Addu Nature Park (Eydhigali Kilhi & Koattey)
Forget the sandbank cliché — on the northern tip of Hithadhoo, a UNESCO-recognised biosphere reserve hides freshwater lakes, red mangrove tunnels, and birds found nowhere else in the Maldives. Addu Nature Park is the green secret that makes this atoll unlike any other in the archipelago.
The Wetlands and the Forest
The park encompasses the Eydhigali Kilhi wetland complex and the Koattey protected coastal zone — together forming the second-largest wetland area in the Maldives. Wooden boardwalks wind above the water through dense red mangroves, and charming piers extend out over the freshwater lakes where dragonflies hover and water lilies drift.
Koattey ('Fortress') adds a rugged coastal edge to the park, where healthy coral reefs just offshore can be snorkelled directly from the shore — turtles, sharks, and colourful fish are regular sightings. Canoe into Bedhi Bay to nose through the mangrove roots at water level, the best possible angle for spotting baby stingrays in the shallows.
A Birdwatcher's Unexpected Jackpot
The park is the only place in the entire Maldives where the Dhondheeni — the elegant White Tern — nests. Alongside it you'll find Indian reef herons, Maldivian pond herons, great frigatebirds, migratory sandpipers, and egrets that can be watched year-round from dedicated bird hides.
Rent a bicycle from Hithadhoo town and follow the signed cycling routes through the lush vegetation — the combination of ocean breeze, birdsong, and zero traffic makes it one of the most peaceful rides in the southern hemisphere.
Addu Nature Park (Eydhigali Kilhi & Koattey) on video
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