We arrived during breakfast to views of Praslin Island laid out before us—rusty red soil cloaked in forest, hillsides dotted with habitation, lodges, and villas—we had arrived into the more “metropolitan” Seychelles.
Yet another beautifully sunny morning and gentle breeze greeted us for a lovely breakfast on the open deck. On our journey we had certainly been blessed us with a swathe of unusually wonderful days—we had come to expect only the best!
Gliding by Zodiac to shore we alighted various buses and were whisked away with local guides and drivers and expedition team members also accompanying us. Our principal destination was the Vallee de Mai Tour to the local nature reserve—a world heritage site harboring an assortment of wildlife including the rare endemic black parrot, various geckos, freshwater crabs, and the pièce de résistance—the incredible Coco de Mer—peculiar palms endemic only to the Seychelles, where male and female fruits mimic those of us humans!
Very unusual, visually sensual, and intriguing—no surprise that early traders who held the secret destination of Seychelles Coco de Mer’s could spawn fairy tales of origins in submarine citadels and spread the infectious value of these fruits in such a way that they attracted fortunes in days now gone.
A perfectly paced and informative walk around the well-paved tracks ended at the park entrance where souvenirs were on display and attracted some last minute shopping. We then boarded buses and returned back to port via a lovely beach where refreshments were available for us—very welcome in such thirsty weather—and a few more souvenir opportunities availed themselves!
Back on board for a healthy lunch with yet again delightfully creative salads and dishes whipped up by our hotel department, after which we took off in Zodiacs to reach a sleepy touristic port on La Digue. On shore, people had options to enjoy free time exploring the many village shops, take a ‘gratis’ bicycle for a wheel about the town or beyond its outskirts, or join the planned and prepared truck tour to visit the interesting plantation areas which offered glimpses off bygone days on the islands. Copra kilns, a traditional coconut oil mill plantation house were some of the highlights. All aboard our buses again and we made for the world famous Anse Source D’Argent beach for photographic opportunities and a chance for a last swim.
Many chose to rest at one of the village bars in the portside village of La Passe before returning through the swell to the softening light of a slowly setting sun over shapely granite boulders whose rich quarry of silica give these idyllic islands their beautiful white beaches. Lush green hillsides in golden light would be our final sights here as we cleaned ourselves up and joined our Captain’s Farewell Cocktail Party as the first stars appeared in a lilac sky above our ship.
Many thanks were showered on those particularly responsible for the great success of our expedition—particularly Captain Lubo and Tim, our expedition leader, with considerable support from Linnea as his assistant. We were then underway to Mahe and would reach our final port during dinner.
It had been a spectacular expedition in so many ways, such an amiable group of kindred spirits enjoying some of our planets most amazing and inspiring places, filled with stories, incredible wildlife, and exotic environments that make the most memorable of experiences.
