Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DON'T MISS
TOP NATURE WALKS IN MORNE SEYCHELLOIS NATIONAL PARK
If you've got itchy feet, there are excellent walks in the Morne Seychellois National Park, with a number of hik-
ing trails through the jungle-clad hills. These are detailed in a series of leaflets that are available at the botanical
gardens in Victoria (
Click here
). The trails are poorly signed, though, and muggings have been reported, so it's
not a bad idea to hire a guide, who will also provide natural and cultural insights.
Jacques Barreau
(
2579191) and
Basile Beaudoin
( 2514972) lead hiking and bird-watching trips into the Mahé back country
and charge between €50 and €80 for an informative day's walk with picnic and transport (between €40 and €60
for a half-day). You can also contact
Terence Belle
( 2722492) , who charges between €30 and €40 for a
half-day, but he only works on Saturday and Sunday. Bring plenty of water. Following is a selection of inspira-
tional hikes.
Danzil to Anse Major
The walk to this secluded beach takes you along a coast fringed by impressive glacis rock formations. The path
starts at the end of the road heading west from Beau Vallon, a few hundred metres further up from La Scala res-
taurant. It's a fairly easy one-hour romp, but most of the path is exposed to the sun. Before descending to the
beach, the path goes past a lookout that affords fantastic vistas of Anse Major. The beach is blissfully quiet, and is
good for swimming, though there can be strong currents. You'll have to return by the same route.
Tea Factory to Morne Blanc
The imposing white bulk of Morne Blanc (667m) and its almost sheer 500m face make a great hiking destination.
Although the track is only 600m long, it is quite steep - climbing 270m from start to finish. Plan on roughly an
hour for the ascent. The reward is a tremendous view over the west coast. The path starts 250m up the road from
the tea factory (
Click here
) on the cross-island road from Victoria to Port Glaud. You have to descend the same
way.
Copolia
This is the most popular walk on Mahé, and possibly the easiest. It also has a pleasant Indiana Jones feel - you
walk almost all the way amid a thick jungle, with lots of interesting fauna and flora. Now is your chance to spot
leaf insects and the
Sooglossus gardineri
, the smallest frog on earth. The trail starts on the cross-island Chemin
Forêt Noire about 5km above Victoria. It's only just over 1km to the granite platform of Copolia (497m), but the
final section is quite steep; allow roughly two hours there and back. The views of Victoria and Ste Anne Marine
National Park are sensational.
Trois Frères
Trois Frères (Three Brothers) refers to the three cliffs that tower over Victoria. The path is signed from the Sans
Souci forest station on the Chemin Forêt Noire, about 4km from Victoria. The first part of the walk, until a kiosk
from which you get ample views, is fairly easy and can be covered in about one hour. The second leg, to the cross
on the summit (699m), is tricky to follow and involves some scrambling. Still game? Allow an extra two hours to
reach the summit. You have to descend the same way.
TOP OF CHAPTER
