Lodge owners in Kenya – operating the Arijiju private lodge and reserve in the Borana Conservancy – are hoping to expand into the Seychelles by creating a wilderness beach reserve at Grand Barbe on Silhouette Island.

Details of the proposed reserve, which includes a 26-room eco hotel, were presented to Bel Ombre inhabitants and other interested parties in a public meeting recently.

This presentation was the second phase of the assessment process before the Seychelles' government gives the go-ahead for construction of the eco hotel.

Arijiju representative Richard Smith revealed plans to incorporate natural rocks and features as well as existing historical buildings into the property.

As there is a turtle nesting area at Grand Barbe beach, Smith said the developers will avoid the beach and stressed the property will be a “wilderness beach reserve and not a beach resort.”

The Island Conservation Society, the project’s environmental consultant, submitted a report to the Department of Environment in January.

“As it is earmarked to be built in an area of high ecological value, we have decided on a class one environmental impact assessment,” said Myron Meme, Director for Environmental Assessment and Permits in the Department of Environment. 

The property, including rooms, back-of-house operations and staff quarters, is expected to spread over 10-12 hectares of Grand Barbe.

The developers expect to have around 100 construction workers on site ahead of the planned opening in 2026.

“We will be examining all areas in the environmental context of the assessment from its biodiversity, its operations and even the social and economic aspects,” said Meme. “We are still in the assessment phase as we are scoping and doing our own analysis internally at the ministry."

He said, only after all information is gathered from all parties, they will be able “to determine what needs to be preserved in the area at all costs and to what extent we will allow the development to proceed”.

Meanwhile, those attending the meeting were able to voice their concerns about two cemeteries on the proposed development site, the fate of the two remaining Grand Barbe inhabitants and the impact of construction on the area’s ecosystem.

Meme said: “If there is a resettlement issue, this is something we will have to discuss with the authorities concerned and gather as much information as possible about the situation to determine appropriate steps to take.”

Glenny Savy, Island Development Company (IDC) Chief Executive Officer, reassured those present the development at Grand Barbe will consider preservation and restoration of all historical aspects of the area. The state-owned IDC manages the island.

“Silhouette is a place rich in history and we want to keep it that way.”