Rodrigues: Day 5

We've been alternating active and lazy days to minimise fatigue, although to be honest, even the active days have been very chilled. Today is one of those lazier days!

First plan is bird spotting at reserve la Grande montage. Two targets for the day are the warbler and the Rodrigues fody. Lucky for us, we bump into one of Denis' MWF friends working in the conservation area! Private guided tour for us, thank you very much!

The reserve itself is home to almost exclusively endemic plants. We're told that there are around 40 species specific to Rodrigues, and an additional 20 for the mascareignes, on the island. The few invasive exotic plants in the area have been left there deliberately to show visitors the damage they cause. Very few plants around the huge sintok guava tree, that literally sucks the life around it. Compare that to endemic plants that grow fairly harmoniously together elsewhere in the park.

Around the edges of the park, work being done to extend the conservation area. Exotic species chopped down at this time of the year (dry season) to make space for endemic plants to be replanted during rainy season. Guide explains that's the optimum modus operandi, given the limited resources they have, otherwise they'd have to find people just to water the plants throughout the dry season.

Another plan in the works is the introduction of aldabra tortoises in a section of the park. Apparently, some of the endemic species have evolved to require tortoises (now extinct) to digest their seeds and allow dissemination and germination. The conservationists have tried to collect the seeds, but have failed to get them to germinate without the digestive enzymes of the symbiotic animals. The aldabra tortoises are expected to fulfil that ecological void. Similar successful experiments have been attempted on Ile ronde. Oh, and we did manage to see both target birds!

We're told by Denis' friend that there is a nearby nesting area for the native bats at Bel Air. He proceeds to accompany us to the spot, which we would never have found on our own! A few trees by the cliff side gorged with bats, almost looking like teardrop shaped hanging fruits, with their large wings wrapped around their bodies.

Also achieve our set objective to have lunch at a more humane time than on the previous days! Basanio snack, for delicious kono kono (local sort of sea snail) salad, and charred, slightly chewy tiny octopi for main. Denis' octopus curry seemed to be a hit as well. Pascal though, wasn't so impressed with his squid.

Follow up with a visit at Victoria bee farm. About 40 hives, each hosting about 35k bees! Unfortunately, it's not the flowering season, so the somewhat subdued bees are fed with sugary water. This is also reflected by the low honey stock levels at the shop. The people at the farm proceed to remove the nesting trays from a hive to show us the queen bee, which, to the untrained eyes, only looks barely larger than any other bee! Obligatory bee related shopping and we're off again.

The early lunch left us with a slot for a mid afternoon snack. So headed to Valerie's bakery, which is on our way back to Port Mathurin. Unfortunately for us, her oven had broken down, so only lemon and passion fruit curd tart with thin toasted meringue top available. The very outgoing and charismatic owner, originally from the mainland, moved to Rodrigues some 11 years back, and hasn't looked (honestly no pun intended, you'll understand the disclaimer just below) back since. Chatting away, we only realised (a good 10-15 mins later) that she was blind when it came to settle the bill for the selection of local fruits jams and coulis that we chose! She lost her eye sight in an incident some 5/6 years ago, and is now running a successful (includes baking and manufacturing all the goodies in her store! ) bakery, despite her handicap. Huge kudos!!!

Finish the day with a nice stroll on baladirou beach, on the north east side of the island.

Dinner as per attached pictures