Moyenne Island
Island Small Seychelles island, marine reserve and conservation site
A tiny national-park island near Mahé, Moyenne Island is known for conservation efforts, Aldabra giant tortoises and short coastal trails; day-trip visitors hike, picnic and snorkel from nearby launch points.
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Moyenne Island is a small private island in the Seychelles, located within the Sainte Anne Marine National Park and notable for its long-term conservation management after private purchase in 1962. The island has been maintained as a nature reserve with a focus on reforestation and protection of native and introduced species.
Visitors find short, well-marked walking trails, a small number of picnic spots, populations of large tortoises, and visible remains of a 19th-century shipwreck along the shore. The island is compact and oriented toward day visits rather than overnight tourism, with guided or organized boat trips the usual way to reach it.
The island was purchased in 1962 by a private owner who established and maintained conservation efforts and visitor facilities over decades. Management has emphasized replanting native vegetation and creating paths to limit visitor impact.
The island sits off the coast of Mahé within the Sainte Anne Marine National Park and is accessed by boat from Mahé.
- Wildlife and trails: Home to introduced giant tortoises and a network of short walking trails that concentrate visitor activity in specific areas of the island.
- Access: Part of the Sainte Anne Marine National Park and reached only by private or tour boats from Mahé.
How to Get to Moyenne Island #
Moyenne Island is a small private island inside the Sainte Anne Marine National Park off Mahé, Seychelles. Visits are by boat only - either private charter or organized day trips leaving from Mahé (Victoria and other Mahé harbours); there are no roads to the island. If you’re based on Mahé, book a boat transfer or a park day trip from Victoria or nearby hotels/marinas and expect a short boat crossing to the island.
Tips for Visiting Moyenne Island #
- Book a ranger- or park-authority boat from Mahé (Ste Anne Marine National Park departures) and aim for the first crossings of the day to avoid the cluster of day-trip boats that arrive later.
- Make time for the island's short guided walks - park staff highlight the history (Brendon Grimshaw's stewardship) and the introduced giant tortoises, which are easy to miss if you only skirt the shore.
- Confirm landing and visitor rules with Seychelles National Parks before you go; Moyenne is managed as part of the marine park and visitor access is controlled rather than free-roam.
Best Time to Visit Moyenne Island #
Visit in the shoulder months (April-May or October-November) for the calmest seas and the best conditions for snorkeling and short boat transfers.
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