VictoriaCity/Region: Mahé
Having the dubious honor of being the smallest capital city in the world, Victoria can also be considered one of the quaintest and most charming, easily explored on foot. The best place to soak up the friendly atmosphere is at the busy daily market (closed on Sundays), where local crafts are on sale along with fish, fruit and vegetables. A hint of French and British colonial days still remains, reflected in buildings like the courthouse and main post office. Among the colorful houses there is also a cathedral and a clock tower built as
a copy of the one housing Big Ben in
London. The city is also something of an art center, and works by local artists are popular buys at local galleries.
Seychelles Natural History MuseumCity/Region: Mahé
Located in the center of Victoria, the
Seychelles Natural History Museum features some fascinating exhibits like the bones of an extinct type of crocodile, a shipwreck, various stuffed animals and other curiosities of the natural world.
Address: Independence Avenue, next to the Post Office, Victoria
Phone Number: 32 13 33
Email Address: seymus@seychelles.net
Hours: Open Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 4.30pm; Friday and Saturday 8.30am to 12pm
Admission: SR10 (adults), free for children. Guided visits SR20, Concessions for residents
National Museum of HistoryCity/Region: Mahé
Step back into the days of the buccaneers at the
Seychelles National Museum of History, which features excellent displays of historic artifacts relating to the cultural and natural history of the islands. Exhibits include a range of interesting objects from shipwreck salvage, coral, voodoo dolls and old household objects to items that belonged to well-known pirates in days of old.
Address: National Library Building, Francis Rachel Street, Victoria
Phone Number: 32 13 33
Email Address: seymus@seychelles.net
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8.30am to 6.30pm, Saturday 8.30am to 12pm
Admission: SR10; residents receive concessionary rates
National Botanical GardensCity/Region: Mahé
An oasis of green shade, ideal for a stroll, the century-old Botanical Gardens at the south end of Victoria extend for six hectares (15 acres), planted with a wide variety of indigenous and exotic trees, including the
Seychelles islands' unique 'coco de mer' palms. The orchid garden is particularly lovely. There is a restaurant and souvenir shop in the Gardens.
Address: Mont Fleuri Road, next to the hospital entrance, Victoria
Phone Number: 670 500
Email Address: boga@seychelles.net
Hours: Daily 8am to 5pm
Admission: EUR5; residents are free
Ste Anne Marine National ParkCity/Region: Mahé
A treat for nature lovers, guided tours are offered from Victoria harbor to the St Anne National Marine Park, which covers six islands off the coast of Mahé near the city. The Park encompasses one of the most important nesting sites for Hawksbill turtles, and beneath its clear waters, ideal for snorkeling, the glory of the coral reefs can be enjoyed. Glass bottomed boat trips are also available.
Phone Number: 22 51 15
Email Address: mpa@seychelles.net
Hours: All Marine National Parks are open daily, including public holidays
Admission: US$10 (adults), children under the age of 12 are free
Vallée de MaiCity/Region: Praslin Island
First stop for most visitors to Praslin island in the Seychelles is the fantastic
Vallée de Mai, hidden in virgin forest, which was declared a World Heritage Site by
UNESCO in 1984. Apart from the rich variety of plant and animal life in this beautiful spot, the main attraction here is that this is the only place in the world where the 'coco de mer' palm grows, producing a nut that weighs up to 40 lbs (18kg): the largest nut in the world. What makes this nut even more renowned is that it is shaped like a female pelvis. Its rarity, shape and alleged aphrodisiac properties have led to it becoming a collector's item. The Vallée is also home to three of the world's rarest birds: the black parrot, fruit pigeon and Seychelles bulbul. Guided tours to the Vallée are conducted every day from all the resort hotels on the island. There is also a self-guided walking trail through the area.
Phone Number: 32 17 35
Email Address: sif@seychelles.net
Website: www.sif.sc
Hours: Daily 8am to 5.30pm
Admission: EUR15 (adults), children under 12 free. Residents receive concessionary rates
Black Pearl (Seychelles) LTDCity/Region: Praslin Island
Exquisite black pearls are cultured at the only oyster farm in the
Indian Ocean, but that is not all you can investigate at this attraction which, apart from displaying the art of cultivating pearls in the Black Lip Pearl Oyster, also explains the breeding and feeding of the Giant Clam species, Tridacna maxima. The farm features a touch pool and aquarium, and of course the black pearls are on sale in the onsite jewelry store.
Address: Amitié, Praslin, alongside the airport
Phone Number: 233 987
Email Address: prof@seychelles.net
Website: www.seychelles.net/prof
Hours: Daily from 10am to 4pm weekdays, and Saturday 10am to 12pm
George Camille GalleryCity/Region: Mahé
Praslin artist, George Camille, is famed not only locally, but his works have been exhibited extensively in London and
Paris. He works in a variety of mediums in an effort to capture the color and excitement of Creole life. His works may be viewed or bought at his popular studio at
Cote d'Or on Praslin Island.
Address: Wavelength, Le Rocher
Phone Number: 344 334
Email Address: sunstroke@seychelles.net
Hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturdays 10am to 1pm
Admission: Free
Beau Vallon BayCity/Region: Mahé
The mile long beach encircling beautiful
Beau Vallon Bay on the northern coast of Mahé Island is the most popular beach resort area in the Seychelles, boasting several hotels and a selection of dive and watersport centers. Beau Vallon also has a number of dive sites within the bay, including two wrecks and several coral reefs. The
Marine Park of Bay Ternay is also easily accessible from the bay.
