Ile aux Aigrettes is a small coral island (25 hectares) just off the coast of the town of Mahebourg. The island has been declared a nature conservation site and today is being preserved by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation.
Ile aux Aigrettes
Ile aux Aigrettes is a small coral island (25 hectares) just off the coast of the town of Mahebourg. The island has been declared a nature conservation site and today is being preserved by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. Mauritian Wildlife Foundation offers activities that are sustainable and supports important preservation work.
During the Second World War, Ile aux Aigrettes was used by the British as a military base and at this time much of the native forest was cleared.
There are some remains of over twenty buildings on the island which date from this period. Following this period Ile aux Aigrettes was privately leased and was used for the breeding of goats.
Ile aux Aigrettes – Mauritius
In 1985 the Mauritian Wildlife Appeal Fund (MWAF) established a habitat rehabilitation and management project on Ile aux Aigrettes to restore the vegetation and fauna of the island to its original state. MWAF continues the restoration while offering the public to visit the island and enjoy this unique place of original Mauritian nature.
The tour on Ile aux Aigrettes takes about one and a half hours with an additional 10 minutes each way for the boat trip. As part of this tour, you will discover Ile aux Aigrettes and enjoy its unique endemic forests with an expert guide leading the way. You will discover plants and animals, unique to Mauritius and found nowhere else in the world. Some of them have come close to extinction like the pink pigeon, a bird that was in danger of extinction for many years.
You will also visit the indigenous plant nursery. There you should look out for the rare pink pigeon, the Mauritius Kestrel, endangered skinks and of course, the giant tortoises.
When visiting Ile aux Aigrettes you will get to see breath-taking scenery of the South East of Mauritius and will be given a glimpse of the early history of Mauritius.
You will also get to see beautiful trees with strange names like Ox wood, Pipe wood, Rat wood, and Bottle palm. There is also the chance to see a rare orchid in full bloom.
At the end of the tour, you will get to purchase souvenirs at the gift shop at the Visitors’ Centre.
All revenues from the tour on the islands and from the gift shop are reinvested in the restoration and preservations of Ile aux Aigrettes.
Following the tour to Ile aux Aigrettes, you will travel by motorboat back to Pointe Jerome.
Tours Times:
Monday – Saturday: 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 13:30, 14:00
Sunday: 09:30, 10:00
Tel: (230) 631 2396