Aride Island

Aride, French for arid, meaning dry.  Contrary to what the name implies, this is not a desert island, but an island covered with luxuriant vegetation.  The island is the most northerly of the granitic islands and located about 6 miles north of Praslin.  The island is owned by Christopher Cadbury of the British Cadbury chocolate family.  As president of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation, Mr. Cadbury purchased the island in 1973 and made it a nature reserve. Tours are given daily, April through October, to see the largest and most spectacular colony of nesting seabirds in the Seychelles. Aride boasts the largest colony of sea birds in the whole area.  Species include the Greater Frigate, Lesser Noddy, the Large Brown Noddy, Roseate Terns, the red tailed Tropic Bird, Fairy Terns, and Sooty Terns.  Two species of Shearwaters, Wedgtails and Audubons, nest in large holes in the ground.  The Seychelles Brush Warbler was introduced into the island in 1988 and now nest in quantity on the Island. The 30-minute boat ride from Praslin costs less than a $100, and includes lunch.  Shell collecting and picnics are not allowed. To prevent rats and other pests from coming ashore, there is no landing dock. Visitors are rowed in from the boat by pirogue (canoe) and that can be quite an experience, especially when the surfs up.  For walking around on the island, it is important to have a comfortable pair of walking shoes.