Parks

François Leguat Giant Tortoise and Cave Reserve is located on the south western side of Rodrigues, and is home to the giant tortoises that call the island home. The original endemic giant tortoises were exported and slaughtered for food in the 18th Century. In more recent times, the radiated and Aldabra giant tortoises have been reintroduced and are flourishing. The reserve is now home to over 3 000 tortoises where visitors can walk around and interact with them.

The cave section of the reserve is made up of 9 caves, including the Grand Caverne, which is the only electrified cave in the south west Indian Ocean. The Grande Caverne is equipped with state-of-the-art

raised walkways, steps and eco-friendly lighting, allowing visitors access to the top reaches of the cave and the limestone dolomites. The reserve is also home to 33 indigenous and endemic plants, many of which have recently been re-introduced due to the deforestation during the colonisation of the island.

The Grande Montagne Nature Reserve is a 20 hectare section of endemic forest, located in the central eastern part of the island in the Grande Montagne mountains. This is the only place where visitors can try and see the endemic species of the islands, the Rodrigues fruit bat, Rodrigues fody and Rodrigues warbler, as well as the Rodrigues aloe.

Found 4km off the coast of Rodrigues Island, Ile aux Cocos, or Cocos Island, is a nesting site for thousands of sea birds, including the lesser noddy, brown noddy, fairy tern and sooty tern. As such, the southern quarter of the island is fenced of as a restricted zone, so as not to disturb them. Cocos Island has become a popular tourist destination, especially for the keen birders.