Situated 19 miles off the north-west coast off Mahé, and rising to a height of 800 metres, the mountainous Silhouette island is the third largest island in the Seychelles archipelago. Much of the island, including the slopes of Mount Daubon, are covered with tropical forests. The only resort on the island is the 5-star Hilton Seychelles Labriz, located on the north east coast beside a long sandy beach; it offers a choice of spacious villa-style accommodation, some with private pools. The island is only reached by boat from Mahé (40 minutes) or by helicopter (15 minutes).
Silhouette has been designated a National Park and has an abundance of rare fauna and flora, with many indigenous species including orchids, incense trees, numerous species of birds, as well as giant tortoises. The Island Conservation Society undertake much work in relation to the fauna and flora, including a turtle monitoring project. In 2014, for example, over 300 turtle nests were recorded and 31 turtles were successfully tagged. Several different walks and treks can be taken from the hotel through the forest, some with guides.
The waters around Silhouette is also a Marine National Park, encircled by a coral reef with an abundance of marine life including many species of tropical fish such as angel fish, soldier fish, squirrel fish and butterfly fish. There are many excellent snorkelling locations and Silhouette is renowned for excellent diving and fishing.
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