Aride & Curieuse Islands, Seychelles
This morning called for an early start and for a very good reason. Our destination was Aride, arguably one of the finest islands for wildlife on the planet. This nature reserve is home to such a remarkable diversity of wildlife it is hard to know what to look at next – plants, reptiles or birds. You can call me biased, but perhaps the birds steal the show. At peak season, the 68 hectares of Aride are home to over a million seabirds. And it is not just the seabirds that grab the attention. Aride is also home to a fine selection of some of the unique landbirds to be found in the granitic islands of the Seychelles. While “little brown jobs” such as the Seychelles fody and Seychelles warbler cannot be regarded as common, the undoubted star is the Seychelles magpie-robin. Once numbering only tens of individuals, intensive conservation efforts have brought this species back from the brink of extinction and now, with a population of approximately 200 birds (of which about 10% are on Aride), its future would seem secure.
Our time in the granitic islands of the Seychelles has demonstrated vividly both the unique nature and the fragility of island ecosystems. The arrival of humans on uninhabited islands and the subsequent changes to the environment has been the death knell of many species; none more famously than the dodo on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. In the Seychelles, species such as the paradise flycatcher and magpie-robin have narrowly avoided the same fate partly through chance but also because of the foresight and dedicated efforts of conservationists.
The afternoon saw a change of pace from the wildlife riches of the morning. A beach on the island of Curieuse beckoned and we went out for an afternoon of watersports – snorkeling, kayaking and diving – or simply relaxing on the beach. Meanwhile, our fine galley team prepared a beach barbecue, enjoyed with a cold beer while watching the sunset colour the sky. A perfect end to the day.
This morning called for an early start and for a very good reason. Our destination was Aride, arguably one of the finest islands for wildlife on the planet. This nature reserve is home to such a remarkable diversity of wildlife it is hard to know what to look at next – plants, reptiles or birds. You can call me biased, but perhaps the birds steal the show. At peak season, the 68 hectares of Aride are home to over a million seabirds. And it is not just the seabirds that grab the attention. Aride is also home to a fine selection of some of the unique landbirds to be found in the granitic islands of the Seychelles. While “little brown jobs” such as the Seychelles fody and Seychelles warbler cannot be regarded as common, the undoubted star is the Seychelles magpie-robin. Once numbering only tens of individuals, intensive conservation efforts have brought this species back from the brink of extinction and now, with a population of approximately 200 birds (of which about 10% are on Aride), its future would seem secure.
Our time in the granitic islands of the Seychelles has demonstrated vividly both the unique nature and the fragility of island ecosystems. The arrival of humans on uninhabited islands and the subsequent changes to the environment has been the death knell of many species; none more famously than the dodo on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. In the Seychelles, species such as the paradise flycatcher and magpie-robin have narrowly avoided the same fate partly through chance but also because of the foresight and dedicated efforts of conservationists.
The afternoon saw a change of pace from the wildlife riches of the morning. A beach on the island of Curieuse beckoned and we went out for an afternoon of watersports – snorkeling, kayaking and diving – or simply relaxing on the beach. Meanwhile, our fine galley team prepared a beach barbecue, enjoyed with a cold beer while watching the sunset colour the sky. A perfect end to the day.
