Lagons, forêts, récifs, volcans et espèces emblématiques : la biodiversité des îles de l’océan Indien et celles et ceux qui la protègent.
Mount Karthala is the great volcano of Grande Comore and one of the most powerful natural landmarks in the Comoros. It gives the island a dramatic identity beyond beaches, ylang-ylang and the capital Moroni.
Mayotte turtles are one of the strongest reasons to visit the island’s lagoon. N Gouja beach is especially famous because sea turtles can feed close to shore, often in shallow water where visitors are tempted to approach too quickly.
Vallee de Mai is one of the essential nature visits in Seychelles. Located on Praslin, this UNESCO-listed forest is famous for the coco de mer, a rare palm with one of the most extraordinary seeds in the plant world.
The Aldabra giant tortoise is one of the most recognisable animals in Seychelles. Its size, slow movements and long life make it unforgettable.
Black River Gorges National Park is the main protected forest area in Mauritius and one of the best ways to see the island beyond beaches. It brings together ravines, viewpoints, waterfalls, endemic birds, hiking trails and cooler upland air.
Swimming with dolphins in Mauritius is one of the island’s most searched marine activities. Tamarin Bay and Black River are the names most travellers see first.
Ile aux Aigrettes is a small conservation island off the south-east coast of Mauritius, near Mahebourg and Pointe Jerome. It offers a very different experience from the beaches: restored coastal forest, rare plants, giant tortoises, birds and guided interpretation.
Kelonia is the sea turtle observatory in Saint-Leu, on the west coast of Reunion Island. It is one of the most useful stops for travellers who want to understand marine turtles before or after time near the lagoon.
Madagascar lemurs are one of the main reasons travellers dream of the island. They are strange, beautiful, noisy, shy, social, acrobatic and deeply tied to forests that exist nowhere else.
The Avenue of the Baobabs is one of the most photographed places in Madagascar. The row of giant trees near Morondava looks simple at first: a dirt road, red earth, evening light and baobabs rising above the landscape.
