Most of the time volunteers on Cousin Island enjoy the luxury of free weekends. This is a chance for everyone to let their hair down and explore the rest of the Seychelles. Particularly popular trip destinations include the islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue.
We had a fantastic time in Mahe staying in a guesthouse in Beau Vallon – really appreciating the air con and general cleanliness after several weeks on the trot on Cousin with no modern conveniences. We walked around Victoria which is the Capital City of the Seychelles. This didn’t take us long as it is so small!
The highlight of the weekend has to be the three hour hike along the stunning coastline with absolutely jaw-dropping views. However for those who drank a fair quantity of Takamaka rum the hike was a lot more challenging than for those who made more sensible decisions the night before.
We had a blast on La Digue. The island has a really good vibe as there are few cars and everyone rolls about on bicycles which we got free with our accommodation. Again we took on some coastline walking and enjoyed good snorkelling conditions grabbing the opportunity to take an aquatic selfie. We also visited a very fancy hotel for cocktails. Highly recommended if you like to feel like a celebrity from time to time. I became very fond of Praslin Island as I visited it most frequently. It is host to an abundance of gorgeous beaches and some excellent establishments where you can splash the cash on over priced but extremely tasty milkshakes!
For volunteers wishing to experience the underwater Seychelles there are several Scuba Diving Centres.
Staying on the island for the weekend is also a wise choice. It gives you the chance to really discover every corner and relax in its beauty.
I’d like to thank every single person from Cousin for making my experience so much fun. I will never forget my three months there.
Gail Fordham