The island Mahé, the largest island of the Seychelles

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Mahé (Seychelles)

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Culture and history
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Mahé (Seychelles)

Mahé is the largest island and cultural and economic hub of the Inner Islands, and the international gateway to the Seychelles. It’s the home of the nation’s capital, named Victoria.

The island retains its idyllic beauty, with 3,000-foot mountains and scores of gorgeous beaches.

The island Mahé is home to almost 90% of the total population (or approximately 72,200 people) reflecting Seychelles’ diverse ethnicity and descent from African, Indian, Chinese and European populations, and is the seat of government and the chief centre of commerce.

Transport	Mahé is is the home to the international airport and the transportation hub for island-hops and day excursions to neighbouring islands and all other islands within Seychelles. All scheduled domestic flights by Air Seychelles originate from Mahé to the serviced islands. On Mahé you are well advised to rent a car, due to both traffic and size of the island. A leisurely tour of the island by car will take 2 to 2 1/2 hours and reveal the lion’s share of Seychelles’ accommodation facilities, places of cultural interest and other attractions. Alternatively, those with more time and less money take a taxi or the local bus. The primary means of public transport throughout the principal islands of Mahé is by bus with shorter or longer versions of the vehicle being employed according to road conditions. Please note that on Mahé buses don't take you if you carry more than a daypack! Please notice: After 7 p.m. there are hardly any buses running. Launched in May 2007, a modern 35-metre catamaran with a capacity of 350 passengers now operates up to four times a day between Mahé and Praslin in one hour at the speed of 35 knots.
Geography	Mahé is measuring 28km long by 8km wide with an area of 154.7 sq.km. The island is divided into east and west by the Morne Seychellois National Park, a mountain range with peaks as high as 905 metres clad in thick tropical forest. Google Maps code Generator
Famous beaches	With over 60 beautiful beaches and coves fringing the island, ranging from sweeping bays of white sand to hidden corners you can make your own, a densely forested interior and small towns with a unique Creole culture, there is much to explore. Here you will find some beaches Beau Vallon is Mahé’s most popular resort beach with both visitors and locals alike. This sweeping bay of white sand and clear waters on the north-western coast of Mahé offers a very safe swimming area. With hotels stretched out along its sand, together with water sport and diving centres, this is the beach for those wishing to do something a little more energetic than soaking up the sun. Beau Vallon is also very safe for children, as there are no strong currents, no rocks or corals underfoot and a lifeguard service is supplied. During the south-eastern trade winds, the sea is extremely calm and the beach is at its absolute best. Situated on the south-western coast of Mahé, Anse à la Mouche is a large, sparkling calm bay with shallow clear waters. Swimming here is very safe and suitable for children as the water remains shallow even at high tide, with no strong currents. This long stretch of coastline stretching along the south-eastern coast of Mahé and including Turtle Bay, has narrow beaches and shallow waters that lie close to the coastal road. At low tide, it is interesting to walk on the sand and rocky outcrops where you will discover all sorts of marine life trapped in rock pools. Located on the south-western coast, the beach of Anse Boileau is a narrow band of sand fringing shallow waters close to the main coastal road. Fishermen can often be seen unloading their fish traps and small boats along this beach.
Country name	Republic of the Seychelles

Culture & History

Culture

Music and dance have always played a prominent role in Seychelles culture and in all types of local festivities. Rooted in African, Malagasy and European cultures, music is played to the accompaniment of drums such as the Tambour and Tam-Tam and simple string instruments.

Painters have traditionally taken inspiration from the richness of Seychelles’ natural beauty to produce a wide range of works using mediums ranging from water-colours to oils, acrylics, collages, metals, aluminium, wood, fabrics, gouache, varnishes, recycled materials, pastels, charcoal, embossing, etching, and giclee prints. Local sculptors produce fine works in wood, stone, bronze and cartonnage.

History

Seychelles is a comparatively young nation which can trace its first settlement back to 1770 when the islands were first settled by the French, leading a small party of whites, Indians and Africans. The islands remained in French hands until the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, evolving from humble beginnings to attain a population of 3,500 by the time Seychelles was ceded to Britain under the treaty of Paris in 1814.

During this period Seychelles came to know the enlightened policies of administrators such as Pierre Poivre, the brilliant politicking of Governor Queau de Quinssy and, of course, the terrible repercussions of the French Revolution.

Under the British, Seychelles achieved a population of some 7,000 by the year 1825. Important estates were established during this time producing coconut, food crops, cotton and sugar cane. During this period Seychelles also saw the establishment of Victoria as her capital, the exile of numerous and colourful troublemakers from the Empire, the devastation caused by the famous Avalanche of 1862 and the economic repercussions of the abolition of slavery.

Seychelles achieved independence from Britain in 1976 and became a republic within the commonwealth

Tourist places

Please note that shopping in Seychelles is not one of the major attractions.

Seychelles also has numerous markets, art galleries and shops, colonial Creole-style plantation houses, and the main island of Mahé has six museums, a botanical garden, and several national monuments.

The market downtown Victoria has a good selection of local produce, and spices for sale that are all grown locally and 100% authentic. Otherwise, you will find small shops (mostly owned by Indians) that will cater for your needs.

Notice: Regular items you will find on the island of Mahé but if you need a specific item like an adapter for your laptop dont be surprised that it will not be available on the island. Larger hotels have boutiques with specific items fot that specific hotel.

Mahé has a number of Island Hopping posibilities to: Aldabra Atoll, Alphonse, Anonyme, Bird Island, Cerf, Cousine, Denis Island, Desroches, Félicité, Frégate, La Digue, Moyenne, North Island, Praslin, Silhouette, Ste. Anne

Throughout Seychelles, there are many artisans producing works of art that are as varied and diverse as their surrounds and which include stained glass, products made from coconut shell, husk, seashells and corals, clothing, gold, silver and other forms of jewellery, recycled materials, fibres, bamboo, metal and pottery.

While visiting, be sure to buy the classic and traditional Seychelles souvenir, the coco-de-mer, or the 'nut of the sea,' a nut from trees native to the islands in the Seychelles - but this requires an export licence.

Other locally made souvenirs, although not as unique, can be purchased like sea shell and pearl jewellery, textiles and straw hats, in addition to needlework, or paintings by local artists and woodwork.

Sports

The warm Indian Ocean waters make Seychelles the perfect place for the water enthusiasts. Explore on board a yacht, power boat, catamaran or sailboat. Windsurfing is also popular and the best time for this activity is usually around May then in October, at the start and end of the trade winds.

Scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing are also extremely popular and can be done almost anywhere in Seychelles. Baie Ternay is superb and easily acccessible by glass bottom boat tour from Beau Vallon beach - leave yourself an empty day and walk the beach for a 'last minute' booking - great deals can be bartered.

Snorkeling (provided you have your own gear - some hotels lend masks, snorkels and fins to guests) is FREE and there are many great spots: off some of the small beaches at Glacis, past Mouse Island at Anse Royale, along the reef at Port Launay (near Ephelia Resort). Often spotted are a wide array of tropical fish, sea turtles, eagle rays and more!

But also on the island Mahé itself you can do a lot of activities like walking a trail. On Mahé there are many beautiful walks around the "Morne Seychellois" National Park. Please check the tours on Mahé

Most of the hotels has a variety of sportactivities (land and water) like golf, tennis, squash, badminton, horseback riding, and hiking. There are several maintained hiking routes on the main island of Mahé.

Or just enjoy a beach volleyball match around 4pm with other guests of the hotel.

On Mahé it is not advised to ride bicycles, and there are no rental shops within sight.

Nature

With a backdrop of towering 1000m granite peaks, Mahé is an extraordinary treasure trove of flora that has evolved over centuries of splendid isolation.

Rare endemic plants found nowhere else in the world adorn Mahé’s mist forests in mountain strongholds, such as the Jellyfish Tree, the carnivorous Seychelles Pitcher Plant and the Seychelles Vanilla Orchid.

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Mahé (Seychelles)

Culture & History

Tourist places

Sports

Nature

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