The Real-Life Robinson Crusoe: Brendon Grimshaw’s Island Adventure

In 1962, Brendon Grimshaw made a dream come true when he bought a small tropical island in the Seychelles, a beautiful group of islands in the Indian Ocean. The island, called Moyenne Island, is just 400 meters long and 300 meters wide. Despite its small size, it’s packed with lush greenery and surrounded by old pirate legends. When Grimshaw first set eyes on it, he fell in love.

Brendon Grimshaw, originally from the UK, was working as a newspaper editor in Kenya when he began to think about his future. Kenya was undergoing political changes, and at 37 years old, Grimshaw longed to live closer to nature. He dreamed of owning land in the Seychelles, but during a vacation there, he found that the islands for sale were too expensive. Just as he was about to leave, a young man approached him with an unexpected offer to buy Moyenne Island. The moment Grimshaw saw it, he knew it was the one, and he bought it for around $10,000. But owning the island was just the start of his journey.

Moyenne Island was wild and overgrown. The rainforest was so dense that even coconuts couldn’t fall to the ground. Neglected for years, the island was full of weeds and rats. Determined to restore its natural beauty, Grimshaw teamed up with a local man named Rene Antoine Lafortune. Together, they cleared the overgrowth, created paths, and planted thousands of native trees. Their hard work paid off, and now the island is home to over 16,000 trees.

But the island wasn’t just about plants. Grimshaw wanted to bring back wildlife too. He started by introducing birds to the island, but at first, they didn’t stay. Undeterred, Grimshaw and Lafortune kept trying, and eventually, the birds began to thrive. Today, the island is home to about 2,000 birds.

Grimshaw’s love for nature didn’t stop with the birds. He also took in giant Aldabra tortoises, which were disappearing from many islands. He cared for them so well that people started calling him the “tortoise caretaker.” Thanks to his efforts, there are now around 50 tortoises living happily on Moyenne Island.

In 1972, Grimshaw decided to live on Moyenne Island full-time. He made sure it had all the essentials like water, electricity, and even a phone line. Despite offers of up to $50 million from people wanting to buy the island, Grimshaw refused to sell. He was determined to keep the island a natural sanctuary.

As Grimshaw grew older, he lived on the island with his father after his mother passed away. They had a close relationship, and after his father’s death, Grimshaw continued to live there with Lafortune and his dogs. Visitors were welcome to come and enjoy the island’s beauty.

To ensure Moyenne Island stayed protected forever, Grimshaw made an agreement with the Seychelles’ Ministry of Environment. When he passed away in 2012, he was buried on the island next to his father. His tombstone reflects his deep gratitude for the island, stating that Moyenne Island helped him see the beauty of the world, for which he thanked God.