Aride

The Coast

Natural  History

Conservation    & Research

Area Size:  0.683 Km²
Maximum Altitude:  142 metres
Population:  6
Island Highlights:  Giant Tortoise, Magpie Robin, Fairy Tern, Seychelles Warbler, Seychelles Blue Pigeon, Seychelles Sunbird, Seychelles Fody, Brown Noddy, Audubon's Shearwater, Wedge-Tailed Shearwater, White-Tailed Tropic Bird

Introduction
Aride is situated some 10 km north of Praslin and was designated by owner Paul Chenard as a nature reserve in 1967.  In 1973 it was taken over by Christopher Cadbury for the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts and then in 1979 it was designated as a Special Nature Reserve.  In 2004 it was taken over by the Island Conservation Society (ICS), which subsequently opened a centre to support some of the longest continuous scientific monitoring programmes in the Seychelles archipelago. 

It is the northernmost island of the granitic Seychelles, characterised by its granite rocks and steep cliffs.  The combination of these spectacular landscapes, unrivalled cliff top views and abundant birdlife, make Aride a wonderful island to visit and photograph. 

Aride has more breeding species of sea birds than any other island in the region.  Alongside Aldabra, Aride constitutes one of the most important seabird populations in the Indian Ocean.  More than 1.25 million seabirds are estimated to regularly breed on the island.  Moreover, the island is thought to be the only breeding site for red-tailed tropicbirds and roseate terns.  It is also home to the world's only hilltop colony of sooty terns.   

It is one of the most pristine of all the islands in the Seychelles and is known by many as the 'seabird citadel' of the Indian Ocean.  The majority of the island consists of granite rock which forms steep cliffs to the north, rising to heights of almost 142 metres.  These cliffs provide a spectacular vantage point  from which to observe greater and lesser frigatebirds at close range.  Aride is in fact the only island in the archipelago where these birds can be seen up close.  Furthermore, Aride has an impressive roosting population size that beats any other island tenfold. 

Aride is home to only six inhabitants, all of which are reserve staff (4 Seychellois rangers and 2 island wardens), who live in small plantation houses close to the beautiful sandy beaches on the south side of the island.  There is no accommodation as such available on the island.  The only way for us to access the island is via boat, ideally with the flexibility of one of our Natural History Private Yacht & Lodge Safaris. 

The island is currently open to visitors Monday through to Friday, with 100% of all admission fees going directly to the island.  Therefore, all visitors are indirectly contributing towards the islands' research and conservation efforts. 

Photographs kindly provided by Doug Howes 

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