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After the roasty toasty deserts of the Arabian Peninsula it was much more comfortable for us at the tropical islands of the Seychelles. An ancient archipelago, unique in many ways and not in the least in its wildlife.

I wrote a lengthy report for your perusal. I hope you will enjoy!
http://www.herpsafari.nl/tripreports-ou ... eychelles/

Hey everybody,

for even more pictures, but less background info, here are the links to my flickr-albums of our Seychelles-adventure:
Mahé:
https://flic.kr/s/aHskDzENeR
Praslin (including daytrips to Curieuse and Cousin island):
https://flic.kr/s/aHskDXtJSF
La Digue:
https://flic.kr/s/aHskK65n2s
Thanks and enjoy!

Very interesting reading about a seldom-covered part of the world. It seems that you had time not only to photograph target species but also to be imbued with this unique ecosystem, which to me is the purpose of a successful herping trip. The landscapes are amazing and the rich flora counterbalances the lack of snakes diversity, in my opinion .

Epic! I like the Geckos (Phelsuma have been my pets at home...) & the Caecilian (if all Amphibeans were so cool)...
Thanks for sharing.

Cheers
Peter

Very interesting indeed ! This huge female frog is impressive, as the turtles (beautiful pictures of these big animals !).
I love Island herping because you feel like having a good level of understanding of the biodiversity, with less species than continental tropics.

I see a lot of similarities with the Réunion fauna, a french island near the seychelles.

Robin

ps : with my wife, our honeymoon was also a naturalist island trip, in Guadeloupe (Lesser Antilles) . I think I should make a post about this poorly know island.

Very nice findings and beautiful pictures!
Congrats also to your herpingmoon report in the UAE

Nice pictures. One day, I should go there too, I suddenly feel the need for feeding apples to giant turtles.

Cheers
Pablo

Thanks a lot everyone!

Guillaume Gomard wrote:Very interesting reading about a seldom-covered part of the world. It seems that you had time not only to photograph target species but also to be imbued with this unique ecosystem, which to me is the purpose of a successful herping trip. The landscapes are amazing and the rich flora counterbalances the lack of snakes diversity, in my opinion .

Robin Duborget wrote:Very interesting indeed ! This huge female frog is impressive, as the turtles (beautiful pictures of these big animals !).
I love Island herping because you feel like having a good level of understanding of the biodiversity, with less species than continental tropics.

I see a lot of similarities with the Réunion fauna, a french island near the seychelles.

ps : with my wife, our honeymoon was also a naturalist island trip, in Guadeloupe (Lesser Antilles) . I think I should make a post about this poorly know island.

Yes, you are both very right and it was just great to spend a lot of time (but never enough!) in such an ecosystem. I read a lot about the flora and then to see it also in the wild is just great. And although I love finding snakes it didn't bug me at all we only found three snakes in three weeks time To see Paradise Flycatchers fluttering above your head, with fairy terns resting in the trees and giant millipedes and curious skinks at your feet is at least as good. I also like to get a good sense of the ecosystem on my travels and that includes seeing as many taxa as possible, not being restricted (but with a strong focus) on herps.

And Robin, please don't hesitate to post those pictures, I can never get enough of rarely seen herps.

Peter Oefinger wrote:Epic! I like the Geckos (Phelsuma have been my pets at home...) & the Caecilian (if all Amphibeans were so cool)...
Thanks for sharing.

Although I was looking forward of seeing my first wild Phelsuma you might have noticed the lack of pictures of them in the report. Horrible animals! Always hiding behind branches or sitting in semishade And all amphibians are as cool as caecilians, if not cooler!!!

Pablo Deschepper wrote:Nice pictures. One day, I should go there too, I suddenly feel the need for feeding apples to giant turtles.

I still feel that need every day. So. Much.

Congrats Laura & Bobby! Seems you had a great time away.

Pablo Deschepper wrote:Nice pictures. One day, I should go there too, I suddenly feel the need for feeding apples to giant turtles.

If that's the case, feel free to come and visit London Zoo!

Fantastic! Love the paradisiacal beach sceneries and these huge tortoises.