Denis Island

About this place

Denis Island is a small private coral island on the northern edge of the Seychelles Bank, covering 1.4 sq km. Coconut palms and takamaka trees cover it, along with a resort of 23 chalets and a short airstrip. People come for quiet isolation and walks in a small forest, away from the larger islands, with a good chance of seeing rare birds. It was named after the French naval officer Denis de Trobriand, who explored it in 1773. On its northern edge stands a lighthouse built in 1910, still in place. In 2004, 47 Seychelles fodies and 58 Seychelles warblers were moved here as part of a bird conservation project, and the interior is being restored to its natural ecosystem to protect native species. You walk on red dirt paths among thick ferns and tall palms that shade much of the way. In the north the tall metal lighthouse stands among the trees, and around the edges are white sand beaches and blue water. A broad stretch of grass forms the airstrip, the first thing you see on arrival. It is about 94 km in a straight line from Victoria, a helicopter company quotes about 35 minutes from Mahe, and a small airstrip links it too. Visits are arranged with the resort, as it is privately owned. Bring insect repellent and light shoes, and the months between the monsoons suit it best. Keep to the paths, as the interior is a conservation area.