3B9DJ Team will be active from Rodrigues Island, IOTA AF - 017, 24 March - 5 April 2025.
Team - OK6DJ, OK7GU.
They will operate on 80 - 10m, CW, FT8, SSB.
QSL via OK6DJ, ClubLog OQRS, LOTW.
Rodrigues is an enchanting territory of the Indian Ocean
Rodrigues Island is one of the brightest diamonds that ‘shine’ in the necklace of the Mascarene Islands. This amazing territory is located five hundred kilometres from Mauritius, and is notable for its small size.
Rodrigues is ‘in the embrace’ of a picturesque lagoon, embracing the territory from absolutely every side. It is this feature of the object, as well as numerous original attractions made this island popular among the corners of the Indian Ocean land, which are characterised by seclusion and untouched nature. The outer part of the island is separated by a coral reef, which is located 10 kilometres from the coast. As a result, the island is home to an incredible variety of chordates, and the presence of steady winds has made Rodrigues an ideal area for wind, kite and surfing enthusiasts.
A closer look at Rodrigues Island
This territory neighbours another attractive island for tourists - Madagascar. The distance between these two islands is about 110 kilometres. Rodrigues is located practically in the heart of the Indian Ocean, and is a part of the archipelago of the Mascarene Islands (in addition to Rodrigues Island, it includes Reunion Island, as well as Mauritius).
This territory was named in honour of Diogo Rodrigues, who was a famous navigator from Portugal. Actually he discovered this fabulous place.
The coast of Rodrigues is surrounded by several tiny islets and rocks. Of the half a dozen sites, only a few have become famous for their splendour. These are Coconut Island, as well as Hermitage, Fregate, Pintad and Marianne.
The main territory of Rodriguez Island, together with the rocks and adjoining tiny islets, covers an area of more than 104 thousand square kilometres. Today, the site is part of the Republic of Mauritius, but the territory has quite a lot of autonomous powers.
All the islands that make up the Mascarene Archipelago are characterised by their volcanic origin. Rodrigues is no exception.
Climate of the insular area
The climatic conditions of this site, formed in the Indian Ocean, are defined as ‘tropical maritime’. On the island, the average temperature in February (summer), reaches + 23 degrees Celsius, and in winter (August) the scale of the thermometer fluctuates within + 19 degrees Celsius.
The island is periodically ‘visited’ by tropical torrential rains. During the year they appear evenly. Destructive cyclones are not excluded with the onset of the summer period.
What is remarkable about Rodrigues Island?
This amazing territory of the royal ocean does not boast excellent conditions for tourists. Poorly developed infrastructure, remoteness of the island, lack of colourful night adventures and many other factors have affected the number of annual visitors. Nevertheless, these fabulous places do not remain without attention of ecotourism devotees. Rodrigues is also a great place for fans of a more secluded holiday, without large crowds of tourists, mass entertainment, etc. This area is dominated by an atmosphere of incredible peace and relaxation. Those holidaymakers who want to enjoy the silence, broken only by the melodious sounds of nature, try to come here.
What can tourists see on Rodrigues Island?
To get the most out of your visit to this island, all you need to do is hike, heading into the heart of the territory. There are a large number of trails, especially near Mount Limon. Such a journey will reveal the amazing landscapes created by nature near the forest river. Holidaymakers also have the opportunity to climb the mountain, which acts as a kind of viewing platform.
One of the most popular places of Rodriguez Island, attracting tourists of different ages, is Francois Legault. This is a turtle sanctuary, allowing you to get a closer look at the inhabitants of incredible size. Here they also built a museum with a lot of unusual exhibits, giving the opportunity to learn a lot of interesting information about one of the most colourful territories of the Indian Ocean.
In addition, there are many other fascinating places on Rodrigues Island, which we will now make a trip to.
Patat Caves
Despite the fact that tourism in Rodrigues Island is very underdeveloped, there are places here that have been rumoured all over the world.
The Patat Caves are an attraction that can surprise everyone. It is enough to go to this place, and go deep into about 600 metres, as the incredible picturesque paintings created by bizarre coral stalactites will open up. This is just a part of the splendour of the ‘underground kingdom’, which will conquer with its beauty, and will allow each tourist to get an unforgettable experience.
Coconut Reserve
If you think that this place is attracted by the sheer number of coconut trees, you are mistaken. In fact, it is a bird sanctuary that is home to an incredible array of colourful birds, ready to delight every visitor with their plumage.
Near Rodrigues Island, there are two other areas where you can admire huge clusters of seabirds. These are the islands of Ile aux Cocos and Ile aux Sables.
Diving on Rodrigues Island
If we take into account the fact that the area is densely surrounded by coral reefs, we can realise that Rodrigues can be a real paradise for divers. The peculiarity of these places is that they allow holidaymakers to admire a special kind of coral, which is extremely rare. This splendour goes by the name of Acropora rodriguensis.
The stunning natural resources allow you to enjoy not only walking around the island and diving, but also windsurfing and fishing. Kitesurfing enthusiasts will also find favourable conditions for recreation, as well as fans of other water sports.
A few words about the hotels on the island
Absolutely everyone understands that long walks, and the very stay on the island during the holiday, require quality rest. Taking into account that the influx of tourists is not very large, those guests who decided to go to Rodriguez, have the opportunity to settle in one of the eight hotels located on the island. They are located in the area of Port Maturina, and received from 3 to 5 stars.
The hotels on the island are small in size, but on the other hand this feature provides peace, cosiness and tranquillity, which is appreciated by many tourists.
Those holidaymakers who want to immerse themselves in a special atmosphere of rest, to feel the fullness of sensations from staying on the island, can choose to stay in bungalows. Several cosy houses are built right on the coast, and it is here that a couple in love can spend a wonderful time.
Rodrigues Island is ready to amaze and a large number of species of rare trees, and many of them grow exclusively in this area, and are not found anywhere else. There is also the bat, which can only be found on Rodrigues Island. These are not all the unique features of the area, created by nature so that people can enjoy the beauty and forget about the hustle and bustle of grey everyday life.