Vallee de Mai - UNESCO site in the Seychelles

Vallee de Mai, translated as the May Valley, is a living witness to the ancient palm forests, the green heart of Praslin Island and the pride of the Seychelles. The reserve is located in the center of the island, on the territory of the National Park, and covers an area of 19.5 hectares. The Vallee de Mai is the largest untouched forest of the endemic coconut tree in the Seychelles. An amazing natural reserve in 1983 was included in the list of natural objects of the planet protected by UNESCO.

Location: Praslin, Seychelles.

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The uniqueness of the reserve

A few centuries ago, General Charles Gordon described the Vallee de Mai as a Garden of Eden. The almost untouched palm forest, thanks to the non-intervention of civilization, has formed its ecosystem for millions of years and has preserved many unique plant species. The symbol of the islands grows here - the Seychelles palm (Lodoicea maldivica), with huge fruits. Coco de mer, or sea coconut, according to legend, appeared from the depths of the ocean. The weight of one nut can reach 20-25 kilograms, and they ripen on 40-meter palm trees, which are several centuries old.

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Flora and fauna of the Vallee de Mai

On the territory of the old reserve, in addition to the Seychelles, you can see five more species of endemic palms: phoenicophorium borsigianum, roscheria melanochaetes, deckenia nobilis, verschaffeltia splendida and nephrosperma vanhoutteanum.

In addition to palm trees, the following ancient plant species grow in the forest: dillenia ferruginea, northea hornei, pandanus hornei, drypetes riseleyi and others.

The fauna of the reserve includes endemic species of birds, crustaceans, snails and mammals. Here you can meet the giant bronze gecko, representatives of one of the largest living gecko species in the world, and one of the oldest on the planet.

For dendrologists and botanists, the reserve is of particular interest, and a simple tourist here can enjoy the green landscapes of the most unique tropical thickets on the islands of the Seychelles archipelago.

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Visit to the reserve

At the entrance to the forest, each visitor is given an information booklet, which contains maps and all information about the routes, as well as a guidebook and a list of the main species of plants and animals. Independent guides offer tours of the Vallee de Mai for a fee. There are several scenic routes in the forest, the distances of which vary from 1.5 to 4 kilometers. A walk along the Valle de Mai, breaks for rest and a snack, it is worth devoting at least a day.

• Opening hours: daily, seven days a week, from 9:00 to 16:00. Sale of tickets until 15:00. The reserve is closed only on December 25 and January 1.
• Cost: 350 SCR (about $27).

On the territory of the Vallee de Mai there is a cafe, left-luggage offices, a gift shop, an information center, toilets and parking. The visitor center and the first part of the forest are accessible to people with disabilities.

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How to get to Valle de Mai

• By public transport. There is a stop at the entrance to the Visitor Center, buses run on schedule during the Vallée de Mai opening hours. You can also use taxi services.
• On foot. The reserve is located in the center of the island and the location of many hotels allows you to easily get to the main entrance.
• As part of the tour. Several local travel companies offer day trips to the Vallee de Mai from Mahe, La Digue and Praslin.

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