Cousin Island Special Reserve

Cousin Island is a small granite island a few kilometres from Praslin, and it is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the Indian Ocean. It was bought in 1968 to save the Seychelles warbler, a bird that had dwindled to a few dozen individuals, and it is now managed by Nature Seychelles as a special reserve. The warbler population recovered so well that birds were later moved to other islands, and Cousin remains a rare place where visitors can see the species close up. Today the island is home to tens of thousands of seabirds, including noddies and shearwaters, as well as fodies, the Seychelles magpie-robin and big land tortoises, with lizards and geckos underfoot. Unlike many tropical islands, the experience here is tightly managed, which keeps the wildlife relaxed and the visit rewarding.

Visits are guided and limited in number, and the reserve has set visiting days and hours, so plan ahead rather than hoping to turn up on the day. Most visitors arrive by boat from the Praslin coast, either on a shared excursion or on a charter, and landing is usually through the shallows, so be ready to wade ashore. Once on the island, a warden takes the group around a short, flat loop that explains the island's restoration, the native woodland that has been replanted, and the species you are likely to see.

Expect a morning of unhurried walking, plenty of stops for photographs and a lot of birdsong. There are no shops or restaurants on the island, so bring water and a hat, and take your rubbish back with you.

The season shapes what you will see. From roughly October to March, hawksbill turtles are known to nest on the beaches, and daytime visits can sometimes include signs of their tracks or even a turtle or hatchlings, although nothing is guaranteed. Seabird colonies are busiest during the nesting periods, and the chicks are charming but delicate, so visitors are asked to stay on the paths and keep voices low.

Entry fees help fund the reserve's conservation work, which is a good reason to choose this over a more casual island stop, and the guides are usually happy to talk about the conservation story in depth.

Cousin suits birdwatchers, photographers and travellers who like their wildlife with a purpose. It is less of a beach day than Curieuse and more of a nature lesson, so it works well when combined with a snorkelling stop elsewhere. Confirm opening arrangements with Nature Seychelles or your boat operator, check sea conditions on the morning, and wear shoes you do not mind getting wet. Children who enjoy animals are welcome, but it is a quiet place and best for those who can listen to a guide for an hour or two.

Photography is rewarding but needs patience. A zoom lens helps with birds in the canopy, while the seabirds and fodies are often so unafraid that a phone camera can capture them from a few metres. Do not use flash near nesting birds, and never step off the path to chase a better shot, because chicks and eggs can be almost invisible in the leaf litter. If you are staying on Praslin for several days, schedule the visit early in your trip, so that you can reschedule if the weather or sea conditions force a cancellation.