Rich in historical events and ghost stories, the island is owned by a former English journalist, Brendon Grimshaw, who welcomes visitors both local and foreign.

On Monday July 26, a group of 17 early childhood student teachers, accompanied by two lecturers from the School of Education, University of Seychelles, visited Moyenne to discover for themselves the wonders that this small but special island has to offer. 

This visit was part of their environmental unit of study at the university, as well as being a reward for having completed yet another school term.

Outdoor learning is certainly one way of equipping oneself with firsthand knowledge about the environment, as a mean of sharing it later on with children. During school holidays, Moyenne has become a little haven for many wildlife clubs wishing to spend the day on a relatively cheaper glass bottom boat trip in the St Anne marine park.

The trip was courtesy of Teddy’s Glass Bottom Boat, whose owner is obviously well versed in marine life, giving students the chance to experience the beauty of the marine park.

They learned to appreciate the diversity of marine species such as sea urchins, corals and a variety of colourful fishes.
 
The air around the islands was pure and clear, with a lovely view of the Mahe coast at a distance. The students had fun trying to identify the features of the different marine park islands and naming them as well. It was the very first visit for many of them.

Feeding the fish with bread was twice the fun! And to top up the fun came the excitement of stopping on the amazing little island jewel in this protected area.

Moyenne, which means simply the “middle island”, has an amazing and breathtaking beachfront. The students could hardly find words to describe such rare beauty!

It was a magical moment to set foot on the magnificent white sandy beach, and then the students immediately wanted to explore the island with the blessing of its only resident, who is none other than Mr Grimshaw himself.

What luck to be welcomed by a remarkable and astonishing man, who enjoys nothing better than taking his time to talk about and explain the many fascinating stories of Moyenne. The students were surprised to learn about “Robinson Crusoe and Man Friday” as – together with his dogs and many tortoises – Mr Grimshaw related his personal encounters with the island’s ghosts.

All set with a nature trail guide, the happy group then toured the island and learned more about the historical events that took place. They discovered several interesting sites such as the House of Dogs, Gold Cave, Coral Cove, and Elephant Rock viewpoint.

Many of the ruins that were occupied by the earliest owner also captured the students’ attention. Further along the path they came on the chapel, built many years ago, as well as the small cemetery and graves where the remains of Mr Grimshaw’s father rest.

Another interesting attraction was the museum, which provided fascinating information about historical events on the island.

The view of the other islands from Moyenne is certainly stunning!

Having made their way through this lush and unspoilt environment, a relaxing moment followed at the Jolly Roger bar and restaurant where the group listened happily to the many stories of pirates and treasure told by Mr Grimshaw, as well as memories of the good old days of his youth.

All too soon it was time to leave and bid farewell to the island’s inhabitants, but visiting Moyenne will surely remain a memorable experience in the hearts of all the students.

Contributed by the School of Education, University of Seychelles