Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE ÎLE AUX AIGRETTES STORY
In 1985, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF;
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) took out a lease on Île aux Aigrettes, and began
the difficult task of ridding it of introduced plants and animals, including rats and feral cats. They also began a
massive planting program, removing introduced plant species and reintroducing native plants. Until the Founda-
tion began their work, it was a popular place for day trips and most native plant species had been cut down for
firewood. One exception was a small but significant stand of ebony forest. The forest survives, including some
trees that may be 400 years old, and most guided tours pass through this forest.
With the habitat on its way to being restored, the foundation was able to bring some of the most endangered
species in Mauritius to the island in the hope that they would find refuge and breed in a suitable natural habitat
free from predators. Along with other sites, such as Round Island (off the north coast) and Black River Gorges
National Park (in the southwest of Mauritius), the island became a bulwark against extinction, not to mention a
stunning success story. The island is now home to, at last count, 43 pink pigeons (out of a total of just 400 left in
the wild today), 34 olive white-eyes (out of 100 pairs) and 150 Mauritian fodies (out of 400). On most guided vis-
its, there's a good chance of seeing the pink pigeon, but you'll need luck to see the other species.
Interestingly, not all endangered species made it here - the Mauritian kestrel was introduced here but didn't
find the habitat to be suitable (the canopy was too low and there was not enough prey) and so they crossed the
water and found more suitable habitats on the main island, including nearby Kestrel Valley (
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) and
Vallée de Ferney (
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).
Other stars of the show include the 23 adult Aldabra or Seychelles tortoises (as well as a number of young), the
last of the giant Indian Ocean tortoise species and one of very few places in Mauritius to see these soulful giants
in the wild. Note also the five or so caged (and endangered) Mauritian fruit bats and around 450 Telfair's skinks
(an important competitor for the Indian shrews, the only remaining mammal species on Île aux Aigrettes).
For more information on the endangered wildlife of Mauritius, see the box on
Click here
.
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Île des Deux Cocos
Île des Deux Cocos sits at the edge of the azure lagoon and was once used by Sir Hesketh
Bell, the flamboyant British governor, to entertain guests. Today, the Lux hotel group has
maintained the tradition of entertaining visitors by offering tourists a relaxing day of
swimming, beach lazing and snorkelling. Welcome drinks, an immense buffet lunch and
rum tasting are also included. Travellers with serious cash to burn can rent out the island's
sole villa (constructed by Bell over a century ago) for an eye-popping €2000 per night,
give or take a few hundred depending on the season. Transport to the island can be ar-
ranged by any of the Lux hotels. Visit
www.iledesdeuxcocos.com
for more information.
Activities
Boat Excursions
Just like Mahébourg to the north, Blue Bay is home to a variety of boat operators that of-
fer journeys on glass-bottom boats and excursions to the nearby islands. Travellers should
