Cousin Island Special Reserve

Cousin is a superb example of an eco-tourism site and is one of the World's very first island reserves. This granite island was first created a nature reserve in 1968 by the International Council for Bird Preservation (now Birdlife International) to protect the tiny endangered population of Seychelles Warblers.

The entire island, including the reef around it to a distance of 400m, is a Special Reserve. Managed by Nature Seychelles (formely Birdlife Seychelles), a local non-profit non-governmental organisation. Cousin is an island totally reserved for conservation and the only granitic island in Seychelles totally rehabilitated with natural vegetation.

It is one of the best protected sites for nesting Hawksbill turtles in the world and boasts the highest density of lizards per hectare in the world. Cousin is visited by 300,000 nesting seabirds each year and is home to five endemic land birds. It also has the best protected and most diverse fish population of any reserve in the granitic islands. Opeaning Hours: The Reserve is open for a half-day tour from Mondays to Fridays, from 0930hrs-1200hrs.