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About Rodrigues Island

The island is entirely surrounded by reefs, which offer some of the best beach underwater experiences available in the Indian Ocean. A vast lagoon (200sqkm) shelters some of the best beach and reef areas. Among its many coral caves is the often- visited, 795m-long Caverne Patate, near Plaine Corail.

The population of 37,000 Creoles are of African, Malagasy and French stock. They alternate between gathering crops of the sea and those of the land. It's profile is fairly mountainous, consisting of steep hills and narrow valleys. The two highest points are Mount Limon, a mere 393m, and Mount Malarctic, at 326m. Its climate is relatively warm and always pleasant, being somewhat drier than that of Mauritius.

Compared to Mauritius, Rodrigues is more vulnerable during the November to May cyclone season. The wettest months are February and March and temperatures vary from an average of 15ºC in winter to around 34ºC in summer.

The only port open all year is Port Mathurin — the capital situated in the north. Basketwork is the mainstay of the local handicraft. Hats, mats and baskets are woven from the local raw materials: aloe, raffia, bamboo and vétiver.

Of the 38 or so remaining species of plants native to Rodrigues, all but two are considered endangered, vulnerable, or rare. Species of which continued existence depend on one or two specimens in the wild include cafe marron, bois pipe, mandrinette pasner.
The Mauritian government is acting to protect vegetation plots of critical importance, such as Grande Montagne. Pigeon, Cascades, Mourouk, St Louis and Anse Quitor. These plots are fenced off from animal depredation and carefully weeded to remove the much faster growing introduced species. Rare species are propagated in govemment nurseries on Rodrigues and then planted in these plots where they have a better chance of survival and regeneration.

Rodrigues is well known for its pickles and sea food and many Mauritians returning from the island, or Rodriguans going to Mauritius to visit relatives, make it a must to take along with them fresh fish, shrimp, octopus and so on. Although it is forbidden to carry these products on board the aircraft, the passengers manage to slip these delicacies in their luggage, undetected by the airport luggage-scanning devices.

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  • Rodrigues Island

    Rodrigues Island, Mauritius
    Rodrigues, 18 kms long by 8 kms wide, is set in the monochrome blue of a typical postcard scene representing some 200 square kilometres of lagoon. Rodrigues is remote, a part of Mauritius but 550km further east and covers 108sq km, the size of the British Channel Island of Jersey. The coral reef is as far away as 7 kms in some parts. Rodrigues is the smallest of the Mascarenes and of the most recent volcanic origin (some 1½ million years ago). It is surrounded by 14 satellite islets.

  • Flora and Fauna

    Since the island's colonization in the 17th century, its thick forest cover has been destroyed by felling and intensive grazing. The secondary growth with which this has been replaced consists mostly of introduced plant species. Of the 38 or so remaining species of plants native to Rodrigues, all but two are considered endangered, vulnerable, or rare.

  • Weather and Best Season to Visit

    You can visit Rodrigues Island almost any time of the year the climate here is pleasantly warm and somewhat drier than that of Mauritius. The island is prone to periodic cyclones, sometimes quite severe, between the months of November to May. Most of the precipitation takes place during the months of February and March. Average temperature during winters is 15ºC in the winters while it is around 30ºC in the summers.

  • Attractions Beaches

    Pointe Coton, on the east coast, has the best beach on the island. There are other nice beaches at St François, Trou d'Argent and Petit Gravier.

  • Flora Endangered flora

    There are 42 plants endemic to Rodrigues and, of these, seven are down to two or three specimens each. These include the Rodrigues hibiscus, saved from extinction after specimens were located in faraway collections. This was done after only two were found to remain on Rodrigues itself. One of the world's rarest plants, 'Cafe Marron' (Ramosmania heterophylla), is Rodriguan. A lone specimen remains on the island, just off the road near Citronelle. It is crudely fenced in, to protect it from goats. In 1986 cuttings were sent to Kew, where one took root.

  • mauritius-islander.com (General Info site)

    Mauritius is situated in the south-west of the Indian Ocean about 800 km east of Madagascar. Together with Réunion and Rodrigues it belongs to the Mascarene Islands. It has an area of 1.865 km ² and is densely populated with approx. 1.074 m. inhabitants. The island is of volcanic origin and mostly surrounded by coral-reefs. The national territory of Mauritius surrounds the islands Rodrigues, St. Brandon, Agalega-Islands and several smaller islands near the coast of Mauritius. Mauritius gained independence in 1968.

  • Getting There and Away By air

    Rodrigues is linked by air only with Mauritius; it has no international air services of its own. Two Air Mauritius flights with 48 seater planes are scheduled daily. The main aircraft serving the island is the ATR72 of Air Mauritius. There are daily flights to Rodrigues Island.

    The journey lasts for one and a half hour and the plane leaves the island only forty-five minutes later after having landed. There is no refuelling and you can watch your luggage being loaded as you move to board the aircraft.

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