South Georgia

South Georgia’s remote location, rugged tundra geography and lack of human settlement make it ideal for a wide variety of Antarctic life. With no native land mammals, polar sea birds including albatross and an estimated 7 million individual penguins, almost half of which are macaroni penguins, thrive in South Georgia. Large colonies of king penguins also make for impressive photos, but they are only a fraction of the 10 million birds – spread over 78 known species – believed to call the island home.

Since sealing ended in the 1960s, fur seals have returned to South Georgia in large numbers, with 95% of the world’s 2 million-strong population returning here each summer to breed, and fiercely protect the shoreline. They’re joined by approximately half the world’s southern elephant seals. Up to 400,000 of these massive animals return to South Georgia each summer breeding season.

Since your South Georgia cruise will almost certainly take place in the summer, it is a prime opportunity to spot a variety of whales. The most common and reliable of these sightings is the humpback whale, but you may also see fin whales, which reside in the waters surrounding South Georgia, along with southern right whales. A fortunate visitor might even catch a glimpse of the world’s largest mammal, the enormous blue whale.