An unforgettable journey to the republic of King Penguins

So many King Penguins! — Photos: LEESAN

During my past three voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula, I didn’t get to visit the British South Georgia Island (SG) as it lies far off the course and supplementary charges are steep.

But this time around, after leaving King George Island, our cruise ship headed towards SG, which is 1,500km to the northeast. Such a remotely isolated environment should promise a wealthy ecosystem, a treasure trove of exclusive flora and fauna found nowhere else on this planet, not to mention the regally majestic King Penguins that call the island home. The SG Island reminds me of the Mo’ai statues on Easter Island, the giant turtles and iguanas of Galápagos and the lemurs of Madagascar, so uniquely different, intriguing and fascinating.