Brenya Mesdag

My first ever polar expedition in 2016 sparked a career exploring some of the most remote reaches on Earth. What hooked me on polar expedition travel was the constant sense of adventure: waking up somewhere new each day, never knowing exactly what the day would bring, and learning from the people and environment that surrounded me.

My career in the industry started as an Adventure Specialist for a company operating expeditions in the Canadian Arctic and Greenland which led to my extensive travels throughout those regions. Over the years I wore many hats in the head office and in the field from Sales to Program Director to Zodiac driver and Guide.

As the years ticked on, I eventually committed to life at sea as a full-time freelance expedition guide, working with many operators and ships across the Arctic, including Canada, Greenland, and Svalbard, as well as Antarctica, including the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. I’ve also worked on vessels in Africa, the Canadian Maritimes, Scotland, and Iceland, among others. 

I have spent more time at sea than on land most years and I particularly love the polar regions and the way of small-ship expedition travel. And while it’s impossible to choose a favourite, I can share some of my most memorable moments:

• Camping on the Antarctic Peninsula on New Years Eve, ringing in the new year in complete silence aside from the calls of Gentoo penguins, cozy in my sleeping bag atop the snow, under the midnight sun of deep Antarctic summer. 
• Kayaking on the west coast of Greenland in front of a glacier, paddling through and listening to the sound of the brash ice, and encountering humpback whales from water-level.
• Standing on the bow of the ship as it navigated the pack ice at 82°N in the Arctic Ocean above Svalbard and just as the fog began to lift, spotting a polar bear on the ice who was exceptionally curious, coming just metres of the bow and standing on its hind legs to take a closer look at me. 

As a Destination Specialist with Chimu Adventures, I use my firsthand Polar expedition experience and knowledge of Latin America to help travellers navigate their options and plan an unforgettable adventure tailored to them.

My #1 trip tip: Book an Antarctic expedition that includes South Georgia. Add on as many optional activities as you can like camping and kayaking. Finish with a Patagonia extension to Torres del Paine and you have my idea of the ultimate adventure.