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Sub-Antarctic wildlife island · Antarctica

South Georgia

The Galápagos of the poles — vast king penguin colonies, elephant seals and wandering albatross, and Shackleton's resting place.
Getting there
By expedition ship across the Scotia Sea, usually from Ushuaia or the Falklands
Best for
King penguin mega-colonies, elephant and fur seals, wandering albatross, Shackleton history
The land
A remote, mountainous sub-Antarctic island ringed by wildlife-packed beaches
Good to know
St Andrews Bay and Salisbury Plain hold king penguin colonies hundreds of thousands strong
What it is
South Georgia is the wildlife climax of any polar voyage — beaches packed with king penguins, elephant seals and fur seals beneath glaciated peaks.
Often called the Galápagos of the poles, remote South Georgia holds some of the densest wildlife on earth: king penguin colonies hundreds of thousands strong at St Andrews Bay and Salisbury Plain, breeding southern elephant seals and Antarctic fur seals, and wandering albatrosses nesting on the slopes. It is also the heart of the Shackleton story, with his grave at Grytviken.
PhotoSouth Georgia — sub-antarctic wildlife island.
The reason to come

The Galápagos of the poles

South Georgia is, for many, the single greatest wildlife destination on earth.

King penguin colonies

Hundreds of thousands of birds at St Andrews Bay and Salisbury Plain.

Seals in their thousands

Breeding elephant seals and fur seals crowding the beaches.

Albatross & Shackleton

Wandering albatross on the slopes, and Shackleton's grave at Grytviken.

Worth knowing

Wildlife beyond compare

No beach on earth is more crowded with life than South Georgia's king penguin colonies — a wildlife spectacle without equal.
PhotoA king penguin colony at St Andrews Bay, South Georgia.
When to come — honestly

A summer wildlife island.

November – March
Best
The expedition season — November for snow and courtship, later for chicks and seals.
October – November
Good
Early season — elephant seal breeding and pristine snow.
January – March
Good
Penguin chicks, fur seal pups and long days.
South Georgia is remote and weather-exposed; strict biosecurity applies, and landings depend on conditions. It demands a longer voyage.
Context

The wildlife climax

South Georgia is the wildlife high point of a polar voyage, often rated the greatest wildlife destination of all.

It is reached only by expedition ship, which is your base throughout the voyage.

We reach South Georgia by expedition ship on the longer voyages; the ship is your accommodation throughout.

Beyond the obvious

More to South Georgia.

PhotoKing penguin colony

King penguin colony

St Andrews Bay or Salisbury Plain.

PhotoSeal beaches

Seal beaches

Elephant and fur seals.

PhotoGrytviken

Grytviken

Shackleton's grave and the whaling history.

Why Wild Voyager

We turn a complex voyage into the right one.

Antarctica is entirely ship-based and seasons are short. We match you to the right expedition, ship and departure, and handle the planning personally.

The right ship

We match you to a suitable expedition ship and departure for your dates and goals.

We plan it personally

Antarctica is logistically complex; we handle the detail and the timing with you.

Where to stay

Where you’ll sail in South Georgia

Signature Collection
Luxury Collection
Classic Collection
Wildlife you may see
Birds Elephants Penguin

Plan your South Georgia voyage.

Land among king penguins, elephant seals and albatross. Tell us your dates and we will match the voyage and ship.

Plan an Antarctica trip

Field notes, now and then.

Where to go · When to go · Wildlife in season

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