A large number of reefs within the inner granitic islands of the archipelago of Seychelles could be entirely lost, unless concerted action is taken soon to control crown of thorns, warns Dr. Udo Englhardt, the expert on on the management of crown of thorns in a...
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Petite Anse (meaning ‘little cove’), also known as Anse La Liberte, is in the territory of the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles. Entrance to the beach is free for all hotel guests. Outsiders wishing to go to the beach need to get approval in advance from the resort management by phone but the entrance is still free. A second option is to ask at the entrance of the Four Seasons Hotel to get to the beach. Near the western entrance to the beach, locals sell fresh coconuts and juices.
The coastline is 200 meters long and 20 meters wide with powder-soft white sand and turquoise waters. Along the perimeter of the beach, there are high granite rocks, which offer scenic views of the bay, boulders, and astoundingly dense tropical vegetation.
Petite Anse beach is only 5 meters away from Four Seasons Resort Seychelles.
The beach is suitable for beach games, sunbathing, windsurfing, surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and picnicking. The beach is suitable for families, as it has lifeguards around the clock, and the wind is light because there are huge rocky cliffs around the beach that prevent the wind from passing through, and therefore the waves are calm. The best time for swimming, diving, and snorkeling is October and November, as well as the period from February to May. For surfing and sailing, it is advisable to set out from October to March.
This is a well-developed beach and has dozens of modern facilities, including luxury hotels, clean toilets, washrooms, restaurants, and cafes that serve the most delicious local and European dishes. Visitors can use the hotel’s beach restaurant for food and drinks.
If you have booked the Four Seasons Hotel there are enough sun-chairs under palm-thatched umbrellas that don´t even disturb the look of the beach.
However, if you are not staying at Four Seasons you should plan to arrive early to find a spot at the parking place. Once the vehicle is parked, be ready to hike 20 minutes down the trail to reach Petite Anse. Do not forget that a more exhausting uphill journey back to the parking spot is more difficult than walking down to the beach.
Although Four Seasons is convenient, not all can afford it. There are many cheaper options available nearby. A couple of them are given here.
Maison Soleil is a three-star guest house within 15 minutes of walking distance from Anse Soleil Beach and Petite Anse Beach. The guest house offers free self-parking, and in-room kitchens, and free WiFi. Other amenities include a snack bar, deli, and laundry facilities. There’s also the convenience of an airport shuttle. Club Liberté Casino is only a stone’s throw away from this property,
Anse Soleil Resort Self Catering is within 15 minutes of walking distance from Anse Soleil Beach and Petite Anse Beach. There are four villas. All villas are equipped with a coffee maker, refrigerator, microwave, stove top, shower head, and safe. WiFi is available in all public areas. Limited housekeeping is also provided.
This is a five-star luxury property that is about 3 kilometers away from Anse Petite beach. It received the prestigious Conde Nast Hot List award in 2022.
Mango House is the former family home of Milanese fashion photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri. Today, it’s a 41-key boutique resort under LXR Hotels & Resorts—Hilton’s indie luxury collection brand.
Each morning cooked-to-order complimentary breakfast is served. There are three restaurants and three swimming pools. The restaurant, Muse, serves Italian cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Kokoye is the hotel’s own bar.
A large number of reefs within the inner granitic islands of the archipelago of Seychelles could be entirely lost, unless concerted action is taken soon to control crown of thorns, warns Dr. Udo Englhardt, the expert on on the management of crown of thorns in a presentation of his most recent findings. Dr Udo Englhardt, believes this outbreak of the deadly starfish is due to increasing levels of human development in the Seychelles coupled with rising sea temperatures. Dr. Engelhardt has conducted this research as part of their ‘Mainstreaming Biosecurity’ project organised by the UNDP and Global Environment Facility (GEF) in conjunction with the government of Seychelles. The outbreak which was in the north western areas of Mahé two months ago, has now spread further down the western coastline as the starfish continue to spawn. The starfish can be seen on reefs between five and 25 metres deep and are not commonly found in shallow waters. It preys on strong hard coral polyps and is named crown of thorns as its upper surface is covered with thorn like spikes.
The crown of thorns starfish, one of the largest in the world, occurs at tropical and subtropical latitudes and have been found from the Red sea, across the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. This venomous starfish has been found in Seychelles as early as the 1960s in small numbers and an extensive eradication programme was conducted in 1997. During the 1998-99 El Nino coral bleaching, the crown of thorns died off too. However, they began to re-emerge in 2001-2003 and have now bounced back in alarming numbers. This April, a coral reef survey by Dr Engelhardt found that numbers of Crown of thorns in the reefs were 20 to 30 times greater than sustainable levels. He also found that there were at least three generations present, including a substantial number of juveniles in the under reef strata – a good predictor of future outbreaks reports the Seychelles news agency.
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