If you are a birdwatcher and plan to make a trip to Seychelles make sure that you plan your itinerary well in advance and use professional guidance so that you have a wonderful experience. Over 140 incidents occurred in the region that were noted by Peter and Natalie Nash who listed their experience when they visited Seychelles referring to the Birds of the Seychelles, by Ian Bullock, Toney Disley and Adrian Skerret. They were able to name many small animals and over 50 species of the avifauna.

People who are dedicated to the preservation of birds used conservation measures to save the Seychelles Warbler from extinction in the 1960s. The Magpie Robin, the Seychelles Fody, Magpie Robin, Sunbird and the Blue Pigeon are some of the endemic land birds that are found on Cousin Island. The island is a great nesting site for important hawksbill turtles as well as noddies, white tailed tropic birds, bridled terns and shearwaters.

Aride is covered in woodland and has a lot of granite in the area. Visitors can visit from Thursday to Sunday. The viewpoint allows you to observe the frigate birds soaring from high points on the cliffs at eye level. The Sooty Ferns are only seen in this hilltop colony and the Lesser Noddies occupy the largest colony here. The Tropical Shearwaters, Fairy Terns, Brown Noddies, Red-tailed Tropicbirds and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters occupy large colonies in Arride, apart from the White-tailed Tropicbirds, who also live in a huge colony.

Praslin is the second largest island in Seychelles which houses the Bulbul and Black Parrot special to Seychelles. Several species of birds are found in these lush tropical forests. Apart from the birds, visitors find great pleasure in looking at the various species of plants such as Coco de mer and Vanilla orchids when they visit the Valee de Mai Nature Reserve.

Bird Island Seychelles is a private resort that is famous for its efforts of conservation. You can watch millions of birds converging on the island in May for nesting when you go on holidays to Seychelles.

Cost and Budgeting in Reunion
Reunion is moderately expensive. Meals here begin at €10 and rooms start at €20. Luxury hotels start at €100 per night. Outdoor activities usually begin around €60 euros and go up from there. While Reunion can be expensive, a trip to Reunion can be done cheaple if you stay in moderate accommodation and eat at the local markets. If you want more luxury and plan to do a lot of activities, plan to spend at least €170 per day.

Things to Do and See in Reunion
Visit a Volcano- Reunion’s interior is formed by Salazies Mountain in the west and the Grand Brule Mountain to the east, where visitors can see the island’s still-active volcano, the Piton de la Fournaise. Whether dormant or active, Reunion has a lot of good volcano to explore and watch.
Check out the Island’s Cirques- The island’s three cirques dominate the inner geography of Reunion. They are usually described as natural amphitheaters. Cirques are volcanos that collapsed upon themselves and offer great photo opportunities as well as cool hiking adventures and wildlife sightings.
Hike- Reunion has amazing lush, green forests in the interior where you’ll find birds and other wildlife as you hike through gorges and view amazing waterfalls.
Surf- The lively town of St. Leu is the perfect location for avid surfers as the waves here get pretty big.
Scuba Dive/Snorkel- There are a few reefs off the coast that will give you great views of African tropical fish and coral. The dive sites aren’t the best in the world but they are still very amazing. If diving isn’t your thing, there are places close to the shore for you to snorkel.
Pamper Yourself- Reunion has some amazing spas where you can pamper yourself, get a massage, relax, and unwind in this perfect tropical backdrop.

Reunion Weather
The peak tourist season is from late June to early September. Cyclones are pass through during the months of February and March. The drier winter months are the best for hiking. The temperature is pretty constant throughout the year. It usually ranges from the high 20 C to the mid 30 C.

Cost and Budgeting on Mauritius
Backpackers and other budget travelers staying in cheap accommodation and eating meals on the street can usually spend €25 to €30 per day. That doesn’t include any tours or activities. If you want a nice mid-range hotel and meals at some restaurants, you should budget at least €50 per day. An expensive hotel plus a few fancy restaurants, you’re looking at spending at least €175 per day. If you plan to do any activities while you are there (and you probably are), add €30 per day to your budget.

Things to See and Do in Mauritius
Visit Grand Bay- Grand Bay was the first place here in Mauritius to witness a big tourist boom. Grand Bay is a shopping and leisure paradise and is also the area where Mauritians go for great night-life.
Visit the Balaclava Ruins- Only a few meters from Baie aux Tortues, you’ll find the ruins of the old Balaclava estate. It’s an old villa that is truly spectacular. Visitors will be able to see the great sea walls that make this place so famous and were laid down by the famous Mahé de Labourdonnais. This is one of few historic spots on Mauritius.
See the Triolet Shivala- Triolet offers an opportunity to understand Hindu community on the island and see the biggest Hindu temple, the Maheswarnath, built in 1819 in honor Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, Muruga, Brahma and Ganesha.
Climb Le Pouce- This is an easy 2-hour climb from the village of Petit Verger (near St. Pierre), and takes another 2 hours to walk into Port Louis. It gives you stunning views of the area and is a great way to do something other than lying on the beach.
Watersports- Head to Grand Bay for cool water activities such as parasailing, an underwater walk, semi-submersible scooters, or go to La Cuvette, a long silky white sand beach with clear water between Grand Baie and Cap Malheureux. Here you can go sailing, windsurfing and waterskiing.
Scuba Dive- Diving is great here and there are some great wrecks around. You can dive on the west coast around Flic-en-Flac, in the north at Trou aux Biches, or the Northern Islands from November to April.
Hike in the Black River Gorges National Park- This park has an amazing array indigenous plants, birds and wildlife. Black River Peak trail goes to Mauritius’ highest mountain for excellent views of the islands (it’s a moderately challenging hike), while the Maccabee Trail starts nearby and plunges into the gorge to Black River.
Visit Tamarind Falls- Located inn the interior of the island, this is an awe inspiring 7 waterfalls surrounded by lush green mountains. Bring something to swim in as numerous pools little the area beneath certain falls. First time visitors would be advised not to go alone as it’s a tricky area to get too.

Mauritius Weather
Mauritius enjoys a typically tropical climate with year-round heat and humidity. The islands’ summer months are from December to April, when it can be extremely humid and very hot while the “winter” (less humidity, slightly more rain) runs from May to November. The best months to visit Mauritius are May to early December.

Cost and Budgeting in the Seychelles
Accommodation on the Seychelles is regulated by the tourist board and prices are carefully monitored. If you keep to the less expensive guesthouses, avoid most activities and eat lean, you might be able to get by on US$100 a day. However, a budget of US$200 – US$300 a day is more realistic if you want to do some diving, eat the country’s great seafood, or visit more than one island.

By law visitors must pay for all accommodation, excursions, car hire and transport in a major foreign currency, either in cash or by credit card. Prices for these services are nearly always quoted in Euro, UK pounds and US dollars. Tipping is welcomed but not obligatory. A 5-10% service charge is added to your bill in hotels and restaurants.

Things to do in the Seychelles
Hang out at the Beach- The beaches in Seychelles are the most beautiful in the world. Exploring various beaches is a good way to spend the day, especially if you should find one that is deserted.
Visit the Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve- Certainly one of the top Seychelles tourist attractions, the Valle de Mai Nature Reserve on Praslin Island is one of just two Seychelles World Heritage Sites.
Go Scuba Diving or Snorkeling- The Seychelles is one of the world’s top diving destinations, offering excellent visibility, scores of coral reefs to explore, and plenty of marine life to view. The waters around these islands have abundant marine life in them making any dive or snorkel trip a treat.
Take a Helicopter Tour- Helicopters are also one of the best ways to go about sightseeing in this stunningly beautiful Indian Ocean archipelago. The color of the turquoise water plays brilliantly off of the Seychelles beaches, which in turn present a stark contrast to dense, green jungle growth.
Go Birdwatching- Birdwatching in Seychelles is simply a joy for really anyone that likes to view wildlife. Some of the rarest birds on the planet can be found among the Seychelles islands. There are hundreds of species of birds that you can see in the Seychelles.
See the Giant Tortoises- The second World Heritage Site in Seychelles, this collection of raised, coralline islands is home to a resident population of Giant Tortoises, which reportedly number more than 150,000. It’s the largest population in the world and the trek to get to this reef will be worth it once you are swimming with these amazing turtles.
Shop- The Sir Selwyn Clarke Market is easily among the best places to do some shopping in Seychelles. A national landmark, this entry among Seychelles tourist attractions was originally erected in the 1840, receiving much-needed renovations in 1999. You’ll find souvenirs for sale here and local works of art. It’s also a great place to people watch.

Weather in Seychelles
The islands of the Seychelles enjoy a pleasant, tropical climate all year round. The best time to visit is during the cool season from May to September, when it rains less. Rainfall tends to be heaviest during mid-December to mid-January.