossing, is the last obstacle before I see the green mountains of ‘Terra del Fuego’ (Fireland – Argentina, ed.) in the distance.
I can recommend any traveler to set foot on Antarctica at least once in his life. Scenery, animal life and the ease of taking beautiful photos. They have no fear of us and that is truly indescribable. And don’t forget the‘polar plunge’,dive into Antarctic water of 0.00 degrees!
But in terms of experience, I definitely thought South Georgia was the highlight of this trip.
