Mahé, Seychelles Hotels and City Guide

Mahé - Attractions

What to See and Do in Victoria, Mahé's Capital

Although recent land reclamation has enlarged the capital with the construction of a new airport, new port, a tuna cannery, factories, apartment blocks and a sports complex, Victoria is quite possibly the smallest capital in the world named after Queen Victoria during British colonial rule.

This quaint town with faded elegant colonial buildings evoking memories of times past, brightly painted corrugated iron general stores, street stalls, the colourful hustle and bustle of the Seychellois, lively market and shady streets has an island ambience. It is easily walked in 20 minutes.

Historic Buildings

The Victorian Clock Tower, a miniature copy of Vauxhall Clock Tower in London which was erected in 1903, marks the centre of the CBD. As you stroll through the streets, look out for significant buildings like Kenwyn House, a charming historic national monument of French Colonial elegance which also sells South African diamonds and precious gems, St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral and the Hindu Temple, the grand 1887 Courthouse, and Sheik Muhammad Bin Khalifa Al-Nahagan Mosque.

The grandiose State House dating from 1913 was the seat of the Government and home to previous colonial governors and presidents. It is a magnificent Raj colonial mansion on a hill just behind the town set in tropical landscaped gardens. It is not open to the public.

Victoria's Museums

The splendid National Library, Historical Museum, Archives and Art Gallery near Le Chantier fountain, boasts elegant Grecian-style columns. It houses fascinating articles such as pirates’ pistols, the famous Possession Stone, musical instruments, displays of colonial rule and more. The National Assembly and Conference Centre are in the shady area on Bois de Rose. Walk along 5th June Avenue past the yacht club and the Marine Charter quay.

Two modern statues represent freedom in the form of a man breaking his shackles, and Twa Zwazo (from the French Trois Oiseaux), Kreol for three birds, representing the people from Africa, Europe and Asia, from whom the Seychellois are descended. The Tourist Office is based in Independence House. Notice the lovely tiled fountain near the Courthouse commemorating the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria. A wide staircase leads to the small Natural History Museum next to the post office where specimens of the Seychelles’ formidable biodiversity are displayed. Marianne North’s botanical paintings, over a century old, are on display upstairs. This small gallery is open Mon-Fri and Saturday mornings.

Victoria's Markets

But it is the bustling, vibrant Victoria Market (still known as Sir Selwyn-Clarke Market after the post-World War II Governor) under a bright turquoise iron roof and leafy mango trees in the courtyard that attracts many tourists. All manner of fresh fish, vegetables, fruit, preserves, basketwork, hats, sarongs and brooms are for sale. The market is closed on Sundays.

And when you have explored Victoria, pop into the historic Pirates’ Arms to quench your thirst with a Seybrew or an exotic concoction.

Victoria's Gardens

The small Botanical Gardens (Open: every day between 06.00-18.00) on Mount Fleuri on the outskirts of the town boasts 50 different species of palms, including the coco de mer and the Chinese fan palm. There is an orchid house, a giant tortoise enclosure and avaries filled with tropical birds. Look out for fruit bats as you wander around the shady, restful tropical gardens.

Mahé's Beaches

The Seychelles is world renown for its pristine white beaches and stunning turquoise waters. Around Mahé there are several world-class beaches to choose from, although knowing which are safe and which could have fatal tides is crucial. Read more about the best beaches to spend the day here on our guide to Mahé's beaches.

Attractions and Sightseeing: The Islands near Mahé, Seychelles

Bird Island

This northern-most private coral island set in a turquoise sea surrounded by the whitest of white beaches is a 170-acre bird sanctuary, a haven for millions of seabirds and a breeding ground for turtles. It is reached by air, a half-hour flight from Mahé. Bird aficionados can stay at the remote delightful Bird Island Lodge, no frills, and tick off the wealth of birds on a checklist.

Denis Island

The exquisite 375-acre private coral Denis Island on the northwestern point, 60 miles from Mahé, is a little slice of paradise in lush forest, a perfect getaway for honeymooners. It also attracts deep-sea fishermen as marlin and sailfish inhabit the 2,000m abyss on the edge of the Seychelles plateau dividing the shallow waters from the depths of the Indian Ocean. Denis Island Resort on the west coast consists of 25 luxury bungalows, each on its own private beach, owned by the Mason family who has made the island self-sufficient in milk, fruit and vegetables, thanks to their vision of creating an agricultural area. The active lighthouse was built in 1881.

Air shuttles fly into Denis Island, a half-hour flight from Mahé.

Silhouette Island

The third largest in the archipelago, Silhouette is the brooding island seen from Beau Vallon. It is 3 miles long by 2.5 miles wide and is surrounded by reefs. Mont Dauban, 740m high, is a botanical treasure trove, home to rare hardwoods and the endemic incense tree. The mist forest is a perfect environment for orchids and pitcher plants. At La Passe on the east coast there is a Flora and Fauna Research Station and the Dauban family’s original Plantation House, now a restaurant. The island is reached by helicopter or motor launch from Mahé.

Aldabra Atoll

This World Heritage Site 700 miles south of Mahé, covers and area of 155sq.km. Its remoteness confirms why it is home to over 100,000 giant tortoises, breeding turtles, enormous tree-climbing crabs and a wealth of birdlife, including the flightless white-throated rail.

Written permission is required from the Seychelles Island Foundation in Victoria to visit the Atoll. It is not easy to get there, the nearest airstrip being on Assomption Island, 17 miles away. From there you have to take a boat. A Government supply ship serves the scientists on the atoll every few months and the Indian Ocean Explorer visits in November and December and from March-May. The trip takes two weeks.

Activities Across All the Seychelles's Main Islands

Swimming, Tennis, Squash: Most hotels have swimming pools, tennis and squash courts
Golf: Reef Golf Hotel on Mahé has a 9-hole golf course while Lémuria Resort on Praslin has a champion 18-hole golf course
Watersports: Windsurfing, Waterskiing and Paragliding are offered at Beauvallon Bay and various hotels
Snorkelling: The Marine National Parks
Sailing: Temporary members are welcome at the Victoria Yacht Club
Diving: Offered at the Underwater Centre at the Coral Strand Hotel on Beau Vallon Bay and at other resorts
Surfing: Best at Grand’Anse but beware of dangerous currents
Deep-sea fishing: Contact Marine Charter (tel: 322126). Note that Spear fishing is prohibited
Horse-riding: On the beach at Le Meridien Barbarons on Mahe’s west coast and also on La Digue

Hotels in Mahé, Seychelles