"Under the forest tapestry of fluffy fruit bats and intersecting branches, I crept closer to a prehistoric-looking giant tortoise that had taken refuge in the shade of some shrubbery. My presence on Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean was improbable for a number of reasons. The world's second-largest coral atoll is not only extremely remote (it's about 700 miles from Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles), but it also requires visitors to adhere to intense biosecurity measures."
"Smaller ships like the one I'm traveling on, Ponant's (#5 Small Ship) Le Bougainville, can access these prime natural areas with minimal impact. Visiting most of the Seychelles' tiny Outer Islands, like the 0.18-square-mile St. Francois, involved "wet landings": hopping off Zodiacs straight into clear shallow water. Veteran outfitter Abercrombie & Kent, which partnered with Ponant on the experience, took numerous measures to ensure that our arrival would not harm the environment, including dipping our shoes in antimicrobial liquid and vacuum-sealing our belongings."
Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean is extremely remote and sustains the world's largest population of giant tortoises, about 100,000, plus nearly 400 other endemic species and subspecies, including the white-throated rail. Strict biosecurity measures govern visitation to protect fragile ecosystems. Small ships such as Ponant's Le Bougainville provide low-impact access to the Outer Islands, often requiring wet landings into clear shallow water. Operators and outfitters implement precautions, including dipping shoes in antimicrobial liquid and vacuum-sealing belongings. The region sees very few vessels or tourists, and wildlife like red-footed boobies outnumber human visitors.
Read at Conde Nast Traveler
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