For the first blog on my web site, here's a short piece on our recent experience visiting Silhouette Island in the Seychelles, late July/early Aug 2016.

To start off, just to say that like many people, I love to travel, love to share experiences with my loved ones, love to create images, and dream of visiting a multitude of diverse locations. As my time is often short, that may be locally on Ashdown Forest, or visits to Richmond Park and other areas in the UK, but occasionally to be able to travel to far flung places and share it with my loved ones, is extra speacial! This visit to Silhouette island, was one of those dream opportunities, it was one to celebrate a number of major milestones in our lives. Silhouette didn't disappoint. I hope it inspires you to do similar.

There's the option of 2 modes of transport from Mahe (the main island) to Silhouette; motor launch or helicopter.

This is a blog that hopefully provides some info for anyone who may be interested, but importantly to me, to share my images, and some of the wonders in nature.

When we visited last year there weren't direct flights from the UK, so our chosen route was London to Dubai, then onto the Seychelles - it was a long journey (with long gaps between connecting flights). Well worth it though, having been lucky enough to visit neighbouring Praslin Island for our 10th wedding anniversary a few years ago, we longed to go back.

Rumour has it, BA will be flying direct to the Seychelles from 2018 making the journey there so much easier!

Praslin Island is in fact a great base in the Seychelles, we were lucky enough to have day visits to the truly stunning La Digue, Curieuse, Aride, and were lucky enough to see the endangered Magpie Robin and photograph Fairy Terns in close proximity on Cousine.

This time round, once landed in Mahe, the main island, we took the short hop over to Silhouette, an island that's 95% national park, and what a stunning place. Those interested in fantastic service, friendly staff, comfort, great food, natural surroundings, peace and quiet in a stunning tropical location, this is paradise! Certainly a great place to celebrate those important milestones in life, or if you just want some some pampering or luxury!

Once landed on Silhouette, this is the first beach you'll come across - right by the helicopter pad, and the small 'harbour'.

It's not all about sitting on the beach, for me there was far too much to do on Silhouette. Loads to see and lots of photo opportunities; there's the natural beauty, wildlife encounters, snorkelling and diving, great walking, from nice easy coastal strolls to energetic and strenuous hikes over the mountain with fantastic views, a number of indigenous species to see including the Seychelles Tiger Chameleon, Seychelles Sunbirds to the Seychelles Pitcher Plant which lives high in the mist forests on Mahe and Silhouette.

The beaches are stunning, pure white coral sand of course, palm fringed, with fantastic turquoise seas. Everything you need for a quiet, relaxing break - the Seychelles are truly stunning, with many islands having large areas protected from development. It's well worth the trip, worth saving for. For me, simple things were best - the scenery, the snorkelling, the wildlife and the sun rises overlooking Praslin Island each morning were certainly worth getting up early for!

Silhouette, with North Island in the distance

Silhouette, the wilder south eastern coast

Silhouette, our villa in the early morning light, right on the beach

View from the villa, straight onto the stunning beach with the house reef coming into view, and Mahe (the big island) in the distance

Silhouette, if you can drag yourself away from the coast, there's a magnificent pool

For those interested in nature, the island plays host to all sorts birdlife, fruit bats, ghost crabs, mudskippers, and marine life. We had a great time above and below the waves!

With patience, it's possible to get close to the fruit bats, the local herons and sunbirds, and with even more patience, the fascinating ghost crabs and mudskippers.

Mudskipper; still a fish so needs to be near water in order to breathe, but able to haul out of the pools, walk and skip across the mud.

White (or Fairy) Tern - this image is a scan from film taken on an old manual focus Canon A-1  and 70-200mm lens; taken on Cousine island on our previous trip, these Terns are also on Silhouette. Fairy Terns nest on branches such as t… — White (or Fairy) Tern - this image is a scan from film taken on an old manual focus Canon A-1 and 70-200mm lens; taken on Cousine island on our previous trip, these Terns are also on Silhouette. Fairy Terns nest on branches such as this - very precarious!
Ever since seeing them in the opening scenes in David Attenborough's Life on Earth, I wanted to see and photograph them.

Sunrise on Silhouette, with Striated Heron

Silhouette, Seychelles

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