Cousin Island Seychelles Baie Sainte Anne
20
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
Emerald Waterways (20 Cruises)
Emerald Kaia
20 Cruises
Frequently Asked Questions
Nowhere: there is no pier. The ship anchors offshore and passengers land by Zodiac straight onto the beach, wading ashore. Cousin lies about 2 km off Praslin.
No. Access is by guided walk only, with a reserve warden, on weekday mornings roughly between 9:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Independent wandering is not allowed.
About 90 minutes of guided walking, a loop through the forest and along the shore. With the Zodiac transfer, plan on half a day.
Birds, above all: the reserve holds roughly 300,000 seabirds. White-tailed tropicbirds nest on the ground, along with noddies, terns and shearwaters, plus the Seychelles warbler and the Seychelles magpie-robin. Aldabra giant tortoises sometimes cross the path.
Because the whole island was bought in 1968 by the International Council for Bird Preservation, now BirdLife International, to save the Seychelles warbler. It was the first island reserve in the world acquired by an international organization.
Yes, depending on the season. Cousin is the most important hawksbill turtle nesting site in the western Indian Ocean. Tracks in the sand are common, and nesting sometimes happens in broad daylight, watched from a respectful distance.
None at all. No shop, no café, no terrace. Bring water, a hat and sturdy sandals, and carry your waste back out with you.
Yes, provided the child walks unaided and stays on the path. The loop is flat and short, but birds nest on the ground within a step of your feet, so nobody leaves the trail.
No, swimming is not part of the visit. The beach is used for landings and turtle nesting, and shore time is tightly managed.
The Seychellois rupee elsewhere in the archipelago, but nothing to pay here since there are no shops. Seychellois Creole, French and English are spoken; reserve wardens guide mainly in English.
