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Photography by Dino Sassi - Marcel Fayon, Photo Eden LTD CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Moyenne Island

Island

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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In this guide

Moyenne Island essentials

Address: Moyenne Island, Seychelles (small island; boat transfer from Mahé required)
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About Moyenne Island

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.
Things to Do
When to Go

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.

Shoulder / best overall
April-May & October-November · ~24-30°C
Generally calmer seas, lower rainfall and good visibility for swimming, snorkeling and short boat transfers.
Warm & wetter
December-March · ~24-31°C
Higher humidity and increased rainfall at times; still warm year‑round but expect brief tropical showers.
Cooler/windy season
June-September · ~23-29°C
Southeast trade winds can make seas choppier; good for experienced sailors but may mean rougher boat rides to the island.

Weather & Climate near Moyenne Island

Climate

Tropical climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 24°C to 31°C. Heavy rainfall (2253 mm/year), wettest in January.

Air Quality: AQI 20 Good
Best Time to Visit
MayJuneMarch
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
31°
Warmest Month
24°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Very Good 24° - 30° 30° 370 mm partly cloudy 82% 3.5 m/s 2.5 extreme 12.2h
February Very Good 25° - 30° 31° 275 mm partly cloudy 80% 3.7 m/s 2.8 extreme 12.1h
March Very Good 25° - 31° 32° 186 mm partly cloudy 78% 3.6 m/s 2.8 extreme 12.0h
April Very Good 25° - 31° 32° 182 mm some cloud 77% 3.5 m/s 2.6 extreme 11.9h
May Very Good 25° - 31° 32° 143 mm partly cloudy 80% 4.5 m/s 2.2 extreme 11.8h
June Very Good 25° - 29° 27° 91 mm partly cloudy 82% 5.7 m/s 2.0 very high 11.7h
July Very Good 24° - 28° 26° 78 mm partly cloudy 83% 6.3 m/s 2.1 extreme 11.8h
August Very Good 24° - 29° 26° 122 mm partly cloudy 82% 6.5 m/s 2.3 extreme 11.9h
September Very Good 24° - 29° 27° 136 mm partly cloudy 81% 5.9 m/s 2.5 extreme 12.0h
October Very Good 24° - 30° 30° 183 mm partly cloudy 80% 4.3 m/s 2.7 extreme 12.1h
November Very Good 24° - 30° 30° 204 mm partly cloudy 80% 3.7 m/s 2.7 extreme 12.2h
December Very Good 24° - 30° 27° 283 mm partly cloudy 81% 3.8 m/s 2.6 extreme 12.3h
Getting There & Around

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.