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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Mahé Island
Mahé Island
Mahé is the largest island of Seychelles. Mahé has an area of 154 sq.km, and is 28 km long, 8 km wide. It is also home to the smallest capital city in the world, Victoria, which accommodates 77,000 people which is 86% of the country’s total population. All visitors to the Seychelles will begin their journey from here.
Morne Seychellois is the tallest peak in this island.
Seychelles International Airport opened here in 1971. In the southern and western parts of the island there are Baie Ternay Marine National Park, Port Launay Marine National Park, and University of Seychelles. The Sainte Anne Marine National Park lies offshore, as do Conception Island, Thérèse Island, Anonyme Island and several smaller islands.

The Port of Victoria is home to a tuna fishing and canning industry. From 1963 to 1996 the United States Air Force maintained a satellite control network here at the Indian Ocean Station, where it had a significant impact on the local economy. Mahé is also home to the Seychelles’ governmental and administrative centre.
The centre of the island has imposing peaks and clouded forests with diverse flora and fauna, giving life to the island’s numerous hiking trails. Countless freshwater springs characterise the rich nature of the island, while tropical palms and other plants also grow throughout this region, including mango, papaya, banana, tea, and more.

Beau Vallon is the best beach in the island, which is almost as bustling as the capital itself. Numerous accommodation options, restaurants, shops, and diving centres can be found in this sprawling bay. Sainte Anne Marine National Park is about 5 km from here. This area offers excellent snorkelling conditions, with a great variety of flora and fauna to be seen, especially in the Sainte Anne Channel, which runs between Sainte Anne Island and Moyenne Island, and, for this reason, this is the destination of many tours.

Silhouette Island
Seychelles Dives
Silhouette Island lies 20 km northwest of Mahé in the Seychelles. It is the third largest granite island in the Seychelles. It has an area of 20.1 sq.km. The main settlement is La Passe, where the Hilton Hotel is located. The name Silhouette was given in 1771 after the French minister of finances under Louis XV, Étienne de Silhouette. The French were, from this point on, closely intertwined with the history of the island, especially the Dauban family, who gradually acquired the whole island, clearing the forest to cultivate cinnamon, vanilla, coffee, and especially coconuts. During this time they employed up to 1000 workers on the plantation. The mausoleum of the Dauban family is found amidst the plantation. They were wealthy and powerful.
Many of the villagers have left the island and so most of the population is made up of conservationists and hotel staff numbering about 200.
The planter’s old house in La Passe was renovated, and the stylish colonial mansion now serves as one of the seven restaurants of the island’s villa hotels, offering Creole cuisine to island guests.
In 1983, the island was purchased by the state from a French Group which owned it at that time, and now it belongs to the Seychelles Island Development Company. Following this a small hotel was constructed. and this was later replaced by the larger Labriz Resort which was then bought by the Hilton hotel group.

The interior region of Silhouette is a national park, with hundreds of endemic birds, reptiles, and plants. In one of the island’s own breeding stations, two species of turtle which were once considered extinct were re-discovered in 1995, researched, and released.

Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort and Spa was built in La Passe in 2006, and offers a total of 100 rooms to guests. The island has no roads or cars, but with just a few footpaths and electric carts belonging to the Hilton Seychelles.
Silhouette offers many attractive walking trails with the starting point always in La Passe. Grand Barbe, is a four-hour trek and the path is mostly in the shade of the dense forest, so the temperature is never too hot during the day. The gorgeous Anse Mondon is another attractive destination that is a two hour hike from La Passe.

Aride Island Nature Reserve
Aride Island Nature Reserve
Aride Island Nature Reserve
A visit to Aride Island in Seychelles will show what the islands were like 250 years ago before human settlement. Aride is the northernmost island of the granitic Seychelles. It covers roughly 68 ha, is 1.6 km long and 0.6 km wide. Aride hosts one of the most important seabird populations in the Indian Ocean with more breeding species than any other island in Seychelles. The island is managed as a nature reserve by Island Conservation Society of Seychelles. The only human inhabitants in the island are the reserve’s staff, including the Island Manager, Conservation Officer and rangers.
The guided two-kilometre tour starts at the house of the former island owner and takes about two hours.
The island is covered by lush vegetation consisting of coconut palms as well as broadleaf trees, guavas, bananas, oranges, papayas, aubergines, ginger, turmeric, and chillies. The highly fragrant Wright’s gardenia is an endemic plant species which grows up to 6 m high and is decorated with red and white calyx. Because of their small, lemon-shaped fruits the locals gave them the name “bwa sitron”.

Island Conservation Society acquired the lease of the island in 2004, when the freehold was passed from Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts to Island Conservation Society UK. Island Conservation Society is a Seychelles NGO operating conservation centres throughout the islands.
Aride holds more seabird species than any other Seychelles island. The island has ten breeding species. Two of the bird species were formerly considered critically endangered by IUCN and conservation work on Aride has helped to secure their future. Reptiles include one of the highest population densities of lizards in the world. In every hectare there are over 2,700 Seychelles Skinks (lizards) and 1,100 Wright’s Skinks, plus five other lizard species, a snake, a terrapin and a giant tortoise.
Poaching leads to declining populations of most seabirds in Seychelles. Poaching comes during the Sooty Tern egg season, from late May to July, when boats visit mainly from Praslin to collect eggs and adult birds. Shearwaters are also a target; sacks of birds are often taken, their wings snapped off. The poaching of octopus and harvesting of sea cucumbers from within the reserve boundary is also problematic.

Beau Vallon Beach
Beau Vallon Beach
Beau Vallon bay is the most famous and popular beach in Mahé,Seychelles. The beach is popular amongst tourists and locals because of its beautiful scenery, extensive activity options, impressive surrounding infrastructure, and widespread appeal.
There are many accommodations near the beach. There is plenty of public parking next to the beach, and the frequent bus service stops on the road beside the beach, allowing easy-access by car, taxi, or bus.
There is an endless choice of different activities at Beau Vallon in the Seychelles. The beautiful sand and shallow, clear water are well-suited to relaxing on the beach days under the sun.
The fantastic underwater scenery is suitable for snorkelling or scuba diving. The widespread bay lends itself well to try out some surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing, or jet skiing without disturbing others.
The numerous excursions and rental options here mean that the only limit is your time. There is often a lifeguard on duty, which contributes to the safe environment of the beach, and is a sign of the popularity of Beau Vallon.
Beau Vallon is also suitable for an evening visit to enjoy the views of a beautiful sunset over the water, as well as the local restaurants and bars, including a nightclub, that can be found next to the beach. With such a variety of different things to do, Beau Vallon is so well-known by tourists and locals alike, and this beach is one of the few ‘must-see’ locations for any Seychelles holidaymaker.

The elegant Boat House restaurant located near Beau Vallon beach, serves up a daily buffet with over 20 traditional Creole dishes. From different curries to breadfruit chips or delicious fish dishes, here, guests can find something to fit their personal tastes without any problem.
Baobab Pizzeria, Mahé, serving Creole and Italian dishes as well as La Plage Restaurant, Mahé, serving creole and international cuisine are also found near the beach.

Tropical Hideaway Apartment is just a few minutes’ walk from the beach of Beau Vallon, is an apartment block consisting of 6 holiday units as well as shops, restaurants, an ATM, a pharmacy, and more.

Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve (“May Valley”) is a nature park and UNESCO World Heritage Site on the island of Praslin, Seychelles. It is a 19.5 ha area of palm forest which remains largely unchanged since prehistoric times. The island of Praslin consists of a well-preserved palm forest consisting of flagship species of endemic coco de mer, as well as five other endemic palms. Coco de Mer or sea coconut is endemic to the islands of Praslin and Curieuse in Seychelles. It has become extinct in other parts of the world. The male flowers continue to produce pollen over a ten-year period. The fruit takes 6–7 years to mature and a further two years to germinate. Coco de mer is the largest seed in the plant kingdom weighing up to 42 kilograms. The palms can grow to the height of 25–34 metres.
The property is protected under national legislation and is managed by the Seychelles Islands Foundation, a public trust. The management adopted a management plan in 2002. Fire is the major hazard to the property. Tourism managed by the public trust, makes a significant financial contribution to the protection and management of the property. Illegal removal of the seeds is a serious problem that affects future regeneration. The seeds should be collected and planted before they are stolen and sold.
The fruits are sold at a price ranging between €200 and €600. Officially around 1,000 units are sold each year, but through poaching and theft the real number is larger.
The present conservation measures aim to weed out invasive plant species, as well as those introduced by humans such as coffee, pineapple, and ornamental palms and to consistently ensure the original character of the valley as home to the Coco de Mer.

Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve is a scenically attractive area with a distinctive natural beauty. The natural beauty and near-natural state of the Vallée de Mai are of great interest, even to those visitors who are not fully aware of the ecological significance of the forest. The reserve is an outstanding example of an earlier and major stage in the evolutionary history of the world’s flora.
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