Meet the Tortoises in Sainte Anne Marine National Park

A short boat trip from Mahé leads to a small island where more than 100 Aldabra giant tortoises walk the paths freely.

Meeting the Tortoises of Moyenne Island

Moyenne sits inside Sainte Anne Marine National Park, about 2.5 miles northeast of Victoria Harbor on Mahé. It covers roughly 24 acres and has been described as the smallest national park in the world. The reason to come is the Aldabra giant tortoises, which roam the island without fences and are reported to number more than 100.

Getting There

The trip starts with a boat from Mahé. The marine park takes in six islands, including Sainte Anne, Moyenne, Ronde, Longue, Cachée, and Cerf, and excursions usually pair Moyenne with Sainte Anne or Cerf. The crossing is short. A glass-bottomed boat ride gives a closer look at the reef.

Walking Among the Tortoises

Paths run for roughly 3 miles through palms, including coco de mer, and endemic plants. The tortoises use them as much as you do, so you meet them wherever the route happens to cross theirs. Some are said to be more than a century old. They move slowly and do not hurry for visitors, which sets the pace of the walk. When one is blocking the path, you wait or step around it at a distance. Guides share the history of the park along with the pirate legends attached to the island.

The Man Who Bought an Island

Brendon Grimshaw, a British newspaper editor from Yorkshire, bought Moyenne in 1962 for 8,000 pounds. The island was overgrown and neglected, and he set about making it habitable with help from René Lafortune. Together they planted around 16,000 trees and built the paths, then introduced giant tortoises. Creating a habitat for the tortoises became one of his central aims. Grimshaw knew each animal and named many of them, including Florita and Four Degrees South, after the island’s latitude.

He lived on the island until his death in July 2012, and his grave is in the interior. A foundation now manages Moyenne in line with his conservation approach. He turned down many offers from hotel developers because he worried the tortoises would lose their home.

Why Timing and Access Matter

The calmest seas fall between March and May and between September and November, which gives the easiest crossings and the best conditions around the reef. A private charter lets you set your own departure time instead of following a group schedule, so you can reach the tortoises without a crowd on the paths. Your Out Of Office specialist can arrange a private boat and guide, and Moyenne fits easily around a stay on Mahé.

Good to Know

Moyenne is protected, so stay on the paths and keep a respectful distance from the tortoises. Bring water and sun protection, and wear shoes you can walk in. Confirm landing arrangements and visitor fees with your boat operator when you book, since they can change.

Same-sex relationships have been legal in the Seychelles since 2016. Excursions depart from Mahé, where affection is best kept low-key, and a private charter gives a couple a full day of privacy at sea.

Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel specialist that plans tailor-made Seychelles trips, and a donation to Rainbow Railroad goes with every trip, funded by Out Of Office and never added to your price.

Planning Your Visit

Out Of Office plans tailor-made trips to the Seychelles, and you can browse luxury hotels in the Seychelles. The Seychelles: The Out Of Office Collection itinerary and Enchanted Island Resort are good starting points for a stay near the marine park.