Grand Anse Mahe: Discover the Coast and Plant Life

Coast and Geography on Mahé

Grand Anse Mahe is associated with the beaches of Petit Anse and Grand Anse. Grand Anse Beach is one of the longest beaches on Mahé; the sea there is known for strong undercurrents, and conditions can vary. The coast is therefore a distinctive part of the area’s character. When choosing a holiday rental, you can consider whether you would prefer to focus your stay more on the coastal landscape or on nature and plant life. The Seychelles National Biodiversity Centre provides a distinct botanical focus in the wider context of Mahé.

A 10 km mountain pass through La Misere connects the Grand Anse Mahe district with the Plaisance district in the east of Mahé. This route adds a geographical perspective across the mountains to the orientation provided by the beaches. The coast and the pass represent different aspects of the island: one points to the beaches, the other to the relative locations of the districts. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore also consider whether the coastal landscape or Mahé’s geography is the main factor for your trip.

The Seychelles National Biodiversity Centre

The Seychelles National Biodiversity Centre is located in Barbarons in the west of Mahé. Its concept was first presented in 1998; it was officially presented to the public in 2014. The 17-hectare centre is dedicated to protecting and showcasing the diverse flora of the Seychelles. Visitors can stroll through the garden and learn about plants native to the Seychelles. The centre also offers visitors an insight into the vegetation of the country’s different ecosystems. A walk in the garden thus combines time outdoors with an introduction to the plant life of the archipelago.

The centre welcomes local and international students as well as school groups to learn about plant conservation and horticulture. Plants are therefore central here both as part of the landscape and as a subject of conservation and horticultural knowledge. The facility includes a nursery where residents can obtain seeds and seedlings for their gardens. At the same time, the nursery contributes to the national conservation of rare and endangered Seychellois plants. The garden visit, educational activities for groups and the nursery’s role are different aspects of the centre.

The Wider Seychelles Destination

The wider Seychelles destination also offers cultural and historical perspectives. Sainte Famille de Nazareth Church was founded in 1954 and has served the faithful of the Grand Anse Mahé region for decades as a place of prayer, community and solidarity. Its longstanding role in the community offers a different focus from the plant life of the Biodiversity Centre.

On Curieuse, a walkway built on stilts crosses the swamp and provides access to the mangrove habitat even during high water. The island was used as a quarantine site for people with leprosy for almost a hundred years. Landscape and history come together there in a distinctive way: the walkway passes through a mangrove habitat, while Curieuse’s former use provides a historical perspective.

On Praslin, the 19.5-hectare Vallée de Mai is one of the world’s smallest natural UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is also the only area in the Seychelles where all six species occur together. Examples like these illustrate the range of themes found across the wider Seychelles destination. For Grand Anse Mahe, the beaches, Mahé’s geography and the Seychelles National Biodiversity Centre remain the specific points of reference for matching your interests with your choice of where to stay.

Discover more destinations: Souvenir, Mahé, Grand Anse Village, Mont Fleuri, Saint Louis, Les Mamelles, Cascade, Glacis.

Back to the wider travel overview: Seychelles.