Aldabra Atoll

The Aldabra is a giant tortoise and is endemic to the islands of the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles.

Aldabra atoll comprises four large coral islands which enclose a shallow lagoon; the group of islands is itself surrounded by a coral reef. Due to difficulties of access and the atoll’s isolation, Aldabra has been protected from human influence and thus retains some 152,000 giant tortoises, the world’s largest population of this reptile. Since 1982, the atoll has been a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The only residents of the atoll are a few researchers, carrying out work on behalf of the Seychelles Islands Foundation. Tourists may only visit the island as part of a cruise day trip and with permission.

This atoll has the largest colony of wild giant tortoises in the world. In total, there are around 150,000 tortoises here. Hawksbill turtles and green sea turtles, both of which live in the ocean, come to the beach to lay their eggs, where they likely encounter the tiny 60 cm coconut crabs.

Abundant bird species, including flamingos, frigate birds, herons, Aldabra white-throated crakes (unable to fly), tropical red-tail birds, sunbirds, ibises, sea-swallows, Aldabra drongos, and many other feathered creatures live and nest here, with 97 endemic species in total. Eight different species of mangroves are found on the island, providing plenty of natural habitat for the birds.

The flying fox is the only native mammal to the archipelago.The Aldabra snail, once thought to have died out, was re-discovered in 2014 during a survey. Besides shrubs and bushes, most of which are no more than three or four metres tall, there are 40 different flowering plants here.

Drift-diving through the channels in the atoll’s lagoon allows one to get up-close and personal with doctor fish, snappers, and mantas, as well as black-tip sharks, dolphins, and manatees.