Very early in the morning, as the sun was rising, we sailed through Lemaire Channel also known as Kodac Gap.
Until you get close, it does not appear to be a passage through this channel. The glaciers on both sides of the vessel towered above us. They were so close, we could almost touch them. We did meet with some bergy bits and brash ice.
At the south end of Lemaire Channel we took another eventful zodiac cruise in Pleneau Bay. This is an iceberg graveyard where icebergs as far away as the Ross Ice Shelf are cast aground. Just like snowflakes, there are never two ice bergs that are the same. Various colours, shapes, sizes of ice bergs were admired.
Lone Leapard seals are often found on bergs hoping to to find a meal, especially penguin, or rest. A leopard seal was found on an iceberg and another was playing with his food, a penguin, in Pleneau Bay. The mouth of a leopard seal is large, prehistoric looking and its teeth are huge and serrated. If I was a penguin or a small seal, I would live in terror of leopard seals.
For lunch we dined with glaciers on the bow of the ship. We took part in a barbecue.
After lunch the zodiacs ferried us to Port Circumcision, a cove off a 1.6 km long island called Petermann Island 65'10'S latitude.
Adelie Penguins were spotted here. These penguins were also molting before heading out to sea. These penguins are black and white, colours most people expect penguins to be. It was interesting to observe them.
Gentoo Penguins are also on this island, this is as far south as these species of penguins go. The Gentoo were very entertaining. There was a shallow wading pool from melting glaciers that the young and adult penguins could swim in. It was fun to watch their clumsy movement on ice.
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.