Aride Island Nature Reserve

Aride lies about ten kilometres north of Praslin and is managed purely as a nature reserve, with more breeding seabirds than any other granitic island in the group: lesser noddies in the hundreds of thousands, tropicbirds, shearwaters and the world's largest colony of lesser noddy among them. Wright's gardenia, a shrub found nowhere else, grows on the slopes. Landing is through surf onto the beach and is often impossible.

What you actually see

• The seabird colonies - the densest breeding concentrations in the granitic islands.
• The lesser noddies - hundreds of thousands nesting through the season.
• Wright's gardenia - a shrub growing nowhere else in the world.
• The plateau walk - the guided route up over the island's ridge.

When to go

April to October is the seabird breeding season and the calmer window for landing. The reserve closes to visitors in the rough months. Landings are cancelled in surf.

Honest expectations

Landing is through surf and trips are cancelled frequently, sometimes after arriving offshore. The reserve closes entirely for part of the year. Visits are guided and time on the island is limited.

Nearby

Praslin is south, and Cousin Island is southeast.