Danco Island, being our final Antarctic landing, was bittersweet. It has a fantastic Gentoo colony extending up to the snow covered peak with panoramic views and we could look across to nearby Cuverville Island where we had landed a week previously. We had the option of kayaking again but chose to maximise our time on land and savour every last moment in the huge silence punctuated only by penguins. The steep climb gave plenty of opportunities to photograph Gentoo Penguins with their chicks and their deliberate climb up to the high areas of the rookery from the shore far below.
At the summit we spent some quiet time savouring the last chance to sit alone in the snow of Antarctica surrounded by the immensity and silence of it all, knowing that our descent would mark the start of our journey back home and the beginning of the longing to return to this amazing place we had been privileged to experience
Back at the beach we reluctantly left in the last Zodiac to depart and then Edin and I spent a few moments in contemplative quiet at the bow, looking down at the flocks of penguins flying beneath the clear surface while some our fellow passengers flung themselves into the icy water amidst squeals that put a penguin rookery to shame.
Photos on Danco Island with Nikon D810 and 200-400m f4 VR lens, Nikon D3s and 18-35mm f3.5-4.5 lens.
Photo on NG Explorer with Fuji X100s.
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