The island is richly biodiverse, with the mountains casting shadows over forests and creatures. Silhouette is home to a number of rare and threatened plant and animal species. The slopes of Mont Dauban are home to the endemic carnivorous pitcher plants. Bats hang from the treetops, waking in the evening to feast on ripe breadfruit and mangoes.
Almost all of the Inner Islands are granitic, but there are two nearby coralline islands, Bird Island and Denis Island.
Bird Island
A 30-minute flight from Mahé takes visitors to Bird Island, the northernmost island in the Seychelles archipelago. It’s small, only 5 kilometres across, with a small offering of self-catering villas, a restaurant and a shop. Bird-watchers flock to its shores for the unique experiences of seeing millions of seabirds. From May to October, part of the island is home to around 700,000 pairs of sooty tern. Many migratory Eurasian birds also make landfall here, and there are plenty of interesting full-time residents too, like Barred Ground Doves, Greater Crested Terns, Noddies, Frigatebirds, and various waders.
Bird Island is not all about birds, though. Underwater or along the shoreline, you might come across hawksbill and green turtles, and on land, you can make the acquaintance of Esmerelda, the oldest giant tortoise in the world. Of course, swimming, snorkelling and kayaking are on the menu.
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