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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Grand Anse Beach is on La Digue Island which is the third most populous island of the Seychelles. It’s located approximately 54 kilometers northeast of the main island of Mahe. Along with Mahe and Praslin, La Digue is one of the “three main islands”. These are the islands that most tourists visit during their trip to the Seychelles. La Digue island is about half an hour drive from the airport.La Digue island has some of the best examples of unique, weathered granite boulder formations that help make its beaches so beautiful.
Grand Anse Beach is spread over 3 km in length and is situated 5 km to the South of St George’s. The beach is a spectacular stretch of silver sand, framed by granite rocks and watched over by waving palm trees. Grand Anse happens to be one of the largest settlements on Praslin island. It is home to some of the wonderful places to see in Praslin including restaurants, cafes and bars.
Grand Anse on La Digue island is perhaps the most underrated beach on the island. It is perhaps underrated because its waters are too deep and the currents too strong to swim. There is no offshore coral reef in the beach, so the beach is not protected from the open ocean. The water can be rather choppy, especially during the south-east trade winds, and the currents here are strong enough to carry you out to sea. Some surfers love this beach. But snorkelling and scuba diving is naturally ruled out.
The beach is much less crowded than some of La Digue’s other best beaches but no less beautiful, making it a more peaceful, serene experience for the Seychelles holidaymaker. Most times you’ll have a section of the beach all to yourself.
The beach offers exceptional beauty, gorgeous golden-white sand, gorgeous scenery, and beautiful, clear water, and enough facilities to allow visitors to enjoy a whole day here if they want to.
There is a small car park nearby, but it is rarely used by cars, because it is also possible to walk or use a bike to reach the beach. Mostly bikes are parked there.
The beach also has a bar, a restaurant and WCs, so visitors can easily spend a whole day if they like. However the beach lacks shade, except for a massive casuarina tree, and therefore the beach is not ideal for families, or at least not for children to play under the sun for extended periods.
The best time to visit this beach is April – May and October – November. These are the best times to visit as you will have a pleasant time during this time. Also, this is the season when not many people will visit the beach so you can spend your time in peace.
There are no hotels directly by the beach. But a short distance from the beach there are a couple of luxury hotels and a dozen of budget apartments.
In Grand Anse, Seychelles operators offer many tours including Sagittarius Taxi Boat Excursions, Anse Georgette, Petite Anse Kerlan, New Indigo Seychelles, Geoli Charters, Anse Lazio, Anse Citron Beach, AGT – Fishing & Boat Charter, Curieuse Island, and One Love Boat Charter Seychelles.
There are many restaurant in Grand Anse, Seychelles including Le Duc de Praslin, Cafe des Arts, Bonbon Plume, Pirogue Restaurant & Bar, Les Lauriers, La Goulue, PK’s @ Pasquiere Restaurant & Gastropub, Coco Rouge Take Away and Cafe, Dhevatara Dining, and Le Relax Beach Resort.
La Digue is a small island with an area of 10.08 sq.km, which makes it relatively easy to travel around by bike or on foot. It is the third most populated island of the Seychelles, and fourth largest by land area. It has a population of 3,000 people. There is no airport on La Digue, so to get there, one must fly to Victoria and continue by ferry, usually via Praslin. The island has plenty of activities for tourists, including a dive centre and diverse wildlife .
The bicycle is the primary mode of transport. It is possible to rent bicycles near the ferry pier. Most cars and buses belong to hotel companies. There are only 60 cars in the island. Digueois have managed to limit traffic in order to protect the pristine beauty of their 10 sq km territory. Another method of transport on La Digue is the ox-cart, which has a slow pace suited to the island. Tourists also generally follow the local tradition and rent bikes to explore the island.
However, the rise in tourism related construction has made it necessary to import vehicles that has set alarm bells ringing, especially with locals.
La Digue has a post office which is closed on Sundays. There is a small police station that was mainly set up for tourists. There is a small hospital, although some inhabitants prefer to visit the hospitals in Praslin and Victoria. Women usually go to the hospital in Victoria to give birth.
The , Veuve Reserve, a national park and conservation area, set up to protect the endemic Vev, is a crowning jewel of natural beauty for the Digueois. This island is the natural habitat of flycatcher, which is an endangered species. Since 2008, conservationists have transported a few dozen flycatchers to neighbouring islands through a breeding programme that would provide this rare bird species additional suitable habitats. Conservationists believe that construction of buildings is detrimental to the flycatcher. La Digue has now stopped approvals for new building new tourism establishments until 2023, in an effort to preserve the local natural resources.
La Passe offers many accommodation options including smaller hotels, guesthouses, and cottages. Réunion is the only major town on the island. It offers an eponymous beach, banks, shops, restaurants, takeaways, and bike rentals.
La Digue’s tallest peak, Belle Vue (Eagle’s Nest Mountain), is more than 300 m above sea level.
Bird watchers from all over come to witness the rare sighting of the Seychelles Black Paradise Flycatcher bird, an endangered species endemic to the Seychelles.
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