Seychelles
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Prices:
Main tour
2011 £ 3,495
The price includes scheduled return flights London/Mahé, internal flights as detailed above, ground and boat transportation, accommodation, all meals, local taxes, incidental tips, and the services of the leader.
2012 £ 3,795 Extension 2011 £ 1,095 2012 £ 1,195 Single supps.: Main tour 2011 £ 695 2012 £ 745 Extension 2011 £ 445 2012 £ 495 Deposit: £ 500 per person The price excludes holiday insurance, the services of the leader on the extension, optional tips to local guides, drinks and other items of a personal nature. Special Note While we shall do our utmost to keep to the itinerary on this page, local weather conditions may make it impossible to land on Aride or Cousin. Leaders: Barrie Cooper & local guides Please note that the extension is not guided. |
A breeze sways the trees behind the white sandy beach where warm turquoise waters lap the shoreline. Tropicbirds float gently in the sky, while beautiful and absurdly tame white Fairy Terns return to their nests finely balanced on thin branches. Meanwhile, Brown and Lesser Noddy terns return to their scruffy nests as the Seychelles Magpie Robin looks for insects in the leaf litter. A Hawksbill Turtle climbs up the beach to lay perhaps 150 eggs; she may make this journey six times during the coming weeks. All of this could be happening on Cousin, one of the amazing islands that make up the ocean jewels known as the Seychelles. |
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The Seychelles are quite unique. Like no other oceanic islands, they are formed from the granite of two splitting continents, a geology that gives them some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Their long isolation in the Indian Ocean has given them a number of plants and animals that have evolved from their original African ancestors into quite separate endemic species that are found nowhere else. And the fact that these are the only islands for a thousand miles has made them a magnet for literally millions of breeding seabirds.
Itinerary Day 1 We depart from London in the evening to arrive Mahé the next day Day 2 We arrive on Mahé, and take a domestic flight straight to Praslin, where we stay at a wonderfully-situated hotel. Laws in the Seychelles prohibit any buildings over treetop height, and so all hotels blend superbly with their surroundings. We have plenty of time today to explore the immediate vicinity or just acclimatise. Last time birds seen around the hotel included Seychelles Black Parrot, Seychelles Bulbul and Seychelles Sunbird as well as the introduced Madagascar Turtle Dove, Barred Ground Dove and Madagascar Fody, and the ever-present Seychelles Fruit Bats appear during the late afternoon. Overnight Praslin Day 3 This morning we take a short boat trip to the small low-lying island of Cousin. Only half a mile or so across, this tiny island supports half the world's population of the Seychelles Brush Warbler. We can also see the Seychelles Fody, or Toq-toq here, as well as Seychelles Turtle Doves. These are mostly pure-bred on Cousin, while elsewhere in the islands they have hybridised with the introduced Madagascar race. Another endemic, Seychelles Magpie Robin has been introduced here from Fregate. Many seabirds nest here too, and we can expect to see White-tailed Tropicbird tails protruding from their nests in the bases of trees, to learn the difference between Brown and Lesser Noddies, and to see Fairy Terns with eggs and young precariously balanced on the forks of branches. This is the start of the egg-laying season for the threatened Hawksbill Turtle. These turtles come ashore during the daytime, so if we are very lucky we may get a privileged view of one of these magnificent reptiles. We return for lunch and a relaxing afternoon of gentle birdwatching around the hotel. Overnight Praslin Day 4 During one of the next two days we plan to visit Aride. The exhilarating boat ride finishes up on a surf beach where windy conditions can make landing difficult. Aride is one of the best seabird islands in the archipelago, and is home to vast numbers of Sooty Terns, White-tailed Tropicbirds, Lesser Noddies, and several hundred pairs of Roseate Terns, the largest Indian Ocean colony. Both Greater and Lesser Frigatebirds also roost on the island, altogether forming one of the world's most impressive seabird gatherings. We spend the whole day on Aride, where a barbeque lunch is provided. Overnight Praslin Day 5 We take the inter-island boat service to La Digue. Here we hope to see the Seychelles Black Paradise Flycatcher. This dream of an endemic bird with its splendid long tail is still highly endangered and sometimes not easy to find on its special reserve. However, our leader was involved in a conservation project for this bird, so he knows some of the best places to find them. La Digue may also present us with good views of the Seychelles Cave Swiftlet. After lunch at the Island Lodge we are free to enjoy the swimming and snorkelling here. Overnight Praslin Day 6 We visit the atmospheric Vallée de Mai, with its unique population of Coco de Mer trees. This palm tree with huge leaves bears weirdly shaped fruit, with the largest seeds in the world. Originally dispersed by the sea, this mechanism cannot have been too successful, as the trees can now be found nowhere else in the world but here and on nearby Curieuse. In the valley we look for the Seychelles Black Parrot, the Seychelles Blue Pigeon, and Seychelles Bulbul, whilst Seychelles Cave Swiftlets fly overhead. We have the afternoon to relax on one of the superb beaches. Overnight Praslin Day 7 After a final morning here we fly back to Mahéâ and transfer to our hotel for a relaxing afternoon. Overnight Mahé Day 8 Today we explore Mahé itself. The lowland areas of Mahé offer some really beautiful places for birds and tropical wildlife. Here we may see Seychelles Kestrel and the rather more elusive Seychelles White-eye, as well as a second chance to see Seychelles Bulbul and Seychelles Blue Pigeon at La Reserve, where Seychelles Cave Swiftlets fly over the palm forest. The mangrove-lined reserve of Crocodile Rock hosts waders, which may include both Greater and Lesser Sand Plover, and, possibly, the striking Crab Plover. In the evening we'll make a special trip up Morne Blanc to try and find the endemic Seychelles Scops Owl. Overnight Mahé Day 9 We should have some time for a relaxing morning around the hotel or perhaps visit a local site to search for some migrants. A visit to Victoria market for souvenirs may be a more attractive option for some. We catch a return evening flight, arriving London on Day 10. Independent Extension Day 9 Overnight Mahé Days 10 - 12 You make an early start to catch the inter-island flight to Bird Island. A three-night stay on this remarkable speck in the Indian Ocean should provide some wonderful wildlife experiences. Bird Island is a flat coral cay of less than a square mile. White sand beaches backed with tall swaying palm trees - everyone's idea of a desert island in fact! You stay in palm-thatched chalets. The lodge is renowned for its friendly welcome and informal creole-style cooking. You will share the island with a million (or two!) birds. No less than eight species of tern breed here, mostly Sooty Tern, and migrant waders can often be found on the beaches. But it is the sight and sound of innumerable seabirds that, together with the spectacular sunsets, will provide you with the most lasting memories of this wonderful place. Three nights Bird Island Lodge Day 13 You catch a return flight to Mahé, where you have the whole day for relaxation and perhaps some final shopping. Overnight Mahé Day 14 Morning return flight to London arriving later the same day Accommodation will be as outlined above with all rooms en suite. Leaders: Barrie Cooper & local guides Please note that the extension is not guided. Numbers: Max. 14 clients UK Tel: 01305 267994, UK Fax: 01305 265506, International Tel: +44-1305-267994, International Fax: +44-1305-265506 email: info@naturalist.co.uk | |