Aride Island Nature Reserve
The wild seabird capital of the granitic Seychelles. A protected island north of Praslin where a million seabirds nest, reached by boat on calm days for one of the great wildlife experiences of the islands.
Known for its seabird colonies, this 175-acre island is a nature reserve supported by ecotourism.
A million seabirds
Aride is the northernmost of the granitic Seychelles and one of the most important seabird sanctuaries in the Indian Ocean. Managed as a strict nature reserve, this small, steep island hosts vast breeding colonies, more species of seabird than any other island in the group and numbers that run into the hundreds of thousands, from terns and noddies to the beautiful, rare roseate tern and the ghostly fairy tern. Walking its paths in the breeding season, surrounded by wheeling, calling birds, is an unforgettable experience.
The island is also home to endemic plants and birds found almost nowhere else, including the Seychelles warbler and the fragrant Wright’s gardenia that grows wild here, and the surrounding waters are rich and protected.
Visiting a strict reserve
Aride is not a casual beach stop. As a protected reserve it is visited only by boat on organised trips, usually from Praslin, and only when the sea is calm enough for a safe landing, which means trips are weather-dependent and often do not run in the rougher south-east season. There is a landing fee that supports the conservation work, and visitors are guided along set paths to protect the birds and the habitat.
For anyone with an interest in nature, the effort and the uncertainty are richly repaid. Few places on earth put you so close to so many seabirds, in a setting that has been protected and restored with real care.
Know before you go
| Where | A granitic island north of Praslin |
| Status | Strict nature reserve, one of the great seabird islands of the world |
| See | Huge seabird colonies, endemic birds and plants, rich waters |
| Access | By organised boat trip, usually from Praslin, calm seas only |
| Note | Weather-dependent, often closed in the rough season, landing fee applies |
| Time to allow | A full day with the boat crossing |
| Best time | The calmer northwest-wind season, in the seabird breeding months |
What visitors say
★ 4.7 · 18 Google reviews★★★★★Work on the island for 2 years. An amazing experience and I got to meet over thousands of people from all over the world. Studying the behaviours of the different species of birds, monitoring of nesting sea turtles and s…
Rodney Maria · via Google
★★★★★Beautiful island. Lots of birds. Very nice beach. Great tours.
Jan Walburg · via Google
★★★★Unfortunately we could not go to the top, just the panoramic path down on the island.
Sarah Andris · via Google
★★★★★Very Beautiful island. 😍
Romeo Padayachy · via Google
Aride is reached only by boat from Praslin, on calm days, so basing yourself on Praslin gives you the flexibility to go when the sea and the trips allow. Stay on the island to catch the right weather window.
Tours via Viator, stays via Booking.com. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Curieuse Marine Park · Anse Lazio · Vallée de Mai
Build in flexibility. Trips to Aride only run when the sea is calm enough to land, so plan it for the northwest-wind season and keep a spare day, because catching the right window is worth the wait.
