Joanna James
The largest island in Seychelles, Mahe offers much to enjoy from laid-back days on sun-soaked beaches to captivating excursions both on land and underwater! Home to the country's capital, Victoria, this island will have intrepid travellers coming back year after year.
Mahe is blessed with some of the best beaches in Seychelles which feature idyllic slices of paradise that you are not going to want to leave! One of the most popular is Beau Vallon Beach with its beautiful bay that offers a lovely coastal setting where you can enjoy lazy days in the sun or exciting water sports; these include snorkelling, kitesurfing, jet skiing, windsurfing and diving. The longest beach in Mahe, Anse Royale is another much-loved shoreline as are Grand Anse, Anse Boileau and Port Launay each with something different to experience.
With access to more than 75 dive sites (both day and overnight trips), one can look forward to some unforgettable diving in Mahe. Seychelles hotels and resorts can be found right by the shore at spots such as Beau Vallon, providing excursions to some of the country's key dive sites. Amongst the well-known spots for diving are Shark Bank and the Port Launay Marine National Park, the latter being ideal for novice divers. Apart from colourful corals and mysterious wrecks, Mahe also offers divers a chance to witness a range of marine life including whale sharks, eagle rays, barracuda, batfish, groupers, turtles and more.
Feel like lady luck is on your side? If so, then a visit to one of the casinos in Mahe is in order! Ideal even if you're looking for a fun night out, these casinos feature all the pulse-pounding exhilaration one associates with gaming floors be it at slot machines or tables offering roulette, blackjack or poker. Some resorts including the likes of Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino have onsite casinos, perfect when you want to combine sightseeing and beachside relaxation with some gaming.
Nature lovers can head to the Botanical Garden which is sometimes referred to as the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens or the Victoria Botanical Gardens. This enchanting site on Mont Fleuri is over a century old and home to fascinating endemic flora and tropical gardens. A tranquil spot for a quiet stroll, this attraction in Mahe is where one can see the distinctive coco de mer palms of Seychelles, various fruit and spice trees and fruit bat colonies too. You can also enjoy encounters with Aldabra giant tortoises some of which are said to be over 150 years in age!
A great place to soak up some local culture, the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market is Victoria's main market and perfect for some shopping in Mahe. It is housed within a building that dates back to 1840 and features Victorian-style design and architecture; the market is a colourful and lively spot where fresh veggies and fruits as well as spices, meat and fish are sold. There are stalls also offering souvenirs, local crafts and clothing for relatively cheap, making it an ideal place to visit.
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