Giant Tortoise Reserve
The Francois Leguat Tortoise and Cave reserve in Anse Quitor (on the wild southwest side), is just a few minutes from the airport and is the result of passion for the natural heritage of the island. Visiting this Reserve is like going back in time – with herds of giant tortoises grazing freely among the luxuriant endemic flora, you almost expect look up and see dinosaurs roaming amongst them!
Lucrative trade and over-exploitation led to the demise of the indigenous tortoises, as they were transported by thousands during multiple voyages between Rodrigues and Mauritius upon order of the British East India Company. With efforts of scientists working on a project to reintroduce species of tortoises from Aldabra and Madagascar, the reserve today boasts over 2,000 tortoises including 700 new-born babies. The nature reserve spans over 19 hectares, where so far more than 145,000 native and endemic shrubs and trees have been planted.
The Reserve is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm and no reservations are required. There are guided tours every day at 9:30, 10:30, 12:00 and 14:30. For those who wish to stay for lunch there is an attractive outdoor restaurant serving local Rodriguan dishes and snacks. There is also a boutique and a museum to visit at your leisure.
Hiking
Rodrigues is an island that needs to be discovered on foot, whether it is an inland trip or a trip along the edge of the lagoon. Not only is it great exercise, it’s also a marvelous way to explore. The charms and secrets of the island will gradually unfold themselves while you roam through the numerous paths that criss-cross the island.
Trekking or even walking represents a good opportunity to meet the local people, to share some small talk and to discover the island life. For the nature lovers you can observe the local flora and fauna – insects, birds, bats, endemic plants – or simply come across cows, goats, pigs, and sheep enjoying their freedom. Rodrigues can be easily explored with or without a guide and since the Island is small and it is literally impossible to get lost. One can start off on foot and then decide to take a bus or even a boat to continue the route!! The locals are very keen to help and will always be able to indicate the paths “less taken”.
A variety of guided hikes are available, some departing directly from Bakwa Lodge. It is important to note that with the help of the guide you can formulate your own hike depending on your interests and your goals – and you may benefit from their local knowledge.
Most hikes are between 2 and 4 hours and the difficulty level varies form “Easy” to “Moderate”. The recommended gear for hiking in Rodrigues is cool clothing, hats or caps, tennis or hiking shoes. Take along water and sun screen. It is advisable to bring along a swimming suit (bathing suit) for a cooling plunge in the sea if the hike follows the coast line. Avoid hiking in the midday sun; an early morning departure is best when the light and the views are stunning. “It’s the early bird that gets the worm!”
Deep Sea Fishing
Fishing is the traditional livelihood of many Rodriguan families and because of its geographical location, the fishing spots of Rodrigues favor good catches. Rodrigues is surrounded by a large continental plateau with an average depth of 60m and the entire plateau is covered with numerous spots (small underwater structures such as coral mushrooms) perfect for jigging and bait fishing.
Game Fishing is so popular that enthusiasts can try out all sorts of techniques on the same day -jigging, trolling, slow trolling, bottom fishing, shark fishing and swordfish fishing. The techniques used depend primarily on the weather conditions: the current, the active zones, the tides, the moon, water temperature, etc. The best game fishing period is between December and April.
Popular spots include the following:
The Eastern Bank – A high reef located at 50 miles east of Rodrigues, has a shallow bottom that ascends from 2,200 miles to 40 miles and extends over 100 km2.
Marlin Boulevard – Located on the east side, is where the blue marlin breeds.
Hawkins Banks – Situated at 85m west of Rodrigues, it’s a high reef that ascends from 500m to 2000m and over 400km2, and is better known as the ‘hot spot”.
Honey
At Miel Victoire one can visit the bee hives (visit times are Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm), learn about the bee-making process, enjoy tasting the products and of course purchase them. A wonderful outing for the family in a friendly and educational environment.
The island has a small but successful honey industry which has grown in Rodrigues due to the Rehabilitation and Production Project (Careco or Craft Aid Project) launched in 1990 for the young disabled on the island. To provide these people with an income, the project teaching beekeeping and honey collection was begun.
Port Mathurin Market
Port Mathurin is the hub and capital of Rodrigues. It is a friendly, bustling place with a fantastic market, some attractive mosques and an enjoyable atmosphere. Port Mathurin is also the center of shipping activity (it has a small deep water port) there is the main bus station, banks and is where most of the administrative offices are located.
The main attraction of Port Mathurin is naturally the marketplace or “bazar”, which features a colorful display of local handicrafts such as basketry, hat making, textile based handicrafts, embroidery, coconut craft, jewellery, souvenir articles, wood carving, straw crafts, in addition to paintings from local artists. All this combined with a vegetable and fruit market as well as a meat and fish market.
Caves
Exploring the caves of Rodrigues is like taking a dive into a magical dimension…
Rodrigues possesses the largest limestone zone in the Mascarene Islands, 830 hectares. A labyrinth of underground passages and tunnels extending over a total of approximately 4 kilometers – which remains very surprising for an island of only approximately 100 square kilometers. There are over 30 caves but only 2 are open to the public – Caverne Patate and Grande Caverne.
Explore nature’s hidden wonders deep below ground in the network of caves extending throughout the reserve. Grande Caverne is over 1000 m in length and is the largest of the 11 caves, with imposing stalagmites and stalactites all beautifully illuminated. It’s the sole cave fitted with such lighting effects in the Indian Ocean. Visitors can safely discover the magnificent limestone formations, accompanied by informed and entertaining guides.
Kitesurfing and Windsurfing
Whether you are a kite surfer, windsurfer, surfer or a stand up paddler , you will find your pleasure in surfing the waves and water of Rodrigues. The immense and stunning 200km large lagoon and the regular trade winds make the southeastern coast a kite surfer’s paradise. Bakwa Lodge is on the spot!!
Rodrigues, being ideally situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, invites a constant trade wind. The ideal time of the year for kiters is from May to October with the best months being June to September. The general conditions are cross shore winds, blowing south south/east. The lagoon is secure and completely safe. Kiters are in waist deep water, ideal for learning and also great for practicing tricks.
Both beginners and advanced surfers are welcome on this sailing ground; you can ride the wave and share your space with the traditional pirogues. The immensity of the lagoon makes it so that you are not crowded and feel completely safe while learning.
Zip Lining
Playing Tarzan in the trees amidst the flying “paille en queues” and golden bats is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon in Rodrigues. Indulge in breathtaking views of the lagoons, the waterfalls, the lush green valleys and discover the beauty of Rodrigues while suspended at a thrilling height of more than 100 meters above the dense forests.
The zip line adventure, “Tyrodrig” takes you across 3 valleys and starts at Mt. Malgache. The adrenaline kicks in on the first valley crossing which is the longest, spanning over 400 meters!!. Let the friendly and professional guides show you Rodrigues from another point of view. The level of difficulty is “Easy”. Wear comfortable clothing (shorts, T-shirt, tennis shoes and cap). Don’t forget to bring along some sunscreen and mosquito repellant as well as some drinking water. The whole trip takes at most 1 ½ hrs.
Scuba diving
The protected lagoon in Rodrigues is a kaleidoscope of colours and shapes, a unique place to find a variety of fish and coral and a perfect place for scuba diving. To discover scuba diving, one must simply hook up with a dive centre and explore the underwater world which offers dives departing off the Bakwa Lodge beach.
The diving area in Rodrigues spans from the lagoon to the outer reef and the channels. The channels and passes are an excellent place to see larger fish, tuna, barracuda, and porcupine fish. The exterior reef provides a large variety of coral, angle fish, triggerfish, parrot fish, red snappers and turtles as well as the potential to discover and explore numerous caves, canyons, and tunnels. The protected lagoon offers shallow dives varying from 4 to 8 meters. The diving area on the south east coast is bordered by the Marine Park a conservation area offering divers with a protected zone of over 12 km.
Snorkeling
Rodrigues is ideal for snorkeling. The tropical lagoon provides you with a natural basin protected by the outer coral barrier reef giving you an endless scope of sea to explore. You can access the beach directly from the lodge for snorkeling or you can opt to take a boat trip. There are numerous snorkeling trips available or even glass bottom boat excursions for those who prefer to remain dry ! please ask at the reception.
The best known snorkeling sites are the “Aquarium” and the “Couzoupa“, both accessible in calm conditions by boat. Other perfect snorkeling destinations in the lagoon are off of the islands of Ile aux Chats, Ile Hermitage, and Ile Gombrani.
The SEMPA (Marine Park) is a unique marine protected area operating since 2009 and is today the largest Marine Park in the Indian Ocean. The park hosts a wide variety of marine life including unique coral and fish species and is home to fish, corals, turtles, molluscs, octopus, and crustaceans.
If you are an avid snorkeler, it is best to bring with your own snorkeling gear (at least the mask and snorkel). As we are in a sunny destination, it is important to be protected from the sunrays. The ideal protection is to wear a lycra sun top; this will not only protect you but will also protect the reef as sun products often contain damaging chemicals. Bring a cap or buy a typical Rodriguan hat at the market place.
