François Leguat Giant Tortoise Reserve is located in Anse Quitor in the Southern coast of Rodrigues island. It is a nature reserve of 20 hectares rich in flora and fauna and spectacular caves. The reserve with the introduction of endemic plants, shrubs and trees, along with protected animal species looks what it was 300 years ago.
The reserve first opened in August 2007as a part of the project La Vanille Reserve in Mauritius. It is named after the 18th century settler François Leguat, who recorded much of the island’s natural flora and fauna before it went extinct.
The reserve is only a few hundred meters from the Rodrigues airport and is right beside Anse Quitor Nature Reserve.
François Leguat Caves
There is a 2km-long walkway through the reserve, surrounded by emerging forest and some very rare plants, along with the luxuriant greenery. On your walk you will come across the giant tortoises which were once present in large numbers. The reserve is now home to over 3000 tortoises and 300,000 plants. The tortoises are well protected and are under careful surveillance now. The tortoises played a crucial role in the health of the island’s indigenous vegetation and ecosystems. Their movements and grazing rejuvenated the vegetation. They also caused the dispersal and germination of the seeds of many plants.
François Leguat Museum
There is also the 500 meters long “Grande Caverne” where your guide will point out the weirdly-shaped stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is well-equipped with lights, handrails, and walkways.
There is also a museum, several education centres,information areas,restaurant, and souvenir shop onsite. The reserve offers guided tours every day at 9.30 a.m, 10.30 a.m, 1.30 p.m, and 2.30 pm.
Eureka House is an elegant Creole house built in 1830. It is situated by the river of Moka. It was originally owned by British and French aristocrats in the 19th century. It is reputed to be one of the largest houses on the island, with 109 doors and windows.
The visit of the Eureka Mansion provides a glimpse into colonial life. The house is filled with antiques and photos of the period. It also has a magnificent garden surrounded by waterfalls of the Moka River.
The Eureka house was opened to the public as a museum in 1986. The house is constructed largely of wood and surrounded by a long, shady veranda. In the grounds you will find a mix of natural Mauritian plant life, including mango trees and palms, a waterfall and an English-style garden.
The museum has areas which are dedicated to music, art, antique maps, Chinese and Indian house wares and a colonial-era shower. You will have a tour of the house and its beautiful gardens.
The Eureka house is an attraction for all nature lovers offering kilometers of tracks dedicated to footing. There are many endemic plants, lush greenery which surrounds the house and rare specimens.
There are 4 beautiful small waterfalls. There is an intense marine life under the water surface.
Waterfalls
Deeper in the garden, you will see the azaleas and the camellias as well as the endemic ochna from South Africa. There are also some rare endemic plants in the garden.
Rooms are adorned with impeccably preserved period furniture imported by the French East India Company. Notable of which are the antique maps, a strange shower contraption that was quite the luxury some 150 years ago and the mildewed piano with keys like rotting teeth.
There is a Souvenir Shop where you can buy Mauritian products such as Mauritian tea, scented candles, spices, exotic jewelry, jams, books and scarves.
Old Kitchen
In the Old Kitchen you will be able to taste the traditional delicious Mauritian cuisine. You will also be able to see what a colonial kitchen was like.
