Morne National Park Seychelles - the highlight of Seychelles

Morne National Park Seychelles is a must This is the place to visit if you want to see the Seychelles and not just spend time at the hotel. Meeting the jungle, giant turtles and amazing coconut trees, incredible views of the ocean and green mountains will be the most exciting adventure!

Morne National Park Seychelles is the largest park in the Seychelles. For more than 50 years, he has been protecting the unique nature of the Seychelles from human intervention. The park occupies more than 3,000 hectares - 20% of the territory of the largest island of Seychelles , Mahe .

The park is located in the north of the main island of Mahe , approximately two kilometers northeast of the capital Victoria. It was named after the highest mountain in the archipelago and is one of the top ten tourist attractions in the Seychelles.

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Morne National Park Seychelles

The Seychelles were under French and British rule until 1976, when they became independent. The forests on the island of Mahe attracted traders from all over the world: the wood and spices hidden under the dense mangroves were especially valued. But the government of the Seychelles has introduced strict rules, not allowing the ecology of the islands to be disturbed.

Morne Seychelles is one of the last places where you can see relics from the 20th century. Initially, this area was used for the extraction of cinnamon and coffee. The ruins of old distilleries and houses are the last link to the agricultural past. During your walk, you will see an echo of the past: an old tea house, a belvedere, lost in the middle of the forest. 12-meter cinnamon trees originally from Sri Lanka still grow. These are silent witnesses to the times when Morne National Park Seychelles still had rich plantations of vanilla and cinnamon. Today, however, agriculture has disappeared, except for a few government-owned tea and coffee fields. Only a few abandoned cinnamon factories are still visible between the trees.

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When is the best time to visit the park?

Morne Islands National Park in April, May, October and November. At this time, climatic conditions are favorable for hiking in the wild. The off-season is the transition between hot and humid weather and cooler months. Although climatic conditions are generally the same throughout the year, the spring and autumn months are considered milder.

Park trails

Explore the heart of a dense virgin forest, feel like Indiana Jones discovering the jungle.

Morne Seychelles National Park is a hiking paradise. You will find slopes for all levels and all desires.

The trails are well marked, so tourists can easily find their way. The total length of trails through the dense forest of the Morne Seychelles National Park reaches 15 km. And for those who like to explore nature, they offer 12 different excursions, which can last either half a day or a whole day. Off the trails, the montane rainforest is for the most part still completely untouched by humans. And right here is one of the highest points archipelago with a height of 906 meters. The Morne Blanc Trail takes you through the jungle, into the heart of the tea plantations, to the majestic Morne Blanc Peak. From the top there is an incredible view and a beautiful panorama of the Mahe coastline !

There are a number of official routes that allow visitors to explore the vast and impressive Morne Seychelles National Park . Among them are the routes Copolia , Casse Dents , Mare Aux Cochons , Trois Feres , Anse Major and Dans Galas . They vary in length and physical complexity.

Starting point for most routes to the Morne Seixua serves as a path under the plantation on the Sans Souci road . The main routes are Copolia , Morne Blanc and Cass Dent .

Take a hike to Copolia . Rise almost 500 meters above sea level for breathtaking views of the Marine Park of Sainte-Anne and Victoria.

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Copolia Trail

Copolia Trail is incredibly interesting biodiversity and panoramic views. It winds along the side of a granite mountain and allows you to get a close-up look at the magnificent carnivorous plants. From an altitude of almost 600 meters above sea level, you can see the islands of the archipelago. This climb is necessary to discover the Seychelles in a different way, not just the coast. But you will have to climb a height difference of almost 300 meters and spend 4 hours traveling in both directions. But it's worth it! Here you can see the entire island of Mahe !

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Trail of the Three Brothers

This is the fastest and easiest hike. Located at an altitude of 300 meters, the trail opens the way to beautiful panoramas of Praslin , La Digue , Victoria and the Sainte-Anne Marine Park . This is one of the most popular treks in Seychelles among tourists as the trek takes only an hour and a half. The trail will allow you to admire the famous carnivorous plants of the Seychelles, as well as beautiful views of the islands of the archipelago, and along the way there is an old tea factory.

The route is crossed by small streams and granite boulders. To make the ascent easier, the route is equipped with ropes.

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Trail to Mont Blanc

The second peak of the mountain national park is Mont Blanc. It is easy to climb and is famous for its stunning views of the west coast of Mahe .

Morne Blanc is one of the highest peaks of the island, its height is 667 meters.

This walk, for those who are physically fit , will allow you to reach the highest point of Mahe along a magnificent path. The route is only one kilometer long, but the elevation gain is 270 meters. So it rises quite a bit! From here you have simply breathtaking views of Victoria and the Sainte-Anne Marine Park .

The best time to start your trek to Mont Blanc is at dawn. Since about 7 am the air is still clear and the heat has not yet arrived. And this way you will avoid the fog, which often settles on the top and can prevent you from seeing the view.

To find the trailhead, follow the San Soucis Road between Victoria and Port Glaud . You will find a tea factory with a parking lot where you can leave your car.

The trail starts about 200 meters away and you will also find a sign on the left.

At the beginning of the trek, you will pass through an old tea plantation. Throughout the route you will enjoy beautiful views of the hills, sea and surrounding islands. You will then enter a high mountain forest. The higher you go, the more ferns and moss you will find on the trees. The rainforest is home to many native animals. The easiest birds to observe are the Seychelles bulbul​

Railings and bridges will help you climb the last few meters. Don't go off the trail; many holes are hidden by thick bushes.

Once you reach the top, a platform on the rock awaits you. Afterwards, you will have a magnificent view of the western part of the island, which will reward your efforts!

The route takes about 2 hours.

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Garden Center La Misere Exotics

The vibrant variety of tropical plants in this garden is simply unimaginable. It is a paradise for botanists, gardening and beauty lovers. Once you enter the garden, you will be provided with a map for a self-guided tour. The compact and well-kept garden is home to turtles and birds, and the pond is full of fish. Most importantly, the staff is very helpful and welcoming.

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Miss ion Lodge

Mission Hotel The Lodge at Sans Souci Port Glaud is a popular historical site. In 1876, a school for African children was built here. Renowned artist and naturalist Marianne North , Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh have visited the site on more than one occasion. Here is the famous alley of sandragon trees, planted around 1880.

Dance Trail Gallas

Name Dance Gallas belongs to the Gallas family (a group of Ethiopians freed on Mahe in the 19th century during the slave trade). Because of their tall stature, they received the nickname giants. The main feature of this route is the panoramic views and landscapes. There are plantations of santol , mahogany and pine: these can be found in the valley south of the ridge.

The demand for timber had a negative impact on the highlands, so eucalyptus plantations were planted to combat the effects of soil erosion.

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Mare-au-cauchon

Cinnamon imported from Mare Aux Cochons are still found in abundance in the forests of Seychelles . In the twentieth century it was used for commercial purposes. The ruins of several distilleries are a unique feature of this route. The steam passing through the cinnamon leaves required huge amounts of wood fuel.

Water was supplied from nearby rivers using bamboo and then metal gutters. Most of the trail passes through forest, dominated by cinnamon and other native trees , but there are also native trees such as Bois Rouge.

Flora and fauna of Morne National Park Seychelles

Hike in Morne National Park Seychelles will allow you to meet the main attraction: giant turtles. They can live for several centuries and reach 300 kg. The island is also home to a flying fox - a giant bat. The park is also a favorite habitat for several dozen species of colorful tropical birds.

Of course, tourists are most interested in giant turtles, which have become the main attraction of the Seychelles . The Aladabra turtle can be seen lounging on the beach or sitting in groups on granite boulders. Reptiles include chameleons, frogs, stick insects and snakes.

The park is home to many birds endemic to the Seychelles: Seychelles bulbul , Seychellois Swiftlet , Seychelles kestrel, Seychelles blue pigeon, Seychelles owl, Seychelles white-eye and Seychelles sunbird . Seychelles Scops Owl is one of the most elusive species. It can often be heard at dusk along the Sans Souci road .

The national park offers a unique opportunity to see one of the tiniest frogs in the world - the Sooglossus frog. gardineri . Its length reaches only 1 cm, and its only home is the Seychelles !

One of the attractions is the pitcher plant, which eats the insects sitting on it. But there are many poisonous plants, so be careful.

You will also come across jackfruit trees , which have huge fruits growing on their trunks. If you smell a strong smell, it means the fruit is ripe!

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How to get to the park

The road from Victoria to Port Glaud passes through part of the Morne National Park Seychelles . Therefore, you can enjoy part of this wonderful and green world from your car.

Drive to Morne National Park Seychelles can also be reached from Anse Major Bay . Although the national park cannot be completely covered by car, you can drive to Bel Ombre or Danzil . After that, your only means of transportation will be your own feet. Dense mangroves do not allow vehicles to travel deep into the territory. It is advisable to take a guide with you: the forest is fraught with danger.

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