The main reason people go to Plantation House is generally not to see the house itself, beautiful though it is, but rather to see the Governor’s tortoises and in particular Jonathan. How old Jonathan is, is very much a matter of conjecture but estimates range from 150 to 190 years old. As such, Saints claim that Jonathan is the oldest living land creature in the world.
Jonathan is certainly St Helena’s oldest resident and came to St Helena from the Seychelles in 1882. Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II, recalls an audience with Jonathan back in 1947 when she visited with her father, King George VI, the only ruling British monarch to ever visit St Helena.
While the house is out of bounds unless you are on an official tour you are permitted to stroll around the gardens, which afford you great views of the house in addition to letting you get up close with the tortoises. You are asked to keep to the paths and no riding on Jonathan or any of his mates!
In the event that the tortoises are not out on the main lawn continue to the end of the path and turn left (as I had to do) – you will most likely see them in the more shaded area to the right of the house (looking towards the house). Watch your step up here as it rougher than sticking to the path and I imagine could be messy in the wet.
This blog entry is one of a group (loop) of entries on my trip to St Helena. I suggest you continue with my next entry – Farm Lodge Country House Hotel: “Great Any Time of Day” – or to start the loop at the beginning go to my St Helena Introduction entry.
The Rambling Wombat 