Day 8 (March 18, 2022): A Day to Explore Praslin

Today was our last full day on Praslin, as we start the 41-hour journey home tomorrow.  At 8AM, we did our Covid PCR testing at the resort next door to ours.  Then it was a breakfast at the resort that can only be described as “10/10”.

At 11AM, we headed by private boat to Curieuse Island, a former leper colony which is now a protected colony for giant tortoises.  By 2PM, we were back at Anse Volbert, where we are staying, to do a couple hours of swimming in the bay and in the resort pool.  

We ended the afternoon with a coastal drive and a swim at Anse Lazio, considered by some to be “the world’s best beach”.

Our last dinner in the Seychelles was another wonderful meal at the resort’s main restaurant, Le Dauphin, where we had the chance to chat with the resort’s owner.

With the exception of a broken flip flop which caused grief on our hike (see the explanation below), this was a wonderful day - we couldn’t have asked for better!

A last good night from Praslin.

Not a detail is missed at Le Duc de Praslin.  On our way back from breakfast, we noticed the fresh flowers placed in several spots around the property this morning.

The grounds at Le Duc de Praslin are impeccable, and there are so many examples of artistic touches, such as this one.

The beach at Anse Volbert, where we are staying, is the longest on Praslin, at 2.6km.


At 11AM, we arranged a ride to Curieuse Island with a guy on Anse Volbert Beach who operates a small boat 

The crossing across the bay took just over ten minutes and passed some amazing scenery enroute.

Curieuse Island is a Marine National Park, as it protects over 260 giant tortoises which live all over the island.  In addition, sea turtles visit several of e small beaches around the island and lay their eggs from September to December. 

Curieuse Island was actually a leper colony until the 1960s.  This building was the the doctor’s house in those dark days of the island’s history. 

From where the boat dropped us at Curieuse Island, we had to hike 2km through the jungle to get to the National Park’s ranger station, which is the focal point for the work they do to protect the giant tortoises.  A few minutes into the hike, David’s flip-flop broke.  The smile in the photo soon disappeared, as it was a brutal struggle to climb the hilly and often rocky terrain in 32C heat.  It was one of the toughest experiences on the entire trip.

 

Not an easy 2km terrain to cover with one bare foot.

When we finally arrived at the National Park’s ranger station and saw giant tortoises everywhere, it was a wonderful moment.

The giant tortoises are so gentle.  And they love having their necks rubbed!

Most of these giant tortoises are between 125-200 years old!  They have seen a lot of history!


We had some beach time before the boat came back to pick us up, so we spread our towels in a shaded spot on the beach.  We were peeling two oranges when we heard a ranger call out to us.  We turned around, and there was this tortoise inches away from us!  We think he smelled the citrus.  


David had a good time getting to know the citrus-seeking tortoise, who downed the two orange peels in a couple of chomps.

The National Park’s ranger station also cares for several baby tortoises, who need special help.  The babies above are under five years old.

The toilets at the National Park’s ranger station.  The men’s toilet isn’t marked.  Why?  Because, with a “coco de mer” marking one, it is obvious that that is the women’s toilet!

And this shows why the coco de mer coconut — which only grows here — is associated with the female anatomy.

The stunning rock formations at the beach on Baie la Rae on Curieuse Island.

More dramatic rock formations on the beach at Baie la Rae on Curieuse Island. 

Just before 2PM, we arrived back at Anse Volbert and did some swimming and beach time there.  We saw a reef shark and a couple of stingrays while we were in the water.  Pam enjoyed this swing, installed by our resort.

Pool noodles rule!  The ocean water was over 30C - so warm that it was almost too hard to stay in it.  So eventually, we moved to the infinity pool at our resort, where we just floated for a full hour with our pool noodles.  I cannot recall a time in recent memory when we have felt more relaxed.

We ended the afternoon with a drive, taking in more of Praslin’s beaches and rock formations.  Like this one, near Sunset View Point on the west coast.


Anse Lazio on the northeast point of Praslin has been  rated as the world’s best beach.  It feels like the end of the earth.  Crystal clear water, large boulders at both ends, amazing sand — could one ask for anything more?  It was the perfect place to end our Praslin exploration today with a dip.

Boulders at one end of Anse Lazio Beach.

Boulders at Anse Boudin on the northeast coast.


A pre-dinner nibble at Cafe des Arts on Anse Volbert Beach.  

As we sat overlooking the beach at dusk, we saw many stingrays in the shallow waters near the shore, and also a reef shark.


At dinner, we had the pleasure of meeting the owner and designer of Le Duc de Praslin.  He started the resort over 20 years ago and has planned, designed and constructed the entire facility himself.  He is humble, but is rightfully proud of this literal work of art of a resort.

Tonight’s amazingly delicious dessert plate.


Could you ask for a better end to a day like this in a place like this?  The full moon’s reflection on the bay at Anse Volbert was simply unforgettable.