CC BY-SA 3.0, Colin J Taylor, Wikimedia CommonsWildlife· Aride· Seychelles
Aride Island Special Reserve
4° 12.7′ S · 55° 40.1′ E
The northernmost granite island of Seychelles, 68 ha rising to the 134 m cliffs of Gros la Tête, and its most important seabird reserve — more than a million seabirds of ten breeding species, the world's largest colonies of lesser noddy and tropical shearwater, and the only wild Wright's gardenia.
Practical
Bought in 1973 by Christopher Cadbury for the Royal Society for Nature Conservation; Special Reserve since 1979; managed by the Island Conservation Society since 2004. Only reserve staff live here (La Cour village). Open to visitors Monday–Friday (other days by arrangement with the wardens at least 48 hours ahead), normally Oct–May; closes in the SE monsoon, mainly May–September, and at short notice in heavy surf. Booking essential: Island Manager +248 2719778 / +248 2547722, confirm at least a day before; ICS head office +248 4375354. Coordinate: Commons NASA Geocover image centre (Wikipedia gives -4.2133, 55.68).
Best for
The great seabird spectacle of the granitic Seychelles
Season
Oct–May; closed most of May–Sep
Nearby
- Aride SE monsoon closureRight here
- Aride seabird season (lesser noddy, tropical shearwater, frigatebirds)Right here
- Aride summit trail and viewpoint (Gros la Tête)Right here
- Aride endemic landbirds (Seychelles warbler and magpie-robin)0.1 NM away
- Aride Wright's gardenia0.1 NM away
- Aride landing (reserve boat, visiting days)0.2 NM away
- Aride safe swimming beach0.2 NM away
- Aride visitor shelter and barbecue0.2 NM away