5. Curieuse Island Day Trip
Once known as Île Rouge due to its russet-toned earth, Curieuse Island is now home to a breeding program for giant tortoises, which roam freely around the sandy coves.
Most of the island is covered with takamaka and casuarina trees, which shade the white-sand beaches, but the island is known for another botanical distinction: Curieuse is the only place besides Praslin where the coco de mer palm grows naturally.
The island was also once a leper colony, and you can explore the ruins of the leprosarium on the south shore, as well as the doctor’s house, a preserved national monument.
Curieuse Island is accessible by boat tours from Praslin Island.
6. Morne Seychellois National Park
Nature lovers and hikers will be in heaven in Morne Seychellois National Park. This is the largest national park in the Seychelles, covering more than 20 percent of the area of Mahé.
Within its lush borders lies the mountain chain named after its highest point, Morne Seychellois, which reaches a height of 905 meters and overlooks the capital of Victoria. Wildlife includes several notable species of birds, including the Seychelles scops-owl, bulbul, and sunbird, and the lush vegetation varies from several species of endemic palms to pandanus, pitcher plants, and ferns.
You’ll find some of the best hikes on the island here. Hiking trails ascend into the park from the village of Danzil, passing tea plantations and offering spectacular views of the southwest coast of Mahé from the mountain slopes. The moderate Morne Blanc hike is one of the most popular trails and offers spectacular views from its summit.
Walking west through the park, hikers will reach the Baie Ternay and Port Launay Marine Parks. To the northwest lies the hamlet of Bel Ombre and the isolated beach at Anse Major.
