Lyn Mair is a naturalist and travel guide who specializes in the islands of the western Indian Ocean, West Africa and Antarctica. Passionate about birdwatching, she regularly leads tours to exotic places and lectures on board ships plying the tropical waters off Africa and Polar regions. She was one of the first volunteers to undertake environmental monitoring on Aldabra and has also spent many months travelling around the islands. Since her first visit in1995 she has set foot on many of the most remote islands in the Seychelles. Lynnath Beckley is a professor of marine science at Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia and specialises in the Indian Ocean. She has undertaken scientific research, travelled and sailed extensively in the western Indian Ocean and has been writing for magazines, journals and books for many years.

PART 1 GENERAL INFORMATION Chapter 1 Background Information Geography, Climate, History, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Education, Culture Chapter 2 Biodiversity Plants, Invertebrates, Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals, Birds, Coral reefs, Marine invertebrates, Fish Chapter 3 Practical Information When to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Seychelles tourist offices, Red tape, Embassies and consulates, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and festivals, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Media and communications, Sports and recreation, Buying property, Travelling positively PART 2 THE ISLANDS Chapter 4 Mahe Getting there and away, Getting around, Inter-island travel, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Nightlife, Victoria, Discovering Victoria, Discovering Mahe, Independent tours for cruise-ship passengers, Walks on Mahe, Excursions to satellite islands Chapter 5 Praslin Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Nightlife, Other practicalities, Discovering Praslin, Walks on Praslin, Excursions to satellite islands Chapter 6 La Digue Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Nightlife, Other practicalities, Discovering La Digue, Excursions from La Digue Chapter 7 Other Inner Islands Silhouette, North Island, Mamelles, Fregate, Aride, Cousin, Cousine, Curieuse, Ile St Pierre, Felicite, Les Soeurs, Ile Cocos and Marianne, Denis, Bird Chapter 8 Outer Coralline Islands The Amirantes, The Alphonse group, The Farquhar group, Plat, Coetivy Chapter 9 The Aldabra Group Assumption, Astove, Cosmoledo, Aldabra Appendices Language Further Info Index