The island is one of the Seychelles' 42 inner islands. It is 5.8 km north of Silhouette Island, and north west of Mahé. The island has four beaches; East Beach, West Beach, Honeymoon Cove, and Dive Beach. The highest point of the island is 180 m. The perimeter measures in at 7.55 km, and the area is 2.01 km²
History
North Island was the first Seychelles island to record a landing by seafarers. An expedition in 1609 by Captain Sharpeigh and the crew of the English East India Company vessel Ascension reported that the island had a large population of giant land tortoises. From 1826 until the 1970s, North Island was owned by the Beaufond family from Réunion. During this time, the island had a plantation for growing fruits and spices, as well as producing guano, fish oil and copra. After the plantation was sold in the 1970s, the island fell into disuse, and was taken over by feral animals and alien species of weeds. In 1981, North Island was given to Marius Maier by his father. He intended to return the island to its former pristine state before human settlers arrived, including the removal of many unwanted animal and plant species, including pigs, rats, coconuts, casuarina, cows, Indian mynah birds, cats and a very intrusive weed called lantana. He re-introduced the Seychelles' natural flora & fauna, including giant tortoises, certain birds, and trees such as takamaka, badamier and the famous coco-de-mer palm. in 1982, Marius Maier and the villagers have established a turtle nest monitoring center. In 1997, North Island was purchased for US$5 million by Wilderness Holdings Limited, an ecotourism company from South Africa. They have opened a private resort in 2003, aiming at the eco-tourism market, with 11 private villas. The resort has developed the island and increased its population. In May 2011, it was the site for the royal honeymoon of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Most of the population are employed in the tourism business. Accommodations reserved for the permanent staff are located near the island's center.
Facilities
The buildings of the island are either renovated coral buildings or were built from the removal of the unwanted trees on the island, during Marius Maier plan. The resort has 10 standard villas, and a special excluded. A gym is in the village, a huge spa, library, restaurant. The resort also features a boutique, a dive center, a main pool, and a bar.
Tourism
The island has many activities. mountain biking, scuba diving, kayaking and deep sea fishing. The resort offers a unique dining concept: the chef discusses guests' likes and dislikes upon arrival and bases available ingredients on this information. All food on North Island is either grown in the organic vegetable gardens, reared on the island, or caught fresh from the sea.
Private Resort
North Island, Seychelles is a Luxury Private Island Resort, connected to the exclusive franchise portfolio under ‘The Luxury Collection’ of Marriot,international.inc. The luxurious private island resort in Africa rated one of the most exclusive private island resorts in the world, home to a diverse range of endangered species. The importance of this exclusive resort, is the recognition and importance of sustainable development, positioning the island as one of the world’s most aspirational private-Island destinations. A profound comprehension and review of the island described perfectly by Ryan Ward of Liive International Initiative. Its temperaments and hues, advises everything. No place is this more clear than in the utilization of the modified Takamaka trees — their majestic sculptural roots spread out like the ribs of medieval vaults supporting the covered rooftops. Driftwood, rock, roped coral, glass, and finished materials the shades of the ocean, stay the plan wonderfully in the texture of the scene. Everything is strange but the experience is one of profound inundation in nature. As this is no normal island retreat, administration at North Island gives it its own interesting flavor. Rather than infantilizing visitors with excessive help, their genuine blessing here to visitors is to give them complete freedom. With bicycles and an electric cart available to you, it feels like you’ve been depended with the keys to Eden, which is both a benefit and a joy. And as you ruminate at the end of the day with a stroll about the coast, off the principle lounge area, around the incredible wine basement — a structure of harsh slashed stone and nearly stalagmitic roof made by bamboo covering, a procedure found on the fundamental island of Mahe — you realize that it is all worth it. The wine basement houses the most thorough choice of fine wines in the Indian Ocean, while also having an indigenous roof texture, and elements of nature supporting the stock, thus it is the best of everything — local and international. Be touched & inspired as you stroll through serenity, where everything is delectable, everything is luxurious.
