Kélonia
A turtle museum and rescue centre in Saint-Leu, where you can watch injured turtles recover and learn about turtle conservation in the Indian Ocean.
Kélonia is located at the northern edge of Saint-Leu by the sea. Converted from a former turtle farm, it now serves as an observation centre and museum, caring for and rehabilitating green turtles, hawksbill turtles and others that have been caught in fishing nets or injured. Visitors can observe them up close through aquarium tanks. Exhibits cover turtle ecology, the history of turtles on Indian Ocean islands (including the once-thriving turtle trade), with specimens and interactive displays. Admission is about €10 (check the official website). Wild turtles are often seen while snorkelling off Saint-Leu, so after the exhibits you can try your luck at nearby beaches, but keep your distance and do not touch them.
Opening hours
About 09:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Mascarin Botanical Garden
- Stella Matutina Museum
- L'Ermitage Beach, Saint-Gilles
- L'Étang-Salé Beach
- Boucan Canot Beach
- Maïdo Viewpoint
- Cirque de Mafate
- Cirque de Cilaos