[3] The British had originally named it Wood Island because of its dense tree vegetation.

in 1835 the first settlement was established[4][5] Along with the remaining Amirante Islands, Desroches had been a part of the Seychelles since it became a separate colony in 1909.

[14][15] It is located 36 km (22 mi) east of the Amirantes Bank, and separated from it by water over 1,300 metres (4,265 ft) deep.

The island is low and is covered with coconut palms and tall hardwood trees.

The least depth in the channel is 18.3 m (60 ft), and it crosses the atoll in a position about 11 km (7 mi) northwest of Desroches.

The Collins group hotel formerly had 30 rooms in the south (former location of Desroches Island Resort), built in 1988,[2] and 1 presidential villa at Madame Zabre Beach.

[4] Around the hotel and village there are populations of house sparrows and zebra doves and in the woods Madagascar fodies and the more retiring grey francolin.

Much of the island is covered in coconut trees but well-wooded pockets of forest remain.