The nature highlight of our Seychelles holiday was 4 days on Bird Island – our second visit and we loved it. [We knew we were back when the plane had to circle the island to check there weren’t any giant tortoises on the runway before his approach!] We’d asked for Hut 26 which was the one we’d had before and is the one furthest from the reception/bar area. Here it not only makes you feel you’ve the island to yourselves, being the last in the line, but is also slightly quieter at night and with a magnificent view of the stars all around you – no lighting from hut to hut – you use torches, so no light pollution and every star visible. The noise factor is purely the noddy chicks screaming for mum and dad 24hrs a day and you soon get used to it. The accommodation is all you could want for your stay with a nice large bathroom, a mosquito net around the bed and an overhead fan. There is no air con – there aren’t any windows – just wooden shutters to be propped up during the day - so aircon would be useless, there are no TV’s and no mobile signals – you’re totally alone with nature. This is not a holiday for those wanting 5 star modern facilities but if you’re happy with sharing your room with geckos, birds nesting 2’ outside your window and don’t mind the odd moorhen chick wandering in for a look then this is for you. Sit outside on your verandah and the birds come to you. Go in the sea and the turtles and rays are all around. Wander the beaches and they’re all yours. Go over the bar and meet in a friendly get together with those there for 24hours or those staying a number of weeks. We had 4 days which was just right being our second time

As before we were welcomed at the airstrip and were so pleased to discover Robbie was there in charge of Conservation – we first met him on Cousine Island in 2003 – he lives and breathes his job and makes everyone equally as interested on his Nature Walk the day after arrival. With a million sooty terns in the colony at the other end of the island; arctic terns, tropic birds, noddys, frigates, fairy terns, golden plovers, moorhens, minors, barred ground doves, madacasgar fodys and sunbirds it is a photography dream – they are totally at ease with humans and happy for close up photos. Add to that you’ve giant tortoises [like Esmeraldo who is now 270yrs old and still going strong]
who raise up like Citreon cars to enjoy you rubbing their heads and who wander everywhere at will including into manmade concrete water pools for a leisurely wallow
The food was wholesome and tasty and all the staff couldn’t have been more helpful and friendly. We were a fortnight too late for tern omelette for breakfast but if there earlier in the year we can highly recommend it. The prices for drinks were very good bearing in mind everything has to come in by plane – certainly on a par with Praslin.
One small point to bear in mind is that no air con and open windows with high humidity means clothing gets slightly damp so try to make the next stop somewhere you can sort that out. Also take your own washing line and plastic pegs - their metal pegs get rusty with the humidity.
This island is keeping the true Seychelles spirit alive, does not pamper tourists but lets them enjoy paradise and is the Seychelles destination you’ll never forget. A Classic example - whilst there 8 German medical students studying in Mahe, who’d saved up for the opportunity, flew in for a 24hours stay. They were so impressed only 3 left with us – the rest found the extra to stay longer....

Bird Island is my favourite place in all of Seychelles. You feel like you are on the edge of the world, a step back in time, away from the modern world..... theres no TV, no Air-con, no mini-bar, no pool, no cell-phones, no locks on the doors. Just a simple, comfortable chalet, wonderful island style food, beautiful breathtaking beaches and turquoise sea, and nature!
Oh and Birds, millions of them.... I met couples staying there for 3 weeks, escaping from busy lives and work schedules... a perfect place.
I will be back.....

As part of a holiday to Seychelles in April, we started with a trip to Bird Island! We love nature and birds so this was the place to go. Our agent kindly organised a Seychelles Bird Book beforehand and we had tried to do our homework with what birds we could expect to see. It is very worthwhile to do this.

Firstly, getting there is huge fun on what we dubbed, the "flying car". Such a small plane and you strap yourself in like a car, the engine bubbles to life and off you fly. Like a bird over the sea, over little islands and that beautiful blue, clear water you come to land in the middle of nowhere and feel like you'll land up in the sea as you glide down to meet it. The runway is real short and the pilot needs a medal for landing so beautifullly on the grass! We were met by hotel staff, Robby the conservationst and various guests curious to watch the landing and of course, Esmeralda, the giant tortoise! What a love he is!

The rooms are wonderfully cool and thoughtfully appointed with a backdoor and hose outside to hose down and rinse off sand from cozzies and snorkel gear before stepping straight into the kingsize shower room. Loo is seperate which is sensible. Beds are really comfortable with overhead fan and those awesome huge window shutters held up by a pole. Brown Noddies are all around, on the balcony, on the ground, some feeding their young, they are interesting birds and quite a challenge to spot the Lesser Noddy. Robbie the conservationist is a vast mine of information and nurtures the birds as if they were his own. His intimate knowledge of all the birds gathered from his fore-fathers and carried on today is a legacy which should never die and every effort made to uphold it. White-tailed Tropicbirds (our favourite) were nesting so we got a close up and personal look. They are so trusting and truly, if you've never seen one alive, you ought to! They are the most magnificent birds imaginable. Hand-painted with an unbelievable silver sheen. Bird Island has a lot to offer if you are keen on nature. The system which survives there is amazing and the birds just too beautiful. A few other species of birds which we had hoped to see had moved off already so it's important to learn which is the best time of year if you want to see all the birds, but the numbers are incredible.

Snorkelling is average, the sea a bit rough and early morning there were some baby sharks lazing off the beach which moved off as the sun came up. Typical behaviour to hang around dusk and dawn. However the sea topography is of great interest in some areas around the island and no doubt in quiet weather months the snorkelling must be a treat but the visibility is 30 metres at least, like a giant aquarium!

Food at Bird Island is superb and the chefs ultimately creative. They made a very special effort being Easter and came up with some truly exotic dishes. Again, their own system they have going there ito sustainable living is to be admired. Their meat, fresh produce, all from the island is a treat and an education. Robbie's walks around the island pointing out plants, trees, bird habits etc. is of utmost interest. He even managed to organise a baby turle releasing - what a treasure to capture this on film and more so to experience it firsthand. It is very humbling and moving. We had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of former CEO Sanparks who was there with his kids and grand-kids! Also, what awesome people and true lovers of nature. At Bird Island you will find like-minded gentle folk who really enjoy nature at it's best and who love to share their experiences and knowledge. No pretentiousness, airs or graces but the charm of Bird Island will overwhelm you. It is a very precious place and the people who are living and working there need to be admired and recognised for their efforts. If it's freedom to live in a costume and sarong, just be yourself, go exploring, wide open spaces, hot sunny weather, clear blue skies, sparkling sea to splash and snorkel in and raw nature you're after, then Bird Island is for you. An extraordinary experience.

This place is an experience! On some levels it's quite extreme with heat, flies and 24 hr bird noise but this is supplanted by a very special experience which gives you a feel of what the Sey heeled were like in the pre tourist era. Extremely nice owner and wildlife guide. Not for the faint hearted but definately for those looking beyond the tourist traps