FRANCOIS-LEGUAT RESERVES GIANT TURTLES AND CAVES
One of the main attractions of Rodrigues, the François Leguat reserve of turtles and caves in Plaine Corail
It is one of the star attractions of Rodrigues: a site that required years of effort and the planned breeding of hundreds of turtles. The company's objective is 100% ecological: to preserve and enhance Rodrigues' natural heritage, particularly the island's original flora. In a well-defined and marked area, naturalists have thus uprooted exotic species to promote the development of endemic plants such as the vacoas of Rodrigues, the gournable or the white wood. 250,000 plants have been transplanted and are the object of all attention.
At the same time, in order to reproduce the island's original fauna as closely as possible, three species of tortoises have been introduced into the reserve: the Aldabra giant(Aldabrachelys gigantea), the star tortoise(Astrochelys radiata - a small species originating from south-western Madagascar) and the plinth tortoise(Astrochelys yniphora). These are not the species found in Rodrigues in the past and which are now extinct. But they are the most morphologically similar turtles. Bred at the Vanille Nature Park in Mauritius, the first 294 turtles were welcomed by a huge crowd of curious people in 2006. Since then, hundreds of others have joined them and a multitude of babies have been born, bringing the total number of individuals on site to over 4,500. They can be observed in vast enclosures, delimited by low dry stone walls and by the natural topology: a very beautiful valley between two rocky slopes. This pleasant walk is enhanced by another activity: the organised and commented discovery of one of the nine limestone caves on the site, which are mainly reserved for scientific research. Accessible to all (walkways, stairs and lighting), the visit is only made in small groups with trained guides.
Also on site: a large aviary into which one can enter and which shelters Rodrigues fruit bats or Pteropus rodericensis, the only endemic mammal of the island; a documentation centre on Rodrigues; an interesting small museum (the only one on the island) on the fauna and flora, the history of settlement, the limestone geology and the postal history of Rodrigues
Restaurant. In the shade and quiet, it is a large terrace where local dishes are served. Also a small rustic bar serving drinks and infusions
Book the Best Activities with Get Your Guide
Members' reviews on FRANCOIS-LEGUAT RESERVES GIANT TURTLES AND CAVES
un moment incroyable avec de tres belles tortues, accessible, à ne pas manquer durant votre sejour
La partie musée vous permettra d'en savoir plus sur l'histoire de l'Ile et sur l'histoire de ces reptiles qui la peuplaient lorsqu'elle a été découverte.
Cette réserve a pour but de les réintroduire dans leur milieu alors qu'elles ont été totalement disséminés par les navigateurs à l'époque.
Vous y verrez 3 types de tortues de différentes tailles.
Les plus grandes ne sont pas du tout sauvages et n'hésiteront pas à venir vers vous pour que les caressiez.
Le guide est très sympathique et vous fournira tout un tas d'informations et d'anecdotes.
Cette visite peut s'associer à celle de la Caverne que je n'ai pas faite personnellement.
Un restaurant et une boutique se trouvent également sur le site, vous pourrez y trouver des souvenirs à ramener (peu de boutiques de souvenirs sur l’île donc profitez en !)... et vous pouvez même parrainer une tortue à l'année :-)