Grande Montagne: Nature Reserve and Natural History

Grande Montagne represents an unusual combination of nature conservation and natural history. The Grande Montagne Nature Reserve protects one of the last remnants of Rodrigues’ native forest; at the Dominique Farla Information Centre, visitors can also learn about the island’s extinct fauna and see portraits of its rare species. The place is especially interesting if you would like to discover nature on Rodrigues not just as a landscape, but also as the diversity of species, past and present.

A protected remnant of native forest

The Grande Montagne Nature Reserve was officially declared a nature reserve in 1983. It is one of only two nature reserves on the main island of Rodrigues. The protected area preserves one of the last remaining remnants of native forest. A Mauritian Wildlife Foundation article dated 6 December 2023 lists around 40 endemic and native plant species there. Endemic describes species that occur only in a limited area. Together with the native plants, this diversity makes the reserve a tangible nature-related attraction during a stay in Grande Montagne.

Ecotours, tortoises and views

A Mauritian Wildlife Foundation article dated 6 December 2023 describes an ecotour where visitors can see Aldabra giant tortoises. The same article explains how a guide leads visitors to the reserve’s main viewpoint, from where they can take in the east coast. Wildlife watching and the view offer different perspectives on the natural area: one draws attention to individual animals, while the other focuses on the coastal landscape.

Guided tours in the Grande Montagne Nature Reserve are scheduled from Monday to Saturday. Check the schedule before your visit. This lets you take the tour information into account when planning, without assuming that it is a fixed part of your day’s itinerary.

Natural history at the Dominique Farla Information Centre

The Dominique Farla Information Centre is located in the village of Grande Montagne. It displays the most complete Solitaire skeleton preserved on Rodrigues. The Solitaire was an extinct relative of the dodo. An extinct endemic giant tortoise is also on display. Paintings depict Rodrigues’ extinct fauna, while detailed portraits feature the endemic birds and rare plants that remain. The exhibits draw attention both to species that no longer exist and to those still found on Rodrigues.

Rodrigues in a wider context

Rodrigues is 18 km long and 8 km wide. Other nature-related attractions can be found at the François Leguat Reserve in the southwest of the island. It is set in a limestone landscape with nine caves and sinkholes; Grande Caverne features impressive limestone formations. The reserve offers guided tours through a valley with hundreds of giant tortoises, tropical birds and tens of thousands of native trees. Four galleries in the museum there give visitors an insight into the natural history of Rodrigues. These cave, valley and museum experiences are part of the François Leguat Reserve, not the Grande Montagne Nature Reserve.

Culture is also part of the wider picture: Sega Tambour is a traditional dance from Rodrigues and was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2017. The island therefore brings together different interests, from forests and wildlife to geological formations and cultural traditions.

Take experiences into account when choosing where to stay

When searching for a holiday rental, you could start by considering which experiences you would like to shape your stay. If you are particularly interested in native forests, plants, tortoises and natural history, Grande Montagne offers a clearly defined theme for planning your trip. If you would also like to include cave landscapes or Rodrigues’ culture, you can bear these interests in mind when comparing places to stay on the island. If you are travelling with children, you can weigh up the different points of interest together, from wildlife watching and landscapes to exhibits. This way, your search for accommodation can focus on the themes that matter for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Terre Rouge, Saint Gabriel, Port Sud-Est, La Ferme, Petit Gabriel.

Go to the main travel overview: Rodrigues.