Visit Cousine Island For An Aviarian Experience

browse (1 / 4)

Although Cousine Island is one of the smallest granitic islands within the Seychelle Archipelago (measuring just 1 km in diameter), it plays a vital role within the region’s eco-system. Established as a private nature reserve for birds in 1968, Cousine Island was afforded further protection in 1974 when it was designated a Special Reserve by the Seychelles government. Conde Nast Traveler and British airways have both awarded the island international awards for its conservation and ecotourism efforts. Originally used as a coconut plantation in the 1900’s, the island’s indigenous vegetation has been fully restored. Many species of land and sea birds now call the island home.

Over 10,000 visitors a year make their way to Cousine Island. Bird watching has been made easy on the 1 km island - over 300,000 reside on the island. The rare Seychelles warbler, fairy terns, two varieties of shearwater, the Seychelles Magpie Robin, white-tailed tropic birds and seven species of sea birds all nest here. A true avian experience in every sense of the word!

Organized tours depart from the island Praslin from Tuesday through to Friday (Cousine Island lies approximately 2km from Praslin). Visitors to the island are transported to the Cousin boat (a measure undertaken by Cousine Island to prevent the inadvertent introduction of pests) and ferried to the island. The island is open to visitors between 10am to 12pm and there is an entry fee of € 25.00. The reserve is managed solely by local staff and benefits local communities on the neighboring Praslin Island.