The Falklands are a group of over 700 islands, remote and beautiful, with a wealth of wildlife.  Whether you are a keen ornithologist or not, you will find the bird-life fascinating, partly because the birds are so easy to observe.  Some of them are extremely rare – the flightless steamer duck and the striated caracara, for example.  But it’s the sheer number that often surprises visitors – in places there are thousands of rockhopper penguins.  You can walk within a few yards of nesting colonies of penguins, cormorants and many other species, including birds of prey without their becoming alarmed.  Similarly, on the beaches, you can get close to sea lions and elephant seals.
The islands themselves are quiet and undeveloped.  Inland there are rolling moorlands, grassy plains dotted with lakes and ponds and mountains up to 2,312 feet.  There is a wide variety of the indigenous plant species that are at their best during November and December.  The coastline is magnificent – the wide beaches of white quartz sand, dramatic cliffs and the myriad inlets and islets delight the eye.  The Falklands are a charming slice of Britain in the South Atlantic – a unique community with a unique outlook. Stanley is the capital of the Falklands with a population of less than 2,000 inhabitants and is the most remote capital city in the world.  In many ways it is like an English village but it has a Government House, a Cathedral and a range of amenities and services.
WILDLIFE AREAS
The most important wildlife areas in The Falklands are:
Bleaker Island
Bleaker Island’s varied coastline includes great lengths of inviting white sandy beaches separated by sheltered coves.  Within an easy 2-mile walk from the settlement you will find breeding colonies of gentoo, rockhopper and magellanic penguins, sea lions, white tufted, striated and crested caracaras.  Big Pond is a popular haunt of silvery and white tufted grebes, speckled and silver teal, black necked swans and sometimes the rare steamer duck.  There are at least 37 species of birds known to breed on the island.
Carcass Island
Carcass Island, named after HMS Carcass, is ideal for walking and wildlife viewing.  Here you will see elephant seals, sea lions, King Cormorant Colony and numerous shoreline birds, king, magellanic and gentoo penguins as well as the striated caracaras and night herons.  A boat trip to West Point can be offered to see the Albatross and Rockhopper colonies.
Darwin
Darwin retains much evidence of the gauchos who once lived there.  Accommodation is in Darwin Lodge where facilities for visitors include excursions to Goose Green, the British and Argentine Cemetery and San Carlos and golf.
Pebble Island
Pebble Island is run as a sheep farm.  It is scenic and attractive and has some of the most important wetlands and therefore, wildfowl breeding areas in the Islands.  It is also the only place in the Falklands where all six species of penguin have been sighted – magellanic, gentoo, rockhopper, macaroni, king and erect crested.  The island is also home to a large concentration of sea lions.
Port Howard
Port Howard is a sheep farming settlement from which the 2000,000 acre Port Howard farm operates. It is ideal for a farm stay and for hiking.
North Arm
North Arm is a very large sheep farm on the Lafonia side of East Falklands.  You will be staying in the settlement in comfortable basic, clean houses and food can be prepared for you or you can eat on the farm.  There is an interesting excursion to Bull Point which has Coscoroba and black-necked swans on the ponds and a wide variety of ducks, shore birds, gentoo, magellanic and king penguins and sea lion colonies.
Saunders Island
Saunders Island has several colonies of the spectacular black-browed albatross and at 'The Neck' four species of penguin vie for attention including king penguins.  Accommodation is either in a self catering cabin at the 'Neck' or at the Farm.
Sea Lion Island
Sea Lion Island is the most southerly of the inhabited islands, with a resident population of four.  All parts are accessible on foot from the comfortable Sea Lion Lodge.  The island boasts a spectacular display of wildlife including elephant seals and sea lions, rockhopper, gentoo, magellanic and macaroni penguins, striated and crested caracaras and numerous shore and sea birds.  Orcas can sometimes be spotted offshore.
Volunteer Point
Volunteer Point on the northeast tip of East Falkland is home to the largest colony of king penguins in the Falkland Islands with about 1200 nesting pairs.  As their name implies, they are the tallest and most striking of the species in the islands, standing about 3 feet high.  There are also large Magellanic and Gentoo colonies.