Ile aux Aigrettes, a 26-hectare nature reserve is a tiny coral island just off the coast near the village of Pointe d’Esny, roughly 800m off the coast.
The island has been declared a nature conservation site and today is being preserved by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. It preserves very rare remnants of the coastal forests of Mauritius and provides a sanctuary for a range of endemic and endangered wildlife. There are daily tours to ile aux Aigrettes
A few of the world’s rarest birds, including the kestrel, olive white eye and pink pigeon can be seen there.
You can also discover the extremely rare Green Gecko Phelsuma and the Aldabra giant tortoise.
Some of the plants found in Ile aux Aigrettes grow nowhere else in the world and they form the last remnant of a coastal forest that once surrounded much of Mauritius.
Visits are only possible as part of a guided tour, and these leave from Pointe Jérome.
A few tips by Mauritius Explored:
- Spend the day in Blue bay or Pointe d’Esny after
- Visit the nearby village of Mahebourg
Information
Nature reserve
Blue Bay