Ras Rmel, the Pink Flamingo Island
Around Dar Ines — Midoun, island of Djerba
In the north of Djerba, facing Houmt Souk, the Ras Rmel peninsula reaches into the sea like a long tongue of sand. It is nicknamed Flamingo Island after the birds that frequent its lagoon. With no road and no buildings, it is the wildest setting on the island — and one of our guests’ favourite excursions.
A sand spit and a lagoon
Ras Rmel is a sand spit several kilometres long that closes off a shallow lagoon. On one side, the open sea and its gentle waves; on the other, calm, warm, transparent water, ideal for swimming and walking barefoot. The sand is pale and fine, the light dazzling.
There is nothing else: no building, no parasol, no snack bar. That is precisely its charm, and what calls for a little preparation.
The flamingos
Pink flamingos frequent the lagoon mostly from autumn to spring, when they stop on the island during their migrations. You watch them from a distance, grouped in the shallows; binoculars make the sight far better. In high summer they are rarer: the peninsula is then mainly worth the swim and the scenery.
The site is a fragile natural environment: keep away from the birds and leave nothing behind.
Getting there
The most common way is the boat excursion from Houmt Souk port: the “pirate boats” take visitors out for the day, often with a grilled-fish lunch on the beach. Allow about twenty minutes for the crossing. You can also reach the base of the peninsula by track, then walk.
Early morning brings soft light and few people; in the afternoon the excursion boats are more numerous.
Practical tips
Bring plenty of water, a hat, sunscreen and a parasol: there is no natural shade at all. Take shoes for the hot sand and something to eat if you have not booked lunch on board.
Back at Dar Ines, the pool and the rooftop terrace offer the cool of the late afternoon — and the sunset.