Denis Private Island in the Northern Territory of the Seychelles is the ultimate destination for travelers in search of an exclusive getaway that offers the best of island living. Unpretentious, yet subtly luxurious, this sustainable resort delights guests with a plethora of outdoor activities: snorkeling, scuba diving, cycling jungle paths, scouting the forests for endangered bird species, seeking out turtle tracks on the beach. The relatively un-fished waters surrounding Denis Island make this resort an anglers dream.

Denis Island is 151 ha in size and also protects 3100 ha of surrounding waters. The island is being proposed as a Zone 2 category protected area and has received high support from stakeholders. The waters surrounding Denis Island are important for sustainable uses by the tourism visitors as well as for artisanal fishing from Inner Islands.

Denis Island boasts some very impressive sustainability credentials: the resort is supported by one of the largest renewable energy projects (solar) in the country, and most of the furniture has been crafted from drift wood or timber grown on the island. The resort’s restaurant sources the bulk of its fresh ingredients (fruit and vegetables, cheese, dairy, poultry and meat) from the island’s own organic farm. The island has also played a crucial role in the restoration and perseveration of several endemic bird and plant species, including the Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher and Magpie Robin, which were both brought back from the verge of extinction by breeding programs initiated on the island. The shoreline is an important nesting site for endangered Green and Hawksbill Turtles – both of which are frequently spotted by guests when snorkeling. If visitors are lucky enough, they may see them come ashore to lay their eggs, or witness a nest of hatchlings returning to the sea.

Conservation & Community Highlights:

1. Seychelles Magpie Robin (protection and breeding programme)
2. Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher (protection and breeding programme)
3. Seychelles Warbler (protection and breeding programme)
4. Restoration of endemic vegetation (the island was previously a coconut plantation – guests can plant an indigenous tree)
5. Hawksbill & Green Turtles (protection – Denis Island is an important nesting ground)
6. Solar energy project
7. Locally sourced resources

Future Aims:

1. Development of a migrational sea bird colony
2. Development of a museum/information centre
3. Facilitating further research projects
4. Facilitating inter-island breeding programmes for endangered bird species
5. Tracking migratory routes of turtles from Denis Island

Images provided.