"Mah? : a jewel in the ocean" a Mahé Travel Page by Muya

Among all the little green spots lost in the blue of the maps, Mahé is the largest. Maybe this is the reason why many tourists tend to skip it, considering the capital-island only as a transit lounge, the gateway to some more idyllic island of the archipelago. Of course, it's the most "crowded" one, 90% of the entire Seychelles population lives here (72 200 people, approximately). But for sure, Mahé deserves better then a mere "waiting for a transfer" to La Digue, Praslin or some other coralline island like Desroches. This little beauty on the water has got a lot to offer… Just get to know its inside !

When Lazare Picault first discovered Mahé in 1742, he called it the Abundance Island. Two years later, the island was given the name of the French Governor Mahé de la Bourdonnais, who had required this expedition. After being French for a while, the Seychelles fell under British rule, until the independence in1976.
The history of the Seychelles is full of delightful tales and legends about pirates scouring its sees and plundering ships on the route to India. They found in the archipelago safe hideouts for their loot, and today, inhabitants of Mahé still dream about finding the treasure of the famous pirate La Buse somewhere on the island…

More than 70 postcard beaches of inalterated beauty, surrounded by granite boulders, where most of the time you are all alone : just you, soft powdersand, and turquoise water... that's not too bad, huh ? Perfect place to admire the abundance of the submarine world around Mahé, its coral and its marvellous colorful fishes. In some spots, you can even admire giant turtles... sometimes a shark or an octupus if you're lucky.
But Mahé isn't restricted to wonderful beaches, the island is also very mountainous. The mount Morne Seychellois is an ideal place for hikers who like lush vegetation and exotic plants and trees. You can climb up to its highest peak, 907 m, there are trails starting at different points of the road. But you can also pass through the National Park by bus and enjoy a ride with the locals, always willing to explain to you what you see from the bus windows…