South Georgia
Widely heralded as one of the world’s most understated wildlife sanctuaries, the sheer isolation of this island is just part of its appeal. A wonderland of snow, ice and inquisitive wildlife, South Georgia offers its visitors magnificent and pristine scenery.
The island itself measures 170 kilometres and is a mountainous landscape, with snow-capped peaks that soar to a height of 2,934 metres. Located 1,400 kilometres east of the Falkland Islands, the island is only accessible by boat, and the journey time from the Falkland Islands is approximately two days.
Quick Facts:
- Mammals: There are no native land mammals, reindeer, rats and mice have been introduced.
- Size: a surface area of almost 4,000km2
- Wildlife: lots of birds including a King penguin colony, albatross and petrels.
- History: claimed to be first spotted in 1675 and landing in 1775
Wildlife and Variety
It was British explorer James Cook who first set foot on the island during his second worldwide voyage of exploration, and after his initial disappointment at not finding a vast mainland, he described it as follows: "A country doomed by nature never once to feel the warmth of the sun's rays, but to lie for ever buried under everlasting snow and ice.”
The island is a true paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, with literally millions of creatures going about their lives completely uninterrupted. At Prion Island it is possible to see the breeding efforts of the huge wandering Albatross and enjoy watching their displays. At Salisbury Plain, the second largest King Penguin colony in South Georgia, you can also see elephant seals, whilst at Grytviken you may visit an abandoned whaling center where king penguins roam freely, and the Whaling History Museum and Shackleton’s grave are also of interest. Reindeer were also introduced to the island by Norwegian whalers, and can often be spotted grazing around the Fortuna Bay area.
It is possible for the more active to ski trek across South Georgia, over a total distance of 40 kilometres, following in the footsteps of Shackleton, crossing alpine passes and glaciers, offering a completely unique perspective on the island aside from our standard sea voyages.
“WHILST MANY TRIPS CHOOSE TO COMBINE THE ISLAND WITH VISITS TO THE FALKLANDS AND THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA, WE ALSO HAVE A TRIP THAT FOCUSES SOLELY ON SOUTH GEORGIA.”
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