Francois Leguat Reserve Rodrigues
About This Museum
Tucked away in the Plaine Corail, the François Leguat Reserve isn't your typical museum; it's a living, breathing echo of a time when giants roamed Rodrigues. This place was born from a remarkable conservation effort to restore the island's shattered ecosystem. You walk through a landscape that feels ancient, where the very ground beneath your feet tells a story of extinction and rebirth. It’s a sanctuary dedicated to the memory of the island's lost megafauna, brought back to life in spirit.
Collection Highlights
The stars of the show are undoubtedly the hundreds of Aldabra giant tortoises that now thrive here, ambling through the regenerated native forest. The reserve also protects a stunning limestone cave system, the Grande Caverne, filled with dramatic stalactites and stalagmites. And you can't miss the life-sized bronze statue of the Rodrigues solitaire, a poignant tribute to the flightless bird hunted to extinction centuries ago.
Visitor Information
You'll want good walking shoes for the shaded paths—it’s a proper nature walk, not just a quick look-around. The guides are fantastic storytellers who bring the history of this land and its creatures vividly to life. It’s an experience that stays with you long after you've left.
Architecture & Building
There's no grand building here; the 'architecture' is nature itself—the open-air trails, the forest canopy, and the dramatic entrance to the underground caves.
Contact & Location
Address: Aéroport Sir Gaëtan Duval, Route de L'Autonomie, Quatre Vents, La Ferme, Rodrigues, Mauritius / Maurice
Phone: +230 832 8141
Website: Visit Website
