Cousin Island

Full-Day Cousin, Curieuse, and St Pierre Islands tour. Start with a transfer to Baie Ste Anne jetty for the 2-km crossing to the Special Nature Reserve of Cousin island. A cruiser moors off-shore and tourists are taken to the island on a Reserve boat to prevent accidental introduction of pests to the island. It is highly recommended that tourists come prepared to wrap their belongings in water-proof bags, and that they respect the safety regulations of donning life jackets and remaining seated until the craft is beached. A warden leads the tour of the island with its abundance of species and habitats, from the coast with its protective mangroves, to the wetlands which attract dragonflies, moorhens, caecilans & Seychelles terrapins; on to the rejuvenated forest on the hill plateau which provides ideal nesting sites for large populations of shearwaters and bridled terns amongst its endemic trees - mapou, Indian mulberry and bwa sousouri. Endemic birds found on Cousin Island are the Magpie Robin, Sunbird, Fody, Blue Pigeon and the Warbler. The tour continues with a 30-minute boat ride to Curieuse Island, where a splendid BBQ lunch is served on the beach. Curieuse island has a large population of giant tortoises, some can be seen next to the natural pond on the coast, whilst the majority range across the island freely and can sometimes be tracked by their vociferate calls of intimate congress. The tour ends with snorkeling off the tiny island of St. Pierre. For the un-initiated, our crew is on hand with lightweight snorkelling vests to ensure that no-one misses the chance to view the abundant marine life.

Wild Life on Cousin Island: Cousin Island is undoubtedly the island that belongs to birds. But despite its small size, it has a surprising diversity of species and habitats. Its Reserve has the longest monitoring programme of Hawksbill turtles in the world and considered to be the single most nesting site of this species in the Western Indian Ocean. Explore the unique beauty of Curieuse Island and its unique biodiversity, hiking up to one hour exploring natural grown mangroves and other marine life living in its natural eco-system. Long description Giant Tortoise Farm As soon as you set foot on Curieuse, you will be greeted by a sight straight out of a fairy tale – Giant tortoises ambling about the Ranger’s Station at Laraie Bay. These gentle giants are the crown jewel of the island, boasting the second-largest population of their kind in the Seychelles … Leper Colony Ruins Take a step back in time and uncover the chilling history of Curieuse, which served as a leper colony from 1829 to 1965. The first inhabitants were African slaves, abandoned on isolated islands in the Indian Ocean, who were brought to the island in a desperate effort to contain the infectious Virus. Discover the island’s hidden treasures as you wander through lush mangrove swamps, bask in the sun on pristine beaches, and stumble upon the remnants of the haunting leprosarium. Witness the awe-inspiring sight of the majestic Giant Aldabra tortoises, some of which are over a century old and roam freely on the island. And if you’re planning a day trip to this paradise, use this guide to help you make the most of your visit to this island, peppered with iconic coco-de-mer trees. At the top of the list of natural wonders is the breathtaking Coco de Mer palm tree. The island is home to one of the world’s two natural forests of the iconic tree, with the other being Vallée de Mai on Praslin. This magnificent species produces the largest and heaviest seeds in the world and draws plenty of attention due to its suggestive shape. Surrounding the Coco de Mer, you’ll find Curieuse’s seemingly endless thick and rich mangroves. The awe-inspiring ecosystem is a sanctuary for six out of Seychelles’ seven native mangrove species and provides crucial habitat for a diverse array of animals. Speaking of animals, the real highlight of Curieuse is its fascinating wildlife. And no presence on the island is more striking than the 300-strong colony of Aldabra giant tortoises that roam freely around it. In addition, Curieuse’s pristine beaches are a crucial nesting ground for sea turtles that return each year to lay their eggs, providing a mesmerizing spectacle of nature in action. And for bird lovers, the island is also the exclusive habitat of the Seychelles Black Parrot, one of the rarest endemic birds in the world and the national bird of Seychelles.

Depart Praslin island at 9.30 am and enjoy a short boat ride of not more than 15 minutes to this special Bird reserve. Declared by unesco as a world heritage site for the protection and conservation of a large variety of seabirds nesting on this island along with rare endemic land species like : the famous Magpie robin and the Seychelles warbler that contributed in assuring that this island is dedicated for Nature conservation. this island is a rare island that opens for visit only From 10 am until 12pm, opened only in the weekdays and closed in the weekends and public holidays, the wild life and Nature is kept at the utmost natural state where a perfect natural ecosystem works almost undisturbed with all its offerings. this attracts some mosquitos and guests must dress ready for the occassion. A rat free island and a controlled embarkation and disembarkation done by island rangers in small fast James Bond beach landing style. Renowned as the most common site in the western Indian Ocean for the nesting of hawksbill turtle, many siting of turtles nesting is a life experience testimony. Many fauna and flora to discover especially when expert guides share generously plenty of interesting facts and biological tunes of the island and its species. return to Praslin at 1230pm. Trip includes Drinking water.

Start with a glass bottom boat cruise from Praslin to Curieuse Island with first stop for snorkeling at St Pierre, or another location depending on the weather, and enjoy the breathtaking scenery, where you get up close with nature. Then, land on Curieuse Island where you get to see another stunning beach, before crossing the 1.7km trail through a mangrove forest. Have a delicious BBQ Lunch on the island where you seat right next to a giant land tortoise. Relax and enjoy the tortoise in their natural habitat. Don't forget to save some energy for the afternoon schedule where we either snorkle enjoy the beach of Curieuse Island IMPORTANT NOTE :- Dont forget the marine park entrance Fee of SR300.0 / 20.00 Euro Per person from 12 years and above. Payable by Card or Online or CASH with the Supplier

The guest will be pick up at their respective hotels,the trip will start at Cousin Island which is well known for Bird conservations. It is also home of five endemic lizards,giant milipedes and hermit crabs. Guest that love nature this trip is for you. Our next stop will be at Anse Georgette and Anse Lazio which well known for their beaches. Guest can enjoy 30 minutes snorkelling with variety of fish. The trip will end at Curieuse Island the island of Aldabra giant Tortoise they will be able to have some knowledge on Aldabra giant Tortoise then later enjoy a beautiful barbecue accompanied with soft drinks,water and a nice local beer.