Vallée de Mai
★ 4.7🇸🇨 PraslinSuggested visit 2-3 hoursBest season Year-round; April to May and October to November are drier
World HeritageNatureRainforest
An intact primeval palm forest and the only natural home of the coco de mer, inscribed as a natural World Heritage Site.
Overview
Covering about 20 hectares, Vallée de Mai preserves an almost untouched palm forest where the coco de mer is endemic; its seed can exceed 20 kilograms, making it the largest of any plant. Five other endemic palms grow here alongside the Seychelles black parrot. Well-kept trails form several loops beneath canopies reaching over 30 metres.
History
Long the subject of local legend as a possible Garden of Eden, it was inscribed as a natural World Heritage Site in 1983 and is among Seychelles' oldest protected areas.
Highlights
- •Native groves of the coco de mer
- •The largest seed of any plant
- •The Seychelles black parrot
- •Trails through primeval palm forest
Practical tips
- •Stay on marked trails; taking seeds out of the country is prohibited
- •Birds are most active at dawn, so go early
Practical information
- Best time
- April-May
- Tickets
- About EUR 30 for adults
- Opening hours
- 8:30-17:00
- Local food
- Breadfruit, coconut curry batfish
- Getting around
- In central Praslin, about a 15-minute drive from the jetty.
- Visa
- Visa-free, but a Travel Authorisation must be obtained in advance with a valid passport and proof of accommodation.
Traveller reviews
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