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Shangri-La Le Touessrok Becomes Mauritius’ Largest Hotel Beehive Sanctuary
Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius is home to a total of 16 beehives that are hosting over 700,000 bees, making the luxurious island resort the first hotel in Mauritius to become home to more than half a million bees, establishing the largest bee population within the country’s hospitality sector.
The hives are lovingly cared for by two dedicated beekeepers: Tony Myrtile, the resort’s Villa Butler, who continues to look after the original three hives; and Etienne de Senneville from Les Ruchers Senneville, who manages the 13 newly installed hives. The bees, a mix of Italian and Mauritian Apis Mellifera, have found their sanctuary within the lush tropical landscape of the resort – an ideal environment that supports pollination and enriches local flora.
The hives are expected to yield between 25 and 35 kilograms of honey per hive, resulting in an estimated annual harvest of 300 kilograms. Guests will have the opportunity to savour this natural treasure during breakfast through delightful creations such as croissant au miel, pineapple flambéed, and bonbons au miel, with fresh honeycomb served after each harvest.
By creating a sanctuary for more than 700,000 bees, Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius is helping to protect these essential pollinators while also supporting the island’s natural biodiversity and enriching the guest experience in meaningful and authentic ways.
Experience Sri Lanka’s Wilderness at Ruhunu Ring with Shangri-La, Hambantota
Shangri-La Hambantota, serving as the gateway to the Ruhunu Ring, a visionary circuit curated by Shangri-La in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, brings together the extraordinary natural beauty, cultural depth and rich heritage of Sri Lanka’s Deep South.
The Wildlife Ring, part of the Ruhunu Ring, is Sri Lanka’s Deep South distilled into an astonishing theatre of nature. For those wanting to see remarkable wildlife up close, the Ruhunu Ring presents an unmissable opportunity. Within a span of a weekend, guests can move from ocean to wetlands to forests – witnessing blue and sperm whales breaching offshore, leopards stealthily moving through the jungle, herds of Asian elephants crossing the plains and saltwater crocodiles basking by the lagoons. Here, guests can also marvel at rare creatures such as Leatherback Turtles, Asian Elephants, Sloth Bears, Sambar Deers, Flying Foxes, Black-necked Storks, Blue Mormon Butterflies, and Pythons, just to name a few. The Wildlife Ring stands as a testament to how densely woven and vibrant Sri Lanka’s wilderness is.
Cheval Blanc Seychelles’ Commitment to Turtle Conservation
Cheval Blanc Seychelles, the stunning Maison located along the shores of Anse Intendance, is home to an extraordinary tapestry of flora and fauna that is found nowhere else on the planet. From the iconic Seychelles giant tortoises and rich marine life to the rare Seychelles black parrot, the Maison offers guests a rare window into the island’s vibrant biodiversity. In collaboration with Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS), a local NGO, Cheval Blanc Seychelles works to preserve and manage this delicate ecosystem.
The island is also home to remarkable species such as the Aldabra Giant Tortoises, Yellow-Bellied Mud Terrapins, Black Mud Terrapins, Green Sea Turtles and Hawksbill Sea Turtles. The Maison also hosts a number of activities, in partnership with MCSS, where guests are encouraged to engage directly with conservation efforts and deepen their understanding of marine life and ecosystem conservation.
Guests can join MCSS team members on early-morning sea turtle patrols along the beach, where – if lucky – they may observe nesting sea turtles and even assist in collecting scientific data for long-term monitoring programmes. Other experiences include supporting MCSS team members in mark-recapture studies of local terrapin populations, learning about their biology and ecology, or joining guided wetland walks to explore the region’s unique wildlife.
MCSS also offers guests the opportunity to sponsor a terrapin, contributing directly to ongoing conservation efforts aimed at not only protecting these species but also reversing their decline. Guests may even have the chance to name an individual turtle, alongside receiving a digital thank-you note, a factsheet on the species, a certificate of sponsorship and email updates if the sponsored turtle is sighted again.
RAH GILI MALDIVES EarthCheck Bronze Benchmarked Status and Dolphin Sanctuary
RAH GILI MALDIVES, the first operational island within the SIX & SIX PRIVATE ISLANDS collection, announces that it has achieved EarthCheck Bronze Benchmarked status under the EarthCheck Company Standard v4.1, following its opening in February this year. Renowned for its untouched beauty, the island is a dolphin sanctuary, a place where spinner dolphins gather to play in the surrounding waters.
These endemic dolphin species offer rare, unspoiled encounters that reflect the island’s minimal human impact. This thriving marine presence underscores the health of the surrounding ecosystem and reinforces RAH GILI’s commitment to preserving its environment while allowing guests to experience it in a thoughtful, respectful way.
Set across 8.7 hectares with 74 villas, the resort runs on infrastructure designed for continuity over time. Solar energy generation, supported by battery storage, contributes to the island’s energy needs. Water is produced and managed on-site through desalination and bottling systems. Waste is segregated and processed through structured practices that prioritise reduction and reuse. Materials have been selected for their ability to endure within the Maldivian climate, favouring longevity over short-term effect.
Beyond operations, the island remains grounded in its setting. Experiences are informed by Maldivian knowledge and ways of living, ensuring that what is offered remains connected to place rather than constructed apart from it.
This is carried through the Rayyithun—the people of the islands—whose presence shapes how the island is cared for. Within this, an ethos of care is not expressed as an idea but lived through daily practice, where responsibility is shared and sustained over time. As SIX & SIX PRIVATE ISLANDS continues to develop its portfolio, RAH GILI MALDIVES serves as a working model of how each island is intended to function—through clarity of design, consistency in operation, and a measured approach to impact.