Moyenne Island
Island in Seychelles
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Moyenne Island is a 9.9-hectare (24-acre) island in the Sainte Anne Marine National Park off the northeast coast of Mahé, Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Since the 1970s it has been a flora and fauna reserve. From 1915 until the 1960s, the island was abandoned until its purchase by Brendon Grimshaw, a newspaper editor from Dewsbury in Yorkshire, England, for £8,000.
| |
  Moyenne Island  Moyenne Island | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Seychelles, Indian Ocean |
| Coordinates | 4°37′10″S 55°30′31″E |
| Archipelago | Inner Islands, Seychelles |
| Adjacent to | Indian Ocean |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Major islands |
|
| Area | 0.099 km2 (0.038 sq mi) |
| Length | 0.4 km (0.25 mi) |
| Width | 0.3 km (0.19 mi) |
| Coastline | 1.7 km (1.06 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 61 m (200 ft) |
| Highest point | Mont Moyenne |
| Administration | |
| Group | Granitic Seychelles |
| Sub-Group | Mahe Islands |
| Sub-Group | Ste. Anne Islands |
| Districts | Mont Fleuri |
| Largest settlement | Anse Creole Travel Services (pop. 1) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1 (2014) |
| Pop. density | 10.1/km2 (26.2/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Creole, French, East Africans, Indians. |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| ISO code | SC-18 |
| Official website | www |
Grimshaw and his partner Rene Lafortune were the only inhabitants of the island until Grimshaw's death in July 2012.[1] The island is now a national park and can be visited as part of organized trips.[2][3]
History
In 1962, Brendon Grimshaw bought the island from Philippe Georges for £8,000 (equivalent to about £149,000 in 2025).[4] Grimshaw and René Antoine Lafortune[5] transformed the island by planting 16,000 trees, building nature paths, and introducing Aldabra giant tortoises. Their goal was to create an island of exceptional beauty, now home to diverse plant and bird life, and nearly 50 giant tortoises.[6]
After 20 years of persistence, Grimshaw and Lafortune succeeded in making Moyenne Island a national park in its own right.[7][8] The island is now known as Moyenne Island National Park, separate from the surrounding Sainte Anne Marine National Park. Following Grimshaw's death in 2012, his friend Suketu Patel oversees the Moyenne Island Foundation, managing the island and fulfilling Grimshaw's vision of preserving the island's natural beauty.[6]
The island remains largely undeveloped, with a small restaurant and museum dedicated to Grimshaw. The fifty Aldabra giant tortoises roam freely.[6]
Administration
The island belongs to Mont Fleuri District.[9]
Tourism
Today, the island's main industry is tourism, and it is known for its beaches. Behind the restaurant is the local warden's house.
Image gallery
Map of the Mahé, Seychelles region
Moyenne Island
Mahé Island View
Information board on Moyenne (March 2016)
Moyenne Island from southwest
Bibliography
- Grimshaw, Brendon (1996). A Grain of Sand: The Story of One Man and an Island. Camerapix. ISBN 9781874041337.
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