A large number of reefs within the inner granitic islands of the archipelago of Seychelles could be entirely lost, unless concerted action is taken soon to control crown of thorns, warns Dr. Udo Englhardt, the expert on on the management of crown of thorns in a...
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Moyenne Island
Moyenne Island was purchased in 1962 by a British national and newspaper editor Brendon Grimshaw for around £10,000. Grimshaw lived alone on the island until 2012 when he died aged 87. After Grimshaw purchased the island, he and a local youth René Antoine Lafortune planted sixteen thousand trees, built 4.8 kilometers of nature paths, and brought and bred Aldabra giant tortoises, intending to create an island of extraordinary beauty. Apart from a wide variety of plant and bird life, the island is home to around 120 giant tortoises. In 2012, according to Grimshaw, the eldest was 76 and was named Desmond, after his godson.

He permanently moved to the island in 1972. He then set up a water supply, electricity, and a phone line on the island. Many thought he might turn the island into a resort but he wanted to build a nature reserve.
Grimshaw’s father
Grimshaw invited his father to live with him after his mother’s death and he did. According to Grimshaw, “They became best of friends.” His father passed away 5 years later. However, Lafortune also used to live on the island and they allowed people to visit the island during the day for a small fee. In 2007 when Lafortune also passed away.

Grimshaw gives the island to the Government
Grimshaw, who was 81, knew that he had little time left to decide the fate of the island. He set up a trust and signed an agreement with Seychelles’ Ministry of Environment. It became Moyenne Island National Park, known as the world’s smallest national park.
During his time there he turned down an offer of £24 million to buy the island and instead developed Moyenne into a nature sanctuary. He also ensured its status as a nature reserve in its own right and further development has been prohibited.

Grimshaw’s book and and documentary film about him
In 1996, Grimshaw wrote a book about himself and the island, entitled A Grain of Sand. In 2009, a documentary film was produced about Grimshaw and the island, also called, A Grain of Sand. Lafortune died in 2007 and Grimshaw died in Victoria, Mahé, in July 2012 when he was 86. He was buried next to his father on the island. His tombstone reads, “Moyenne taught him to open his eyes to the beauty around him and say thank you to God.”
Park Management
Moyenne Island is owned by Terrestrial National Park and managed by the Moyenne Foundation Society. The island is now known as the Moyenne Island National Park. In 2013, after the island received its own national park status, a new hut was built and a warden was posted on the island, collecting the entrance fee from tourists.
Moyenne is one of the smallest of Seychelles’ inner islands: it measures just 0.4km long and barely 0.3km wide, and its coastline runs for less than 2km. Its highest point rises to an altitude of just 61m above the water’s edge. It is in the Sainte Anne Marine National Park off the north coast of Mahé, Seychelles
Moyenne Island Beach is one of the least crowded beaches in the Seychelles. Even during peak tourist season, there are rarely more than 50 visitors on the island at any one time, and never more than 300 over the course of a day. You can have a private spot of your own on the beach.
The Jolly Roger
The Jolly Roger, a restaurant, founded by Grimshaw and his longtime partner, Rene Antoine Lafortune, serves local dishes like grilled fish and seafood curries in a red Creole sauce.
There is also a small museum dedicated to Grimshaw’s life and two nurseries for giant tortoise hatchlings. Apart from these Moyenne remains undeveloped. The island has no jetty and arriving here you wade ashore, barefoot, through the shallows.

Flora and fauna
On the island, there are 16,000 trees – mahogany, palm, mango, pawpaw – planted by Grimshaw. By one estimate, Moyenne has more plant species per sq m than any other national park in the world.
Every now and then, you may find your path blocked by one of Moyenne’s nearly 50 free-range giant Aldabra tortoises. They’re in no hurry, and nor should you be as you watch them pass. Back in the shallows and by the beaches at Pirate’s Cove, watch for hawksbill turtles that often come ashore to nest.

Seychelles Golf Clubs
Seychelles, popular for its exquisite beaches and turquoise-colored waters, is getting more and more attention as a golf destination. There are two golf clubs in Seychelles. The Seychelles Golf Club is located on the main island of Mahe. The other, The Lemuria Golf Course is located on the second-most populated island of Praslin.
Seychelles Golf Club
The 9-hole golf course was founded in 1972. It is located at Anse Aux Pins on the southeastern side of the main island of Mahe. It is only around 10 minutes from the Seychelles International Airport at Pointe Larue. The club is surrounded by luxuriant green hills. It is spread over 50 acres of what was once a mangrove swamp together with a coconut plantation.

The course is open daily from 8.00 a.m. No bookings are required except on Thursdays and Saturdays. The entry fee for 9 holes is SCR 300 (USD 23) and for 18 holes is SCR 500 (USD 37). The club allows temporary memberships (one to four weeks). The club has a bar that has DSTV cable channels, a pool table, a cafeteria restaurant that serves snacks, fast food, and full meals, tennis courts, and a swimming pool.
Being a 9-hole golf course you are able to play as an 18-hole, but the front 9 and back 9 are played from different tee boxes, in total, the course measures 4559 meters if played as an 18-hole course. The tight fairways with a lack of roll gained on tee shots and small greens could make the par 67 quite a challenge for the unsuspecting visitor.
Lemuria Golf Course
This golf course, operated by the Constance Lemuria Resort, located in the island of Praslin, was designed by renowned American architect Rodney Wright under the influence of the French champion Marc Antoine Farry. It takes a 25-minute flight or a 2-hour boat ride from Mahe to reach the golf course. It was opened in 2000 and was renovated in 2016.

It is the only 18-hole course in Seychelles. The first 12 holes sit over the sweeping greens of the Grand Anse Kerlan, leaving the last six holes elevated offering breathtaking views. From hole 13 onward the sport becomes challenging which is an uphill par four and a lake towards the right side. Enthusiasts can also get lessons from professionals. The course is 5556 m (70 par) long and is a part of the luxurious 101-hectare spread of the Constance Lemuria on Praslin Island.
The course opens at 8:30 AM. The lowest green prices on weekdays are SCR 1850 and on weekends SCR 1750. The highest green fee is SCR 2180. It pays to stay in Constance Lemuria Resort as entry is free for hotel guests. Four restaurants and five bars in the Constance Lemuria Resort are open to golf course visitors. Trollies and Caddies are available on request. Car services are compulsory and payable.
Constance Lemuria Resort
This is a 5* deluxe resort hotel, where golf, spa, leisure, and relaxation are fused in the most beautiful natural environment, and one that is surely the equal of any other worldwide luxury golf holiday delight. Constance Lemuria is a 5-minute drive from Praslin Airport.

There are four restaurants and five bars and free WiFi access. The restaurants offer a variety of local and international dishes, with both buffet and á la carte options. The bars allow guests to choose among different atmospheres and scenarios to have some entertainment during the day or simply relax after dinner.
All rooms have private bathrooms with bathtubs and a hairdryer. They all include a safe, a satellite TV with a DVD player, and a telephone. The spa at Constance offers a variety of massages and treatments to relax surrounded by bamboo and palm trees. Sports facilities include an 18-hole golf course, 2 tennis courts, snorkeling trips, and windsurfing.
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