falkland islands FEATURE 41
ISLAND HOPPERS FALKLANDS
Britain’s far-fl ung island outpost is one of the world’s most rewarding ‘natural’ choices for those willing to overcome the logistical challenges of getting there, says Mark Stratton
telephone-boxes and fl uttering Union Jacks. But life has moved on since the days of confl ict
A
with Argentina back in 1982. The Falklands’ economy is booming with zero unemployment as this British Overseas Territory has become almost entirely self-suffi cient from the mother ship Britannia. Now rich from fi shing licenses and preparations
for an oil-boom, a thriving tourism industry has evolved from one that saw a few hardy and curious post-war visitors three decades back to a niche destination predicted by the Falkland Islands Tourist Board’s (FITB) MD, Tony Mason, to see a 10% increase in land arrivals for 2014. Cruise passengers make up the largest percentage of arrivals: typically spending
drift in the South Atlantic, the 740-island Falklands archipelago exudes Britishness with its red
a few days as part of wider itineraries encompassing Antarctica and Patagonia. War tourism tends to be limited to a day in longer-stay itineraries visiting key military sites from 1982, such as Goose Green. But without doubt the stellar drawcard is the Islands’ natural history: The Falklands is referred to as ‘The Galapagos of the South’. The typical visitor experience is to island-hop using the internal FIGAS light aircraft service to outposts such as Carcass Island, Bleaker Island, and Sea Lion Island to enjoy wildlife spectaculars including huge rockhopper and King penguin colonies and basking elephant-seals. Accommodation is typically at farmsteads
offering cozy rather than luxurious hospitality and full-board hearty meals of local produce. “The tameness of species means they can be approached easily without disturbance oblivious to one’s presence, making wildlife viewing and photography a perfect combination,” says Tim Appleton MBE, Co-organiser of Birdfair. “The Falklands are without doubt one of
the fi nest birding destinations for all keen birdwatchers,” he says. “There has been a lot of interest at Birdfair in running tours to the Falklands from birdwatching specialist such as Avian
The Falklands is one of the world’s great penguin capitals with as many as a million King, Gentoo, Rockhopper, Magellanic and Macaroni penguins nesting there every summer
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76