Nightingale Island and Inaccessible Island
Magical morning…
This morning at first light we picked up our guides from Edinburgh on Tristan da Cunha and sailed south for the two islands in the Tristan Group which we had yet to visit. After breakfast we arrived at Nightingale Island. The sky cleared into a beautiful morning as we lowered the Zodiacs to go ashore. The island is a nesting site for yellow-nosed albatross, the mosleyi sub-species of the rockhopper penguin (pictured) and hundreds of thousands of greater shearwaters and ground nesting petrels. We encountered the rockhopper penguins on the rocks at the landing site and climbed through the tussock grass to the nests of the Yellow-nosed albatross. On the beach and in the water we were surrounded by sub-Antarctic fur seals, mostly very curious pups. Zodiac cruises along the volcanic coastline revealed caves and arches waiting to be explored. We experienced perfect weather and calm seas for our morning ashore—a magical experience in all.
Aptly named Inaccessible Island
After lunch we circumnavigated nearby Inaccessible Island on the Endeavour. This island is a World Heritage Site and is most aptly named. Volcanic cliffs, topped with a small forest of trees, rise straight out of the sea to 1,000 feet all around the island. Finally we sailed back to Tristan da Cunha and bade farewell to our friends and guides before beginning our passage north to St. Helena.
Magical morning…
This morning at first light we picked up our guides from Edinburgh on Tristan da Cunha and sailed south for the two islands in the Tristan Group which we had yet to visit. After breakfast we arrived at Nightingale Island. The sky cleared into a beautiful morning as we lowered the Zodiacs to go ashore. The island is a nesting site for yellow-nosed albatross, the mosleyi sub-species of the rockhopper penguin (pictured) and hundreds of thousands of greater shearwaters and ground nesting petrels. We encountered the rockhopper penguins on the rocks at the landing site and climbed through the tussock grass to the nests of the Yellow-nosed albatross. On the beach and in the water we were surrounded by sub-Antarctic fur seals, mostly very curious pups. Zodiac cruises along the volcanic coastline revealed caves and arches waiting to be explored. We experienced perfect weather and calm seas for our morning ashore—a magical experience in all.
Aptly named Inaccessible Island
After lunch we circumnavigated nearby Inaccessible Island on the Endeavour. This island is a World Heritage Site and is most aptly named. Volcanic cliffs, topped with a small forest of trees, rise straight out of the sea to 1,000 feet all around the island. Finally we sailed back to Tristan da Cunha and bade farewell to our friends and guides before beginning our passage north to St. Helena.
