There are birds here, lots of birds; and where there's birds and hot humid tropical forest, there are mosquitoes. Once we've learned our share of endemic ornithology and flora we pretty much escape to the trail and start the climb to the top. Yes, you guessed right; we're on yet another hike, this one up the mountain on Aride Island.
Aride is a small, uninhabited granitic island privately owned by the Cadbury family and is a Unesco nature reserve. We arrive on the island's own zodiac (the conservation authorities don't allow anyone there if not on an organized tour); it is a fun ride and a bumpy wet landing. Our guide is good and knows Aride's flora and fauna like the back of his hand. In fact, he is so familiar with them that he is able to pick up a chick from the nest to show it to us. After a somewhat demanding climb we arrive at the craggy top. The view is great; we stand there for a long while looking down at the soaring frigate birds in search of a meal in the turquoise waters below. After a while we're ready to trek back down and make our way to the ship.
In the afternoon we go to Big Sister Island. We are told that the beach on the other side from where we get dropped off closes to the public at 3:30 (this island is also privately owned) so we make our way there -a three minute walk- and find the most magnificent, pristine swimming beach we've ever seen. The pictures simply don't do it justice; the white powder sand and the crystalline, warm water, framed by palm trees and granite boulders could not have been more beautiful. We spend a blissful hour in the water, tropical fish swimming close by. I hope the go-pro pictures and videos I took turn out nice.
The cruise is coming to an end. Tonight we sail for a few hours back to Mahe for a last overnight before we start our long, long trek back home.
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