Aride Island

Aride Island is situated 10km north of Praslin with an area of about 0.7km². It is the northernmost of the inner islands with Bird Island being the overall northernmost of all the Seychelles islands.

Similar to many other islands, Aride is a nature reserve. It is only inhabited by the people who work and take care of the island. There is no accommodation there although it is open for excursions.

Aride’s lush vegetation is home to thousands of plants and animals. The endemic Wright’s Gardenia plant grows naturally on the island, but has slowly been reintroduced to other islands such as Mahé, Praslin and Felicite.

Aside from Mahé, Aride also has more species of birds than any other granitic island of the Seychelles. This includes the endemic Seychelles Blue Pigeon, Fody, Magpie Robin, Sunbird and Warbler.

It is also said to have one of the highest densities of lizards in the world, many of these endemic. Giant tortoises, a few snake species and the fruit bat are also found throughout the island.

The coral reef at Aride is a popular diving site and boasts a large population of stunning marine life including the hawksbill turtles who are regular visitors to the beaches of Aride.