At Blue Hill Hotel in the Seychelles, mornings are never just about a cup of coffee and a plate of fresh fruit. Here, breakfast brings a unique tradition that blends sustainability with a brush of wild magic—feeding time for the hotel’s resident Aldabra giant tortoises.
As the sun rises over the lush hillside, guests gather on the terrace to start their day. But just a few steps away, a small herd of Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) awaits their own morning ritual. These gentle giants, some weighing over 400 pounds, have become a beloved part of the Blue Hill experience.
Every morning, the kitchen staff collects organic food scraps from breakfast prep. These include leafy greens, bits of papaya, and other fruit and veggie leftovers. Instead of tossing these into the bin, the scraps are delivered straight to the tortoises. It’s a simple act, but one that turns kitchen waste into a sustainable snack, and breakfast into a shared event.
Watching the tortoises lumber up the hillside for their morning feast is a slow-motion spectacle. With deliberate, measured movements, they munch their way through the pile of fresh offerings. There’s something almost meditative about the way they eat—each bite purposeful, every movement gentle.
Guests have an opportunity to connect with one of the Seychelles’ most iconic creatures up close. They also get to witness a small-scale example of eco-friendly hospitality in action. The Aldabra giant tortoise is native to the islands and is among the world’s largest and longest-lived tortoises. Blue Hill Hotel’s resident herd is a living link to the archipelago’s wild past.
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