On a recent trip to Seychelles, one of the highlights was visiting Vallee de Mai, a primeval palm forest home to the coco de mer, the largest seed in the plant kingdom. It is also home to the endemic black parrot, which unfortunately I did not get to see. Having lived mostly in places that have 4 distinct seasons, it’s rare that I get to see palm trees. Needless to say, an entire palm forest is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.
The coco de mer. Don’t steal these or any others from the park, you’d be looking at 5-7 years in jail!
The forest was untouched until the 1930s and within 50 years it went from National Park to World Heritage Site, so the state it’s in now very closely resembles what it’s always looked like. That, to me, is incredible. I felt like I was in Jurassic Park, and I could’ve sworn I heard a Dilophosaurus behind me a couple times.
The fact that Vallee de Mai is in such a remote location has its benefits and drawbacks. It’s good because the amount of traffic through the park is minimal, helping to keep the area preserved even longer (although some past idiots decided to carve their names into some of the palm trees). But for those of us that appreciate these sites, this one in particular is hard to get to. There is another World Heritage Site in Seychelles – the Aldabra Atoll, home to over 150,000 giant tortoises – but it’s so isolated and the protection level so high that you need permission from the government just to see it. I’m leaving that one for another trip.
Getting to Praslin
Seychelles is made up of 115 islands, and Vallee de Mai can be found on Praslin Island, the second most inhabited island behind the main island of Mahe. I’ve already written about the boat ride from hell to get from Mahe to Praslin, but you can also get there by plane.
Boat/Ferry
If going by boat, you can use Seychelles Bookings to reserve your seat. Tickets go for around $56 per person for Main Cabin Air Conditioned, $62 for Economy Upper Deck, and $73 for Business Class. If you are prone to seasickness I would recommend the Economy Upper Deck so that you can be outside in the fresh air.
Second deck (economy) in the open air.
It takes about an hour by ferry to get from Mahe to Praslin. Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to departure, so if you want a good seat, get there earlier than that as the line forms quickly. Same day turnarounds are available so if you don’t feel like spending the night on Praslin, you can leave in the morning and come back in the afternoon. This will give you plenty of time to explore the park. However, if you do plan on spending the night at Praslin or neighboring La Digue, you can check your luggage on to the ship and collect it upon arrival at Praslin.
Plane
If you’d rather skip the boat ride, you can also get from Mahe to Praslin via Air Seychelles. The flight lasts about 20 minutes and costs upwards of $140 roundtrip. Same day turnarounds are available by plane as well. Flights leave from the international airport at Mahe (SEZ) and land at Praslin Airport (PRI), which is on the west side of Praslin.
Small prop planes between Mahe and Praslin.
Getting to Vallee de Mai
Once you arrive to the jetty on Praslin, there are plenty of taxis waiting. It’s about a 15 minute taxi ride to Vallee de Mai, and expect to pay 200-250 Rupees (about $15-20). The taxi should drop you off right at the entrance to the park. As soon as you enter, there is a small cafe, a gift shop, and restrooms.
Small cafe at the entrance of the park.
The entrance fee for the park is 20 Euros. The money helps to cover the upkeep of the park, so I’m happy to pay the fee. At this point you’re given a map and you can either get a free guided tour or you can explore the park on your own. If exploring on your own, you should give yourself a couple hours to really take it all in. However, if you’re in a time crunch, you can see the entire outer loop in about an hour.
Pretty simple layout of the park. Don’t miss the view from the shelter!
The paths are very well marked. It’s impossible to get lost. No heavy duty hiking shoes are required. The trail is well kept and the palms will block most of the rain from hitting the ground anyway. Just keep in mind that it is extremely humid in the forest and having an ample water supply is critical.
Well marked trails.
For more information on visiting Vallee de Mai, check out the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) website.
In addition, there is a great iPhone app for Vallee de Mai, complete with visitor information including a park map, a forest guide of some of the plants and animals you might come across, and lots of other helpful info. Definitely download it if you plan on going.
Pictures
Here are some pictures I took during the hike. Tip: On the outer loop, when you get to the Shelter, don’t miss out! There is a clearing at the top with great views of the surrounding forest and canopy.
Great pictures and it sounds and looks absolutely amazing!
It’s difficult to find educated people about this subject, however, you seem like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks .
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I seriously appreciate people like you! Take care!!