The Whaling Stations of South Georgia

The fog has remained in place overnight in the northern part of South Georgia Island, and the poor visibility means our planned activities for the whaling stations, including a hike to follow in Shackleton’s footsteps between Fortuna Bay and Stromness,  are cancelled. Instead we sail through the fog into Stromness Harbour, where the captain virtually runs the ship up on to the beach.

On landing, we walk about 2km from the whaling station to see where Shackleton and his men abseiled done the waterfall to reach the safety of Stromness. Along the way, a few of the resident Norwegian reindeer are seen, which are very skittish and bolt when startled by the arrival of humans. Those that remained behind at the landing site were lucky enough to see an elephant seal born straight in front of them. In the shot below, the new mother is roaring at the skuas who have begun to arrive to clean up the placenta.

So fascinated is everyone with the birth that Gaylord, the head waiter on the Explorer, tries to attract attention by holding up a sign from the bow that reads “Lunch is Being Served”!

In the afternoon, we are guided into the former whaling station of Grytviken by a pod of orcas, a rare sighting in South Georgia, and the NG Explorer hosts the British Antarctic Survey staff from the King Edward Point Research Station and South Georgia Heritage Trust personnel for dinner on the ship.