The island of Rodrigues is a little speck in the Indian Ocean, one and a half hours by plane from its big cousin Mauritius. I was lucky enough to be taken there on a ‘holiday-from-a-holiday’ in Mauritius, and didn’t know what to expect, but found that there’s quite a bit to keep you amused on this laid-back little island. It’s a place to get back to nature, enjoy the relaxed pace of life and maybe get a dose of adventure! These six things to do on Rodrigues will give you a taste of what this little-known island has to offer…
1. Visit François Leguat Giant Tortoise and Cave Reserve
Not far from the airport, this excellent conservation reserve offers an entertaining guided tour.
You get to meet hundreds of aldabra giant tortoises up close and personal. This is not the same tortoise species that originally inhabited Rodrigues – those were driven extinct by (what else?) humans shortly after we first set foot on the island in the 1700s. Apparently tortoises were a convenient source of meat for long ship journeys…! But in the 1880s, on advice from Charles Darwin himself, aldabra giant tortoises from the neighbouring Seychelles were brought to Mauritius for a breeding program to protect them from going extinct like their Rodriguan relatives, and descendants of those imported tortoises now fill this flourishing reserve.
You’ll also see radiata tortoises with distinctive yellow-patterned shells and Rodrigues fruit bats. Plus, learn how the reserve is restoring native plants, as the majority of the island’s forest has been overrun by introduced species.
You can touch the tortoises, but beware! When our guide suggested offering our toes up for ‘kisses’ from one of the larger ones, a member of the tour group got quite a scare when it grabbed her shoe and would not let go!
The helmet you’re handed on arrival becomes necessary in the second part of the tour, in which you descend into a deep (and sometimes low-ceilinged) cave called Grande Caverne. Grande Caverne is the largest part of a cave network hidden underneath the reserve.
Back at the park entrance, a small museum hosts a range of natural and cultural artefacts telling the story of tortoises in the Indian Ocean region in more detail – including fossils from the Grande Caverne.
If, after visiting, you want to do more to support the reserve’s conservation efforts, you can even pick out your favourite tortoise to ‘adopt’!
More information: François Leguat Giant Tortoise and Cave Reserve website
2. Tour Le Jardin des 5 Sens
This “five senses garden” is just what it sounds like – a unique garden where you don’t just look at the plants, you smell, taste, feel and hear them.
Taste comes in the form of edible flowers and infusions, while touch includes some surprising little leaves which fold up on contact!
The guided tour offers many insights into the traditional uses of various leaves, flowers and bark and covers all the five senses. But you could spend longer wandering with your eyes (and ears and nose) open to discover many fascinating things!
More information: Lonely Planet
3. Go ziplining
For a thrill, visit Tyrodrig, the only zipline operator on the island with a course of three lines that will give you spectacular views over lush valleys. It’s not the easiest place to find (the locals we asked for directions hadn’t heard of it), so be sure to note the location on a map before heading out. From the road, you cross a field to find their small office near the cliffside. The longest zipline (420m) is up first, stretching the full width of the valley. Then brief walks and two shorter ziplines bridging the gaps between three hills return you to the starting point. Experienced staff will launch you and catch you at each end of the lines, so all you need to do is take the leap and enjoy the magnificent 360 degree vistas.
More information: Lonely Planet
4. Visit the markets
The daily markets in the capital, Port Mathurin, are the perfect place to pick up a souvenir in the form of local woven products – there are baskets, bags, hats, fans, and containers in every imaginable size and shape! Rodriguans seriously use these kinds of baskets all the time. Even the trays for the security scanners at the airport are shallow woven baskets! There’s also an abundance of pickles, as well as fresh meats, fruits and vegetables inside. Near the new, modern markets you can also check out the old market buildings, each dedicated to a certain type of animal products.
5. Take a hike
Rodrigues has many hiking routes of various lengths to explore, with hidden gems like this coastal spot – Trou d’Argent. Just 10-20 minutes walk from a parking area you’ll find this quiet little beach enclosed by cliffs.
6. Get out on the water
If you mention Rodrigues to someone and they’ve actually heard of it, there’s a good chance they’re a kitesurfer! My visit coincided with an international competition which provided some spectacular photo opportunities.
If kitesurfing’s not your thing, most beachfront hotels (like the Mourouk Ebony hotel pictured here) offer a range of other water sports – from sedate pedal boats to kayaking, dinghy sailing and speedboat rides.
For a small island, Rodrigues has a lot to offer for travellers seeking outdoor adventures. You can easily do all of the activities mentioned in this post in just three days. But for outdoors lovers, why not stay longer for a few hikes and lots of watersports!?
Do you know of any other great things to do on Rodrigues?