An excursion to a nature reserve offers sun, fun, well-being, and a sense of responsibility towards the environment. Many tourists say this when asked how they would sum up their day at Cousin Island Special Reserve. They also mention seeing wildlife they've never seen before and enjoying Mother Nature's beauty. It is also a chance to get some fresh air and vitamin D. There's no doubt that a visit to a nature reserve is one of the top things to do in Seychelles. This World Tourism Day, celebrated every 27 September, let's remind ourselves why nature reserves are a must-see for everyone.

Not all heroes wear capes. Our staff on Cousin Island decked out only in t-shirts and shorts, and often barefooted, certainly fit this adage. They keep to a grueling schedule, ushering visitors onto the reserve for the island's widely acclaimed ecotourism program in the morning, and working on varied conservation activities in the afternoon.

The sunrise is exquisite, the forest lush. The wind is gusty and the sea is choppy. Tropicbirds squawk, fodys chirrup, while skinks scuttle. The tortoises are languid, the mosquitoes, ferocious. The wardens are skilled and the tourists are eager. The sunsets are pink-sky-filled with dusty grey clouds. The nights were moonlit. This is how Sally, a volunteer, vividly described her one month on Cousin Island Special Reserve.

Our Chief Executive Dr. Nirmal Shah is in Cambridge UK for the BirdLife100 World Congress, which is from 11-16 September. BirdLife celebrates its centennial this year. The congress brings together the global BirdLife partnership, which currently works in 115 countries.