Cousin

On Cousin Island, nature watching ranges from leaf litter on the ground to the beaches where seabirds nest. During hawksbill turtle season, rangers lead tours along beaches where turtles nest. Nature and its protection are closely linked to the island’s history. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in the Seychelles, you can consider Cousin as a destination for nature watching and conservation.

An island with a history of conservation

In 1968, after being acquired by the International Council for Bird Preservation, now BirdLife International, Cousin Island was declared a nature reserve. The aim was to protect the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus seychellensis). The Cousin Island Special Reserve also has the world’s longest-running hawksbill turtle monitoring programme. Protecting the Seychelles warbler and long-term monitoring of hawksbill turtles are therefore among the island’s defining themes.

These two aspects give nature watching a special context: animals can be seen not only as individual encounters, but also in the context of species conservation.

From leaf litter to nesting beaches

Visitors can watch lizards foraging in the leaf litter on Cousin Island, as well as nesting seabirds. Invertebrates also feature among the wildlife-watching opportunities listed here, including crabs, spiders, millipedes and termites. The experience extends beyond conspicuous birds and turtles to smaller animals and their behaviour in the leaf litter. If you’re travelling with children, this change in perspective can be an opportunity to look more closely together.

The seasonal ranger tours have a distinct focus: they follow beaches where turtles nest. This sets them apart from watching lizards in the leaf litter or observing invertebrates. The season refers to when the tours take place, not to a guaranteed turtle sighting. Encounters with other wildlife are not guaranteed either.

More nature and cultural themes in the Seychelles

Other places in the Seychelles have their own nature and cultural highlights. On La Digue, the Veuve Special Reserve covers 21 hectares and forms part of a 200-hectare plateau on the island’s west side. Reserve staff answer questions and help visitors find birds. On Curieuse, a raised boardwalk runs through the swamp and provides access to the mangrove habitat even at high tide; a mangrove swamp borders Baie Laraie there.

Moyenne Island in the Ste. Anne Marine Park, which comprises six islands, offers a different focus. Moyenne is home to the remains of early settlers’ houses, pirate graves and a small thatched-roof chapel. These examples differ in theme: Cousin focuses on wildlife watching and conservation, while the places mentioned on La Digue, Curieuse and Moyenne offer other nature and history themes in the Seychelles. The Seychelles’ marine parks are accessible by boat; Port-Launay is also accessible on foot.

Choosing the right focus for your trip

When looking for a holiday rental in the Seychelles, it helps to first decide what you want your trip to focus on. If you’re particularly interested in wildlife watching on Cousin, lizards, seabirds and seasonal turtle tours will be central to your plans. Mangroves, birdwatching or island history point to other themes mentioned here.

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