Moyenne Island in the Seychelles : all about relaxation

St. Anne's National Marine Park in the Seychelles includes several islands and the waters between them. It is one of the most visited places in the Seychelles , thanks in part to the small island of Moyenne . With its landscapes, it resembles what the Seychelles were like before the development of tourism. Well deservedly, a trip here is considered the most interesting of all the one-day tours that can be offered to you in the Seychelles. This is all thanks not only to the rich tropical nature, but also to the history of the pirate island.

General characteristics :

• Inner granite island of Seychelles
• Location: 4.5 km north of Mahe
• Area: 9.9 hectares
• Length: 480 m
• Width: 300 m
• Coastline length: 2 km

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History of Moyenne

It is believed that Moyenne is one of the peaks of the mountains of the ancient continent of Gondwana, which went under water a long time ago. According to scientists, it is about 600 million years old. Outwardly it is very similar, because on a small granite island there are two peaks. In French, the name of the island means “middle”. That's what it was called when Marion's expedition sailed past Dufresne in 1768.

Since 1850, Moyenne has been in private ownership. Although, in the first half of the 20th century it was empty and abandoned. From 1962 until his death in 2012, Brandon Grimshaw was the only resident of the island of Moyenne.

50 years on the island: the story of a British editor

At the age of 36, finding himself on holiday in the Seychelles , Grimshaw decided to stay here forever. He collaborated for a long time with publications in East Africa, traveled around the continent, was a man of a philosophical mind and was not afraid of sharp turns in life. The idea of buying the island was not spontaneous, but Moyenne turned up to the adventurous journalist quite by accident. On Mahe, the former owner approached him and offered him a small island for relatively little money. The location was very good. As Grimshaw himself noted : “close, but it seems incredibly far from civilization.”

That same year, the new owner moved in and set about transforming the island house - clearing dense thickets, planting palms and fruit trees, cultivating fertile soil, installing electricity and telephone cables, and organizing drinking water. According to stories, Moyenne was once so overgrown that falling coconuts would get stuck among the branches before reaching the soil. There was a long way to go to create livable conditions.

In the Seychelles Grimshaw found a like-minded person. His name was René Lafortune . Rene, like Brandon , devoted many years of labor to the island. Together, the friends worked on the improvement of Moyenne for 39 years. According to Grimshaw , he did not pursue the goal of achieving national park status for the island, but simply loved his refuge and made it comfortable for living.

On the island there is a small restaurant for tourists, a museum exhibition in the Grimshaw house and even a small chapel, where the names of all the former owners of Moyenne since 1850 are engraved on a memorial plaque. In the old cemetery there are a couple of dilapidated graves, two of which, according to Grimshaw , are the rest of real pirates. Perhaps this is the entire infrastructure.

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Nature reserve

Grimshaw and Lafortune worked to develop flora and fauna. Gradually Moyenne acquired his current fortune. It was first opened to tourists 20 years later, with a set tour fee of 12 euros. The funds were used for further improvements.

Over several decades, about 16 thousand trees were planted on Moyenne , 5 kilometers of natural trails were built, many species of birds were brought from other islands and hundreds of sea turtles were saved. The giant land tortoises of Aldabra have also made a good home here. After a long and painstaking transformation, the island can boast a wide biodiversity ​Since 2008, Moyenne has the official status of a nature reserve.

National Park

A few months after Brandon's passing Grimshaw in 2012, Moyenne officially became part of the Sainte-Anne National Marine Park . This is one of the main tourist sites of the archipelago. The park includes a group of islands in the northeastern part of Mahe . This includes the larger islands of Sainte-Anne and Cerf , as well as several smaller ones, including Moyenne . For several decades, fishing and motor boats have been prohibited in the waters of the marine reserve. During this time, the underwater world here has multiplied significantly, and today all excursions to Sainte-Anne do not take place without vibrant and impressive snorkeling and diving . Underwater adventure seekers head to the area around the park to meet different types of sharks, which can often be seen on the local reefs. If we consider the island separately, it is the smallest national park in the world, with an impressive amount of flora and fauna.

Pirate treasure

There is a legend, or perhaps a true story, that the untold treasures of the pirate Olivier Levasseur are buried on Moyenne . Brandon Grimshaw never gave up hope of finding the treasure throughout the 50 years of his life on the island, but the miracle never happened. According to historians, Moyenne was once indeed a pirate hideout. Perhaps it still holds unsolved secrets of past centuries.

Grimshaw's legacy

For a long time, the life of modern Robinson was not known in wide circles. But the extraordinary story of dreams and hard work did not go unnoticed. Journalists and wealthy guests began to visit Moyenne. A documentary was also made. According to rumors, the owner was offered $50 million for the famous island, but in vain.

In the Seychelles where you can hide from the hustle and bustle, however, it is Moyenne , raised on virtue and love of nature, that has a special atmosphere even after the death of Grimshaw .

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Excursion to Moyenne

The island is a short boat ride from the coast of Mahe . You can get here as part of a half-day or full-day excursion , depending on the tour you choose. It may include a visit to several islands of the Sainte-Anne Marine Park , with lunch and snorkeling . Local operators on Mahe offer informative excursions. The cost varies depending on the number of tourists in the group and the program of visits.

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