The sights of Mahe (Seychelles) attract tourists from all over the world. And this is not surprising! Being the largest island in the archipelago, it impresses with the number of beaches and unspoilt nature. In addition, Mahe is very civilized – there are paved roads, a regular bus service, a large selection of hotels, shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.
Beaches
What to see on Mahe Island (Seychelles), if you want to combine the contemplation of nature with a traditional beach holiday? The main pride of the resort is its beaches. There are more than 10 of them here and each one is very beautiful. In addition, you will not find any identical places. Somewhere the ocean is calm, somewhere-with waves and a strong undercurrent. Some places are more suitable for active sports, while others are more suitable for families with children. In some cases, you will find a gentle approach to the water, in others-boulders and stones. The water temperature, the color of the sand, the size of the grains of sand, and even the shape of the shells differ. It should also be noted that there are no private beaches in the Seychelles. Despite the fact that many of them are located on the territory of hotels, everyone can swim there.
The beaches of Mahe Island deserve special attention, so we have described them in detail in a separate article with photos.
City of Victoria
Victoria is the capital of the Seychelles archipelago, as well as its commercial, cultural, economic and political center. Despite its high status, this city has a provincial atmosphere and a measured rhythm of life. In addition, Victoria has almost the largest number of architectural and historical attractions:
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception;
- National Museum of History;
- Clock Tower;
- City Market Sir Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market;
- St. Paul’s Cathedral;
- Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Hindu Temple;
- Botanical Garden;
- Natural History Museum;
- Independence Avenue Fountain;
- Muslim mosque, etc.
Read more about the city of Victoria and its attractions in this article.
Morne National Park Seychelles
Morne Seychelles National Park is a property of Mahe, covering almost 20% of its territory (almost 3 thousand hectares, length-10 km, width – from 2 to 3). Since its foundation in 1979, this place has managed to win the love of nature lovers and become one of the main reasons for coming to the Seychelles.
Occupying almost the entire northern coast of the island, the park consists of 3 reliefs-rainforests, mango swamps and mountains. During the walk, you will see the ruins of the city’s first school, a cinnamon oil press shop, and old distilleries.
But most of all, nature is amazing! The Morne Seychelles Nature Reserve is home to 7 endemic species of birds, tiny frogs, tiger chameleon, bats and other fauna. The flora of the park is no less diverse. Here grow such truly rare plants as Nepenthes Pervillei and Medusagyne oppositifolia.
The easiest way to get to Morne is from Victoria. You will need the No. 14 bus, which follows the Chemin Sans Souci road and stops at the beginning of all hiking trails. The road runs along the border of the nature reserve and ends at Port Glod Bay.
The National Park also includes Mount Morne Blanc. We’ll tell you more about it.
Mount Morne Blanc
Morne Blanc is one of Mahe’s most prominent attractions in the Seychelles. From the top of this mountain, which rises at an altitude of 907 m above sea level, you can enjoy a magnificent panorama of the entire island. It is for the sake of it, as well as beautiful photos and the opportunity to breathe the purest mountain air, that tourists come here.
Given the fact that Morne Blanc belongs to a protected area, there are many relict trees and endangered animal species. In addition, on the slopes of the mountain there is a tea plantation with a factory where the famous vanilla tea is packaged. This is the best souvenir – we advise you to stock up.
But for the sake of justice, we note that in regular stores it costs much less. There is also a small tavern where you can warm up and drink a delicious drink (it is very fresh upstairs, so this will be useful). Other activities include mushroom picking in the forest and horse riding.
You can get to the top by mechanical lift or on foot. Despite the low altitude, the way up is quite difficult. It is especially difficult on the site that begins immediately behind the observation deck. The path goes up sharply and you don’t even have to walk, but climb over the rocks. As for the descent, it will be even more difficult, so before you go on the road, take a good look at your strength and physical fitness.
In any case, you should climb to the top as early as possible – while it is still not very hot. In addition to the most beautiful views, you will find the ruins of the first schools built for slaves, caves where runaway slaves hid, and a wooden platform on which it is customary to arrange picnics and romantic dates.
Hiking trails
Morne Seychelles National Park features 12 hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty. They pass by animal trails, run through mangroves and numerous hills. Mahe Island tour (Seychelles) you will probably be asked to go through one of them. Let’s consider only the main ones:
- The Copolia Trail is quite simple, starting at the base of the Chemin Fort Noir and ending at an altitude of 500 m. Granite boulders are scattered along the entire route, “resting” surrounded by endemic flora and fauna. In clear weather, from the top of the final point, you can see not only Mahe itself, but also other islands – and at all 360 degrees. The trail is approximately 1.4 km long. You can get to its beginning by bus 14 and 35. The latter stops within a 5-minute walk of Sans Soucis;
- The Trois Freres Trail is a more challenging route that requires good physical fitness. In addition, there are snakes here, and the path is blocked by huge “steps” made of soil and tree roots. In most cases, the hike takes 4 hours. The starting point is at the Sans Souci Forest station;
- Ance Major Trail-runs along the rocky northwest coast and descends to the secluded beach of the same name. In the beginning there are fields of mint and in general it is very beautiful. As for the difficulty, at first glance this route may seem easy, but this impression is deceptive. During the ascent, you will have to pass under the crowns of trees, get over huge boulders and crawl on a rocky plain.
The Mission Lodge Observation Deck
What to see in Mahe (Seychelles) if you have climbed the Morne Blanc mountain? Be sure to check out the archipelago’s most famous observation deck. It offers spectacular views of the west coast of the Indian Ocean, the red-tiled roofs of Victoria and the white beaches of Eden.
The site was built in 1972 by the City Planning Department and was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II of England and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh. Moreover, on the territory of The Mission Lodge there is a small gazebo where the ruling couple admired the surrounding nature over a cup of tea.
The observation deck can be reached via a shaded path leading from Sans Soucis Rd. The road is not difficult at all, you can drive up by car.
Sauzier Waterfall
Looking at photos of Mahe in the Seychelles, you will probably notice another important attraction. This is Sauzier Waterfall, located near the village of N.Y. S Village. Of all the local waterfalls, it is the most impressive and easily accessible.
The road to the waterfall starts behind the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and goes along the bed of the L’ileta River. After walking 2 km, you will see a granite pool surrounded by high cliffs. It is in this place that the mountain stream forms a powerful cascade that falls into a crystal clear lake from a height of up to 200 m. It is allowed to swim in it, although very deep.
Sozye waterfall is beautiful at any time of the year, but it is most exciting during the rainy season, when the width of the stream increases from 20 to 50 m. However, you can easily slip on wet stones – you should be careful.
It is recommended to go to the waterfall in the early morning. The place is in demand and quite crowded. Curiously, local residents bathe in it for free, tourists will need to pay for access to the river.
Royal Spice Garden
The list of natural attractions of Mahe Island includes another unusual place, located 17 km from the capital. We are talking about the spice garden, laid out by the famous French botanist Pierre Poivre in 1771. It was later destroyed by a soldier who mistakenly thought Mahe was invaded by the British.
Today, Le Jardin Du Roi Spice Garden covers an area of 35 hectares, and the estate built in its center has been owned by the same family for many generations. Trying to somehow improve the abandoned territory, they planted it with palm, fruit and coffee trees. Parrots, blue pigeons and other tropical birds fly among them. Now the house has a small museum that reflects the way of life of the first planters of the 19th century. At the end of the tour, tourists receive a souvenir of their choice – vanilla, ginger, nutmeg, clove or patchouli.
A walk through the Royal Garden takes about an hour and causes mixed emotions among tourists. On the one hand, they celebrate the wonderful spicy aroma that soars throughout the area. On the other hand, there is a not very well-groomed territory covered with dry grass and crumbling fruit. Broken cages are everywhere, turtles are crawling in the mud, and many animals have no food or water. In addition, a map is sold at the entrance to the garden, which is difficult to understand. However, no employee explains anything. As for the prices in the spice shop and cafe, they are quite high. It is much cheaper on the market.
- The garden is open daily from 10: 00 to 17: 30.
- An entrance ticket costs about $2.
- You can reach it from the bay of Anse Royal, moving inland for about a kilometer.
La Digue is an island with the most beautiful beaches in the Seychelles.
Moyenne Island
Guided tours in the Seychelles from Mahe Island include a visit to Moyenne Island, a small 9-hectare island. Since 1962, this paradise has been owned by the editor of the famous British publication Brandon Grimshaw. He loved nature very much and had long dreamed of settling somewhere in the tropics, surrounded by lush vegetation.
The purchase cost was $ 13,000, and Moyenne itself has become one of the most visited tourist attractions. Until the last days of his life, Grimshaw personally received all comers. At the same time, the island itself became virtually uninhabited. This is especially strongly felt at low tide, exposing the shoal to a snow-white sandbar.
Moyenne Island is home to giant sea turtles, which Brendon also raised, many strange birds and hundreds of stray dogs. They used to live in a dog kennel built by Emma Best. She adored dogs and brought them to the island from almost all the Seychelles. Now there are only ruins left of the establishment, but the animals do not pose a threat to tourists. Endemic plants are planted along the path leading to the remains of the nursery. They were specially brought here for the Grimshaw turtles.
There is also a small restaurant on the island with an excellent Creole buffet. The food there is very tasty. If you want to learn more about the history of this place, buy the book “A Grain Of Sand”. You can find it in a bookstore on Mahe.
Takamaka Rum Factory
If you don’t know what to see in Mahe, head to Takamaka Rum Distillery, a rum factory. It is here that an authentic drink is made, which is loved not only by locals, but also by tourists.
The plant is located in the south-east in the village of La Plain Saint-Andre on the territory of a former coconut plantation. Nearby there is a bar, a gift shop and an expensive but very good restaurant. They are located in the building of a former plantation estate, the entourage of which is somewhat reminiscent of the dachas of Russian writers. There are very few such buildings in the Seychelles, so they can also be included in the list of the most important historical attractions.
- Rum factory tasting tours run from Monday to Friday at 11: 30 and 13: 30.
- They cost 250 Seychelles rupees. Visitors to the Plantatorsky restaurant get a 50% discount.
The sights of Mahe (Seychelles) will be able to conquer anyone, because it is not in vain that this island is often called paradise.
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