Rodrigues Island

Rodrigues lies 560 kilometres east of Mauritius, an island of 108 square kilometres that is the eroded top of a volcano, hilly and dry, surrounded by a lagoon roughly twice the island's own area and enclosed by a reef several kilometres out. It has been autonomous within Mauritius since 2002, with its own assembly, and its character is markedly different from the main island: overwhelmingly Creole, largely Catholic, agricultural and fishing based, with small settlements, few cars by comparison and no resort development of the Mauritian kind. Octopus fishing on the reef flats at low tide is central to the economy and is now managed by seasonal closures. Walking trails cross the interior ridges, and the outer islets in the lagoon are seabird reserves.

History

The island is named after the Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues, who came upon it uninhabited in 1528. Arabs are known to have visited the Mascarenes from the 10th century, and the Cantino planisphere of about 1500 already shows the three islands as Dina Arobi, Dina Margabin and Dina Moraze (Wikipedia, Rodrigues).

The landscape

• The lagoon - shallow water twice the island's area inside a distant reef.
• Octopus fishing - the reef flats worked at low tide.
• Interior ridges - the hills and walking trails across the island.
• Creole village life - the small settlements and markets.

When to go

May to December for the cooler, drier season. January to March is hot, humid and within the cyclone season. The octopus fishery closes for parts of the year, which affects what is seen and eaten.

Practical notes

Facilities are simple: guesthouses and small hotels rather than resorts, and limited public transport. Flights are the only practical access and are expensive relative to the distance. Water shortages are a recurring issue. Beaches often need a walk to reach.

Nearby

Port Mathurin is the capital; Ile aux Cocos lies in the western lagoon.

Key facts