South Georgia has a rather gruesome past as it was home to several whaling stations. Thankfully those days are over and the whales are now safe to feed in nearby waters without being caught. There is still plenty of evidence in several places, of this horrible industry with various rusty buildings, storage tanks and ships. Now the whalers have gone, the wildlife has taken over the island and in the case of King Penguins, in huge numbers.

We were so lucky with the weather here and six landings were achieved including the capital Grytviken, Stromness, Fortuna Bay to name but a few. The story of Ernest Shackleton and his epic walk over the mountains in icy, cold conditions, in order to get help for his men who were stranded on Elephant Island after his ship was crushed in the sea ice. Shackleton is buried on South Georgia in a small cemetery in Grytviken.

This is a land of great beauty where nature can thrive. Enjoy these photos and if you get the chance then a visit is highly recommended.