Chamarel, the wild essence of Mauritius

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.

My day began at Trou aux Biches, at the Blue Safari reception, for a briefing ahead of a unique adventure: a dive aboard a genuine 10-seat submarine. After a short shuttle transfer to the “Le Betty des Mascareignes” underwater base, we set off for a 40-minute immersion, down to a depth of 35 metres. Through the portholes, a living spectacle unfolds: multicoloured fish, coral reefs, a ...

Descending into Caverne Patate means entering the depths of Rodrigues. From the first steps into the underground coolness, silence envelops me. Only the echo of our footsteps resounds between walls shaped by time. Moisture brushes the skin, the rock seems to breathe. Every stalactite, every recess tells a thousand-year-old story, frozen in stone. I feel both tiny and in awe. The ...