Day 35 – Fortuna Bay, South Georgia

I opened our blinds to a classic South Georgia spring morning – snow and fog with temperatures around 26°. Viking Octantis was already positioned in Fortuna Bay, and the Expedition Team was out conducting a thorough survey and “testing the waters.” We were soon told that conditions were perfect, and all activities were on.

I Can't See a Thing!

South Georgia is the main and largest island in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, the official name of this British Overseas Territory, a remote and inhospitable collection of islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, consisting of South Georgia and a chain of smaller islands known as the South Sandwich Islands

Fortuna Bay is located on the north coast of South Georgia and is surrounded by picturesque alpine peaks and majestic glaciers. It is home to a large colony of King penguins, and fur and elephant seals frequently bask on the beach.

Tim and I were scheduled to take a zodiac cruise after lunch, and I was encouraged that the skies had begun to clear. I could finally see the mountains and glaciers that I had read about. It was snowing again, however, and the wind gusts were between 15 and 32 knots, as we set off in our zodiac, but Tim and I had bundled up in many layers to try and ward off the cold.

Yes, There Are Mountains and a Glacier Around Us!

Bundled Up for Our Zodiac Cruise

Expedition Team member Sara was our guide, and she steered us toward the beach to check out the elephant and fur seals snoozing there. Occasionally, one would raise its head, so we could see its cute face.

Watching the Seals on the Beach Through the Snowflakes

As we began to move to a spot farther down the beach, a Southern Giant Petrel landed on the water near our zodiac and appeared to be very curious about us. He even tried to peck the side of the zodiac but decided it wasn’t very tasty.

This Southern Giant Petrel Hung Around the Zodiac for Quite a While

We saw more seals from our new spot, and Sara even spotted two female seals nursing their pups.

So Many Seals

Seals In and Out of the Water

Two Nursing Moms and Their Pups

Seals were not the only wildlife we saw on the beach. There was also a colony of King penguins, and many of them marched from one end of the beach to a waterfall.

Lots of King Penguins

As we headed back to our ship, a Northern Giant Petrel paid us a visit, but he didn’t seem to be interested in us.

Northern Giant Petrel

This zodiac cruise was a wonderful experience, and I still can’t get over all the wildlife we were able to see.

Thanks, Sara, for a Great Cruise

Weather conditions changed so frequently today that I lost count. From fog to snow to almost clear skies, we experienced it all. In the afternoon, I happened to look out as the sun made an appearance for a few minutes. The light on the surrounding mountains was magical. Although wildlife sightings were a highlight of the day, the incredible scenery was just as important to me.

Fortuna Bay Is a Spectacular Place