Public domain (Marion Schneider & Christoph Aistleitner), Wikimedia CommonsWildlife· Cousin· Seychelles
Cousin Island Special Reserve
4° 19.8′ S · 55° 39.8′ E
A 29 ha granite island bought by the International Council for Bird Preservation in 1968 to save the Seychelles warbler — then down to about 26 birds — and now a rat-free Special Reserve where more than 300,000 seabirds of seven species nest in the regrown woodland.
Practical
Managed by Nature Seychelles (BirdLife partner); Special Reserve since 1975 with a marine reserve about 400 m offshore. Also home to Aldabra giant tortoises, endemic lizards and daytime-nesting hawksbill turtles. Visits only on guided tours, Monday–Friday mornings; closed weekends and public holidays. No stores, water, toilets for yachts or barbecue — bring water, repellent and high-factor sunscreen. Contact: Nature Seychelles Mahé office +248 2519090, Cousin Island +248 2605700, nature@seychelles.net.
Best for
The definitive Seychelles bird-reserve visit
Season
Weekday mornings year-round
Nearby
- Cousin guided tour landing (reserve boat, weekday mornings)Right here
- Cousin hawksbill turtle nestingRight here
- Cousin seabird colonies and Seychelles warblerRight here
- Cousin anchorage (outside the marine reserve)0.3 NM away
- Whale shark season (Cousin and Cousine waters)1.1 NM away
- Anse Kerlan Anchorage1.8 NM away
- Anse Kerlan Village Shops1.8 NM away
- Black Pearl Farm (Seychelles Black Pearl)1.8 NM away