Inner Islands
Denis Private Island
Denis Island is a stunning private island paradise, 53 miles north of the capital Victoria, and just a 30-minute flight from Mahe. The island was once a large coconut plantation but today is an inclusive luxury resort.
Accommodation is in 25 en suite private bungalows of five categories, each with sundecks, outdoor showers, minibar, living area, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, iPod dock and tea and coffee facilities. There are beachfront spa cottages and deluxe beach cottages that offer guests an even greater level of luxury as they come with private spa treatment facilities. A recent addition is the beach villa, which has its own private plunge pool, dining area, sala day bed, king size bed, lounge and wine chillier.
The grand main building includes a fine dining restaurant where the chef prepares daily specials featuring traditional Seychelles cuisine often including local seafood and island-grown vegetables. Some evenings, entertainment such as a dance performance is given and romantic candlelit dinners on the beach can also be arranged.
Denis Private Island offers inclusive activities to its guests such as guided island tours with the resident naturalist, snorkelling and canoeing, and there is a tennis court and a series walking trails to enjoy. The resort is a diver’s paradise with excellent reef and deep-sea dives available at extra cost. It is also notable for excellent game fishing. There used to be a swimming pool but that was undermined by abnormal tides and currents in 2015 and now is a sun deck: however, there is always the warm Indian Ocean where you can swim to your heart’s content.
Having once been a coconut plantation, Denis Private Island has an impressive programme to revert to its original native habitat and has planted numerous indigenous plants and trees and re-introduced various bird and other species.There is a small colony of giant tortoises on the island and many endemic birds such as the Seychelles fody, magpie robin, paradise flycatcher and Seychelles warbler, all of which can be seen with a little patience.
Facilities
Restaurant, bar, lounge, swimming pool, tennis court, air conditioning, ceiling fans, mini-bar, tea and coffee facilities, iPod dock, satellite TV, small library, media room with internet access, and laundry service.
Local Wildlife
The reefs around Denis Island are extremely rich in terrestrial fauna and hard and soft corals, sponges, colourful reef fish, green and hawksbill turtles, small reef sharks and rays, many of which can be seen on dives. In deeper water sailfish, tuna and dolphins can often be encountered with whale sharks and manta rays present too between September and November. Hawksbill turtles come ashore to nest in November and December and green turtles between February and April. On land the impressive Aldabra giant tortoises can easily be found and approached for photographs. Birdlife includes now rare endemics such as the Seychelles fody, magpie robin, paradise flycatcher and Seychelles warbler; small numbers of sooty terns are returning to nest thanks to careful habitat management and conservation strategies.
Optional Activities
Activities such as tennis, pool, chess, wildlife walks canoeing and snorkelling are offered as part of the package. Boat trips can be arranged for game fishing, and there is a PADI dive centre at the resort where both keen and beginner divers can enjoy exciting dive excursions for an extra cost.
Alan Godwin
Area Specialist
There is excellent snorkelling right in front of the main building. The game fishing is superb (catch and release for sailfish and marlin).
If you have any questions regarding our Seychelles tours, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
Our beach cottage on Denis Island was very good - with a wonderful semi-open shower and bathroom area - and its position on the beach was perfect. The food was excellent, with most coming from the island's farm or the surrounding area. Bikes were provided which gave a great opportunity to explore the island in full. I took the opportunity to go deep sea fishing and it was terrific!
