Joanna James
Beautiful Mahe Island is more than the bustling capital. The place has a hidden charm to it that's hard to resist from joining a game of dominoes outside a local shop to exploring verdant mountains.
The rather small capital of Seychelles, Victoria is located 8kms from the national airport on the eastern coast of Mahe. The place is a beautiful enclave skirted by mountains and beach. As the commercial capital of the country, the town does tend to get crowded and busy; this is when you should escape to Old Victoria. This section lies at the base of the mountains and still retains a narrow labyrinth of streets which interestingly have pavements running over high storm sewers. French colonial buildings line the streets while top attractions here include the Seychelles National Museum, the Clock Tower, Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market and the National Botanical Gardens.
Jardin du Roi or 'The Kings Garden' originated as a spice garden. It was planned by Antoine Gillot in 1772 under orders of the French Government. Although the garden fell into disrepair over time it is now opened as a national attraction where visitors can enjoy the ambience and aroma of trees such as nutmeg, vanilla, pepper, cloves and cinnamon. The gardens sit on a scenic hill along Sweet Escot Road and also include a vintage museum. On display, there is information on how to grow and extract exotic spices and oils as well as old prints and maps of the country.
The Craft Village locally known as Le Village Artisanal is ideal for spending a morning picking up unique souvenirs. Located at a former plantation the village sits around a fully restored vintage plantation house. Explore the place and discover the cool dark rooms smelling of wax and cinnamon while images of bygone folks enjoying a lavish dinner coupled with top French wines dance in your mind. Mahe Island hotels promise similar extravagances for dining and whiling away your time in paradise. Look for one that sits on the beach and you will be able to savour all the tropical splendours of Mahe.
Located on the north-western coast of Victoria not far from the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino; Beau Vallon is the most popular beach in the country. The beach boasting soft sand and safe water tends to get quite crowded; especially over the weekend. If you prefer tranquillity and a similarly sandy beach, check out the more secluded Barbarons Beach for some fun in the sun. At both these beaches, you can indulge in a variety of water sports.
Seychelles known as the Seven Sisters in the past consists of mainland Mahe and six other little islands. Located off the eastern coast of Mahe and forming a circle around the gorgeous Victoria Harbour these islands together form the Ste Anne National Park. Opened in 1973 this was the first Marine Park on the Indian Ocean. Ecotourism is practised here in order to conserve the delicate balance of coral and marine life. Well worth a visit for snorkelling, scuba diving and swimming the park is a virtual treasure trove of wonders.
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