SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL SAFARI

This exclusive tour gives you the opportunity to go and see southern elephant seals. You will set off in 4 x 4 vehicles along the mainly un-surfaced Mount Pleasant Airport Road giving you the opportunity to see some of the beautiful Falklands countryside. You will pass by stoneruns - a river of stones typical of the East Falklands landscape, minefields and the remains of a gaucho corral.

After approximately 40 minutes you will leave the Mount Pleasant Airport Road and go off-road. Ten minutes into your off-road experience will take you to Island Harbour House. This house belongs to Fitzroy Farm and today is used occasionally for Shepherds out gathering sheep. Years ago this house would've had a family living in it full time, and was known locally as an "outside house' Today you will also see part of the original house, where the vegetable gardens used to be, a plinkey - and old cart wheels that were still used at the tail end of the 1960s. Unfortunately the house is not open to view, but window peeping is allowed!

It is then time to get back on the white grass track and head for the southern elephant seals. Panoramic views of the mountain range that heads back towards Stanley are breathtaking. On the way you will see Vanilla Daisies, Scurvy Grass, Faschine, Calafatti, Christmas Bush along with an abundance of small birds - Falkland Pipits, Long Tailed Meadowlarks.

On arrival at Kelp Point you will see the magnificent Southern Elephant Seals. They are named Southern Elephant seals because of their massive size and for the trunk-like noses of the males These cumbersome looking beasts have difficulty lifting their huge bodies of the ground as they haul themselves on and off the beach, but at Kelp point you will be able to observe them "sunbathing" in muddy depressions called wallows on the shore.

After an hour with the Southern Elephant Seals it will be time to start the return journey. Next stop will be Pleasant Roads - a beautiful beach littered with whale bones and shells - a beachcomber's paradise. From the shore you will be able to see black necked swans, white rumped sandpipers, speckled teal and a host of other Falkland bird species

A five minute walk will take you to see a Gentoo Colony. This strenuous but exciting tour gives you just a little taste of beauty of the Falkland Islands