Volunteer Point is one of the 'must see' places in the Islands. Getting there is an adventure that is unlikely to be forgotten. It is not a journey for the faint-hearted, even in the Summer. The journey takes in some of the wettest, boggiest land on East Falkland and anyone attempting the journey would be well-advised to go as part of a group with an experienced 'off-road' driver who knows the Falkland 'camp'. It is not unusual to get 3 or 4 land rovers 'bogged' at the same time so good tow-ropes and bumper jacks are essential. Due to its remoteness, there are relatively few visitors at any time. You can be sure that the isolation and wilderness factors will impress.
However, having completed the journey, the sight is spectacular. One of the largest colonies of King Penguins is to be found at Volunteers together with significant colonies of Gentoo and Jackass (Magellanic) penguins. Many other birds also breed in this area. King Penguins are larger than the other varieties of penguin. A fully grown male is almost 3 feet tall. The colony is resident all year round and, due to the gestation period of Kings, there are usually chicks to be seen. King chicks are covered in thick, brown, downy feathers which can make an adolescent chick appear larger than an adult bird. Like most other penguin colonies, Volunteers is a noisy, quarrelsome place with much trumpeting and posing (presumably to impress other penguins rather than tourists!)
