There are amazing concentrations of King Penguins on South Georgia. Photo: Steve Howell
This 2009 cruise from Ushuaia to Capetown has caught the interest of Steve Howell and will will be offered as a WINGS cruise. The precise dates are not yet certain, and other details are still pending, but a skeletal itinerary is offered below, There will be as well birding opportunities offered around Ushuaia, Argentina prior to departure and around Cape Town, South Africa after arrival.
Day 1: In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia and sail through the Beagle Channel.
Days 2-3: In the Drake Passage we witness a multitude of albatrosses, petrels and fulmars.
Day 4: At Hope Bay and Brown Bluff we hope to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. In this area chances are good for encounters with Gentoo Penguins, Weddell Seals, Leopard Seals and Orcas.
Day 5: From Devil Island at the tip of the Weddell Sea is surrounded by huge table icebergs of the Larsen Ice Shelf. We will climb a hill with a gently slope from where we have a great view on the surroundings. At Paulet Island we will observe the last individuals of a large Adelie Penguin colony near the ruins of the Nordenskiöld Expedition from the beginning of the 20th century.
Day 6: At sea we will probably sail along the sea ice drifting north out of the Weddell Sea. On the floes we may see some juvenile Emperor Penguins.
Day 7: On our way north we plan to visit South Orkneys, where the Scotsman Bruce once wintered and where we now may visit the friendly people of an Argentinean base.
Day 8: At sea, on our way to South Georgia, we witness a multitude of albatrosses, petrels and fulmars.
Days 9-11: In South Georgia we will pay visits to the abandoned whaling settlements Grytviken, where now the penguins walk through the streets, and King Edwards Point with the grave of Shackleton. We will walk near the big King Penguin colony on Salisbury Plain and the breeding Wandering Albatrosses on Albatros Island in the Bay of Isles. The last day in South Georgia we will spend in Cooper Bay where we will observe Chinstrap Penguins and Macaroni Penguins and breeding Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses. Later we intend to sail to Gold Harbour to visit another King Penguin colony and to see many Elephant Seals and Fur Seals. It is a good area for long walks. We conclude our visit with zodiac excursions in the magnificent Drygalski Fjord and Larsen Harbour.
Day 12-16: In the westerlies we have a pleasant tailwind. On both sides of the Antarctic Convergence, we observe many species and great numbers of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabirds.
Day 17: Today we plan to approach the unique Gough Island for zodiac cruising around the island, as always weather permitting. In 2003 we managed to circumnavigate all but four miles of the 33 mile circumference of the island in the ship, saw spectacular scenery and an unprecedented abundance of wildlife. We felt very privileged to be among the few visitors who have been able to experience Gough and in particular, to see it at such close quarters and in such favourable conditions. We hope to be lucky enough to repeat this unique experience with you on board.
Day 18-20: In the Tristan da Cunha archipelago we call at the settlement at the west side of the main island. We will also try to make landings at Nightingale Island with millions of seabirds ranging from Yellow-nosed Albatrosses to Brown Noddies. We allow one day in reserve for bad weather.
Day 21-25: At sea, we now enter sub-tropical waters with their own brand of seabirds and dolphins. When we enter the rich relatively cold Benguela Current with its rich upwellings we will have a chance to wintering Northern seabirds, like Long-tailed Skua’s and Arctic Terns.
Day 26: In Cape Town we disembark the ship and fly home.