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Meeting the tortoises at François Leguat

Quiet grandeur at the heart of Rodrigues

Country

Ile Maurice

Duration

1 à 2 heures

Âge minimum

À partir de 05 ans

Recommended physical condition

Aucune contrainte

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Written request

01 77 37 03 10

À vivre

Some encounters leave a mark, and meeting the giant tortoises at François Leguat Reserve is one of them. Located in the south-west of Rodrigues, on the Anse-Quittor peninsula, just minutes from Plaine-Corail Airport, this 20-hectare nature reserve recreates the island's original ecosystem. More than 3,000 Aldabra and radiated tortoises, introduced between 2006 and 2007, roam freely here.
Walking the arid trails, lined with endemic species, a deep calm settles over me. Then they appear: slow, imposing, majestic. One approaches me, unafraid. The guide explains their role in regenerating the local flora, their disappearance, and their return thanks to an ambitious conservation programme. In a nearby cave, the Grande Caverne, a surprising underground world awaits, cool and silent.
The reserve also includes a small museum, an aviary of endemic bats, and a local restaurant. More than a tourist site, it is a living place, designed to raise awareness and protect.
These tortoises, survivors of the past, taught me an essential lesson: to slow down, observe, and respect the rhythm of nature.

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