Top 5 wildlife adventures in the Seychelles

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The beautiful tropical islands of the Seychelles are a paradise of biodiversity ripe for discovery.

Rare birds, plants, marine life and animals abound on these idyllic islands. Seize the opportunity to explore two UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well as extensive national and marine parks.

Conservation in the Seychelles
Conservation is taken seriously across the archipelago and eco-tourism is actively encouraged by local and government conservation groups. As a result over the last 40 years access to areas of ecological interest have been improved making exploration easy and fun for tourists of all ages.

1. Seychelles National Botanical Gardens
An ideal place to see some of the rare species of flora and fauna of the Seychelles is the Botanical Gardens in Victoria, Mahé.

Come and discover the beautiful collection of exotic and endemic plants, and meet some of the local inhabitants including a population of giant tortoises – some of which are over 150 years old – and a colony of fruit bats.

2. Birds of paradise
Bird lovers flock to the Seychelles to see the nearly 250 different species, including 12 endemic to the islands. Many can be found on Mahé but for keen ornithologists an exhilarating boat trip to Aride or Cousin island is a must. Read more about the Top 5 Seychelles islands for bird lovers.

Some notable birds to watch out for:

• Seychelles magpie robin and Seychelles warbler, both brought back from the edge of extinction by local conservationists
• Sunbird
• Blue pigeon
• Scops owl
• Frigatebirds
• Terns, sandpipers and herons are particularly prevalent with more than 60 different species

3. Discover the ocean
The whole family can enjoy the wonders of discovering over 1,000 species of fish that are found in the six national marine parks and crystal waters around the archipelago.

Whether you decide to try scuba diving at Constance for adults and children over 8 years, or you prefer snorkelling there is plenty to discover.

The vibrant coral reefs around our shores are home to a wide variety of marine life including the rare hawksbill turtle, yellow snappers, clown fish, humphead parrot fish and manta rays.

4. UNESCO World Heritage Sites
For those who fancy travelling a bit further afield an excursion to the World Hertiage Sites are a real treat. The Atoll of Aldabra is the largest raised coral atoll in the world and home to the Aldabra giant tortoise.

The Vallée de Mai on Praslin, rumoured to be the original ‘Garden of Eden’, is home to the famous Coco de Mare the largest seed in the world. Wandering into the Vallée is like discovering an ancient world of giant palms with leaves measuring 6 meters across and an abundance of rare flora and fauna. Keep your eyes peeled for the national bird, the Seychelles Black Parrot, which is only found here.

5. Constance turtle conservation
Budding conservationists and naturalists alike should visit Constance Lémuria to meet our turtle manager.

Dedicated to protecting the endangered hawksbill and green turtles who return to our beaches year after year, he will be happy to show you any currently nesting or hatching turtles and is always keen to share his knowledge on these rare, beautiful creatures.

Whether you’re looking for intrepid exploration or just to immerse yourself in the dramatic biodiversity the Seychelles has to offer there are plenty of discoveries to be made here.

Find out more

• Read more about the Top 5 natural wonders of the Seychelles
• Discover more about the flora and Fauna of the Seychelles
• Learn about conservation in the Seychelles – on the trail of the Jellyfish tree
• Visit our website to find out more about Constance Lémuria, Praslin and Constance Ephelia on Mahé