Experience the Seychelles
Arid
Even upon landing, it becomes clear what this is all about. The island belongs to the group of inner islands and, as a subsidiary island, is an integral part of the geographical structure of the Seychelles.
Auf einen Blick
Inselgruppe: Inner Islands
Inseltyp: Sub-island
Fläche: 71 km²
Entfernung zu Mahé: 50 km
Anreise: boat
Bewohnt: ja
Geologie: granite
Besonderheiten: Granite mountains, short hiking trails, bays with rocks
📍 Arid in Google Maps öffnen ↗
The untamed bird paradise and the wildest island of the Seychelles
If you think you've seen untouched nature in the Seychelles, then you haven't been to Aride! As the northernmost of the granite Seychelles islands, Aride is an absolute crown jewel of nature conservation. There are no hotels, no paved roads, and no cell phone towers, just a handful of rangers watching over this delicate ecosystem.
A trip to Aride (usually from Praslin) is like stepping back in time. The island looks almost exactly the same today as it did 250 years ago when the first people discovered the archipelago. Anyone who loves noisy bird colonies, dense jungle, and the feeling of a true expedition of discovery will be absolutely thrilled by Aride!
The deafening spectacle: One million seabirds
Aride is the most important seabird reserve in the entire western Indian Ocean. As soon as you approach the island by boat, you'll have a sense of what to expect: the sky is literally full of birds!
A sky full of wings: More than a million seabirds breed here. You'll find the world's largest colonies of Lesser Noddy and Roseate Tern. These birds have no natural predators and are therefore fearless. They nest directly on branches, on rocks, and sometimes even on the ground right next to the hiking trail.
A feast for the senses: Prepare yourself for an impressive soundscape! The constant calling, screeching, and singing of the colonies is deafening, but at the same time an absolutely fascinating natural spectacle that gives photographers and nature lovers goosebumps.
Unique botany: The flower that only exists here
Not only the animal life, but also the plant life on Aride is a biological treasure. Because the island is strictly protected (and fortunately rat-free), a flora has been preserved here that has often been displaced on other islands.
Wright's Gardenia (Rothmannia annae): This beautiful, intensely fragrant flower with its white and red speckled petals is a true sensation. Why? Because Aride is the only place in the world where this shrub still grows naturally in the wild!
Among skinks and geckos: As you trek through the dense forest with the rangers, the leaves rustle constantly. Aride is home to an incredible density of reptiles, including the colorful Wright's skink. You have to watch your step, because these nimble little lizards are truly everywhere.
The adventure begins as soon as you land.
Just arriving on Aride is a small adventure that gets the pulse racing.
The "beach landing": Since Aride has no reef to break the waves, the surf on the fine sandy beach can be quite wild. For conservation reasons, your tour boat isn't allowed to land directly. Instead, you'll transfer to a small ranger-operated inflatable boat in the open sea. With great skill and perfect timing, the rangers then "surf" the boat on the wave directly onto the beach. It's great fun!
Guided Discovery Tour: To protect the fragile environment, you may not explore the island on your own. An experienced ranger will guide you across the island, explaining every detail of the flora and fauna, and finally lead you to a spectacular viewpoint on the cliffs from which you can observe frigate birds as they daringly plunge into the depths below.
The bottom line: Aride is not for tourists who just want to sip cocktails on the beach. It's a rugged, loud, sweaty, and absolutely breathtaking nature experience. For anyone who wants to feel the true, wild soul of the Seychelles and immerse themselves in one of the world's most important bird sanctuaries, this day trip is an absolute must.