Featured Articles

In Brief

World View

9/13/2022

3 Min Read

Wild Personalities: All About Bears

Our expeditions cross the globe to enter the realms of the black, brown, and polar bear as well as Borneo’s endangered sun bear. Get to know these different species we encounter out in the wild.

World View

8/23/2022

Watch

Waking Up to Whales

On a recent voyage aboard National Geographic Sea Bird guests were treated to the spectacular sight and incredible sounds of a humpback breakfast buffet.

Daily Expedition Reports

Follow Along

Daily Expedition Reports

9/25/2022

Read

National Geographic Endurance

Blomsterbugten, East Greenland

This morning at 7:00 am was noticeably darker than days before. One reason for that was the grey sky, however it wasn’t the main one. The days are getting shorter and shorter very fast at this latitude and this time of a year. The sea was rough, but not too much, wind 4 knots, and a scouting party was sent ashore of the Blomsterbugten, a little bay within the Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord System. This fjord is a part of the Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest national park in the world. Three morning activities were offered for the guests, including long and medium hikes as well Zodiac cruises. The geology of the surrounding cliffs and mountain slopes was quite spectacular.  Thousands of red, yellow, brown and dark-grey layers filled all the space between the sea water level and the clouds.  The hikers had opportunities to watch a couple of Arctic hares that already changed their coats to the winter ones. A family of muskoxen were observed and photographed at a close distance. Meanwhile, the wind and corresponding waves were getting stronger, and the Zodiac cruising was a memorable event for those guests who had chosen this activity.   As lunch was being served, the wind picked up to 70 knots per hour (126 km/h) and, as our Captain Oliver reported to us at the evening recap, the wind was gusting to only a fraction below 100 knots per hour (180 km/h). This was the record wind speed for this ship so far! The wind was raising billions of sea water droplets that reflected the sun light and created a rainbow just along the sea surface. The ship showed no deviation from the intended route, but the captain made an announcement advising guests not to go on the open decks to be safe. From inside, the storm was quite special to watch, as the sky was blue and sun was shining during it.   In the late afternoon, naturalist Jim Wilson made an excellent presentation overviewing bird migrations and the ways they were studied.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/24/2022

Read

National Geographic Endurance

Storefjord

The day began with plans to land and hike at a spot about halfway into Storefjord. Fresh snow on the hills created a scene with a distinct autumn vibe; summer has ended here in East Greenland.   Approaching the landing, we spied a polar bear sow and cub chewing on something right on the beach we hoped to land. While she and her cub moved out of sight, their presence there required a plan B for the morning, so National Geographic Endurance sailed into a small unnamed tributary of the main fjord. Information about water depths here is unreliable so the ship moved cautiously, using the latest sonar technology to sound our way into the end of this new-to-us fjord. What we found was a huge open alluvial fan filling a glacial valley that seemed perfect for exploring.   With scouting complete and sentries on station, we shuttled ashore for a walkabout. The entire area consists of glacial moraine – unsorted rocks and boulders dominate the landscape, with melt water streams and sandy berms mixed in – making for some slow and careful walking. However, one didn’t need to go far to enjoy the landscape that surrounded us.   The philosophy of exploring with flexibility, allowing plans to evolve and change, adapting to what the planet offers each day, paid off in spades this morning. I wonder what tomorrow has in store for us?

Daily Expedition Reports

9/24/2022

Read

Delfin II

Amazon Natural Park / Nauta Creek

This is our last full day exploring the Pacaya Samiria Reserve in the Upper Amazon in Peru. The week has been great. It was indeed full of surprises! The jungle is a surprise even for locals; this vast land is so huge that every day you can find an animal that you have never seen before or one that you rarely see.   We visited a local community of people called Amazonas, like the river, because the community is located at the foot of the majestic Amazon River. Around four hundred people live here. This was the first opportunity for our guests to experience how people live in this remote area of our planet. We enjoyed a very warm welcome. The children were happy to greet visitors, and they were very curious. Our hosts prepared some local food and invited us inside one of their rustic houses made of local materials, such as wood, palm trees, and tree trunks. Inside, the atmosphere was very pleasant. Our hosts prepared local fish and some cassava and plantain, and they offered us a very delicious beverage called chapu, which is made of ripe plantain. After learning about their way of life, we visited a handicraft market. Some of the women from the community offered for sale elaborate, beautiful elements made from a local plant called chambira, a type of straw. Artisans use plants to dye the very strong material and use it to decorate their crafts.   Later, we moved to Casual, a primary, protected forest. With the guidance of local experts, we explored the site and found all kinds of small creatures that are difficult to spot with our naked eyes. Our guides knew where to find tarantulas, miniature frogs, boas, anacondas, and sloths. We enjoyed our last moments in the magnificent jungle, a place full of wildlife.   At night, we enjoyed our photo slideshow, in which our guests summarized their memories of all the great moments during our wonderful week exploring the Upper Amazon in Peru. After dinner, our talented crew performed. The music and dancing made for a memorable farewell event to say goodbye to our guests and to thank them for visiting with us in this astonishing place.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/23/2022

Read

Delfin II

Yanayacu River & Amazon Park

We started our activities before breakfast, hoping that Mother Nature would reward us with excellent sightings. At 6:00 a.m., we boarded the skiffs and headed into the depths of the jungle. We followed the path of Yanayacu River, home to pods of pink river dolphins. These freshwater mammals have adapted to the murky conditions of the river. A good echolocation system is vital here to allow the dolphins to find food and navigate among the trees.   As we started our exploration, we spotted pink dolphins in the shallow murky waters. Further up the river, we spotted black-collared hawks perched on trees near the riverbank. These raptors are the most common in the Pacaya Samiria Reserve. They are elegant and relaxed for photographers and birdwatchers. This hawk forages entirely on fish and is often seen pulling fish out of the water.   This vast, green jungle is home to a number of bird species. Some are commonly seen, and others, such as the white-throated toucan, are harder to find. Today we spotted the toucans as the birds started their morning activities, which are basically courtship and foraging. Toucans are omnivorous birds that cover long ranges to gather fruits and insects. If given the opportunity, they also eat bird eggs.   In the afternoon, we explored just a little of the Amazon Park on the banks of the Marañón River. As we were heading out, the vast jungle gave to us its most precious gift…rain! in vast quantities. There was so much rain that we could not make the visit planned for the day, but we got to experience the tropical rainforest with heavy rains that were much needed by the trees and creatures of the region.   It was another amazing day in the heart of the rainforest!

Daily Expedition Reports

9/22/2022

Read

Delfin II

Supay Creek and Yarapa River

We are getting close to the end of an amazing week exploring the Upper Amazon on board Delfin II ; it has been an astonishing trip in many ways. This morning, we went out after breakfast to explore the forest of Supay. We landed on a very small, handmade dock with some stairs to walk inland. Hiking in the jungle is quite a remarkable experience. You feel the immensity of Mother Nature, and you notice how big and tall the trees are in this emerald world where species coexist in many ways. Our expert, local naturalists know the area so well. They can identify every plant, especially medicinal ones, and it is an ancestral knowledge because these naturalists are the local pharmacy for local people. Far away from big cities, there are no hospitals or doctors so knowing all about Mother Nature’s medicine is vital to survival.   After walking into the jungle, we arrived at a freshwater lagoon. We found a very unique plant that grows in the Amazonas. Lily pads, or Victoria regias, are aquatic plants that adapted to survive in this lagoon. They are very big with beautiful purple and white flowers, and birds like jacanas like to walk on the pads.   Later in the afternoon, we enjoyed more exploration. Our choices were skiff rides along the creek or kayak outings. Some of our intrepid guests kayaked in silence and solitude to admire the sounds of the jungle. This experience is incredible and brings peace and joy to our souls. The sounds of birds, frogs, insects, monkeys, and many other creatures create a symphony of sound for our spirits.   On the skiff ride, we found a couple of fishermen that showed us their catch of the day. One of them caught some piranhas to eat!