Denis island,
perched at the very
rim of the
Seychelles plateau
that divides its
shallow waters from
the mid-ocean
depths, possesses a
diverse eco-system
that has changed
little since the
first explorers made
landfall on her
pristine shores.
Largely undisturbed
for more than two
centuries and,
despite having
relatively recently
opened her doors to
the privileged few,
Denis has changed
remarkably little in
all that time, her
numerous treasures,
both above and
beneath the waves,
still very much
intact.
Denis’ 143 hectares
is covered with lush
vegetation and by a
spread of native
trees, affording
ample shade through
which meander scenic
pathways and tracks,
inviting personal
voyages of
discovery. Here you
will find such
historic landmarks
as the old village
with houses dating
back to 1935, the
hospital, a
picturesque chapel,
the famous
lighthouse and the
island cemetery.
Today,
Denis island
is as much as ever a
haven for birdlife,
providing a
sanctuary for such
species as noddies,
terns, plovers,
whimbrels, tropic
birds and frigates
to name but a few.
Having already
conducted one
effective campaign
to eradicate rats
and another to
replant trees, the
island is proud to
have played host to
the recent
translocation of a
population of 47
rare Seychelles
Fodies or Toktoks a
project expected to
lead to the removal
of the Fody from the
IUCN Globally
Threatened Birds
list.
Denis is also home
to numerous sea
turtles who return
time and again to
lay their eggs on
her protected
shoreline where they
are monitored and
tagged, providing
valuable information
to conservationists
in their efforts to
assist in the
protection of the
species.
In deference to
island tradition and
in an effort to
achieve a degree of
self sufficiency,
the Denis island
farm contains pigs,
cows, chickens and
quails and also
features an ancient
vanilla plantation,
harking back to the
days when the
original ‘ilois’ or
islanders were very
much reliant on what
they could grow
themselves.
