Specifics on the Island

Aldabra Atoll is one of the outer lying islands in the Seychelles group. It is approximately 1150km southwest from the Seychelles capitol city, Mahé. It is 650km east of Africa, and 420km north of the northern tip of Madagascar. So yes, im in the middle of nowhere.

Aldabra is the largest raised coral atoll in the world. Its roughly oval shaped and consists of four main islands bordered by four main channels, surrounding a 140km2 lagoon. An estimated 1 million cubic metres of water drain in and out of the lagoon with each change of the tide. This creates a unique mixture of different wetland types…

Aldabra is unsurprisingly called a wonder of nature. It has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982, and is managed a strict nature reserve with limited access to visitors. A research station established in 1971 still conducts long term monitoring on Aldabra. Its scientific importance can not be overstated - it provides a pristine baseline as to what an intact tropical island system can and should look like. Aldabra is a terrestrial endemic species hotspot, with 3 bats, 2 reptiles, 12 birds, an estimated 380 insects, and 13 plants endemic to Aldabra.

It has the largest population of giant tortoises in the world, the second largest colony of frigate birds in the world, the largest breeding population of green turtles in the Indian Ocean, and regular holds thousands of seabirds and wader species, both breeding individuals and migratory species. The intactness and sheer abundance of species in its coral reefs is simply without parallel in similar ecosystems.

Aldabra is designated as an Endemic Bird Area by BirdLife International, a Conservation Hotspot by Conservation International, a Global 200 marine and terrestrial eco-region by WWF and is an Alliance for Zero Extinction site. Google each term for more info….