Wednesday, March 16, 2022 – Photo of the Day – Mahe, Seychelles

WEDNESDAY, 16 MARCH 2022 MAHE SEYCHELLES Arrival: 7:00AM Overnight stay
TODAY’S WEATHER Partly Cloudy High: 80°F 27°C Low: 74°F 23°C
DRESS CODE: CASUAL
For Ladies: DRESSES OR BLOUSES AND PANTS
For Gentlemen: SPORT SHIRTS AND SLACKS
No shorts or flip flop type footwear after 6:00 PM in indoor venues

MAHE, SEYCHELLES – LARGEST ISLAND OF THE SEYCHELLES
Few places on Earth can claim to have been as blessed by nature as Mahe. Set in the remote Seychelles archipelago over 1,500 kilometres east of Mombasa, Mahe is largest of the 115 islands and is home to so many stunning attractions you won’t know where to begin.

For many the Seychelles are the destination of a lifetime. Cerulean seas, miles and miles of beach, lush, tropical jungle and surreal, natural beauty as far as the eye can see.

Not only does Mahe boast 68 pristine beaches, it is dominated by the towering peaks of the Morne Seychellois National Park. This splendid National Park takes up over 20% of the island and is home to a vast amount of endemic flora and fauna, including the ultrarare Seychelles Scops-owl.

Unsurprisingly, the crystal clear waters are a diver’s heaven, promising a colourful cornucopia of underwater life, regardless of how experienced you are.
Despite the island being visited in 1609 by the British, Mahe did not feature on any maps until 1742, when Frenchman Lazare Picault explored the as yet unnamed islands. However, it took a further 14 years for the French to lay claim to the islands, with the arrival of naval ship Le Cerf, captained by Corneille Morphey who christened the archipelago after Vicomte Moreau de Sechelles. He did this by setting down a Stone of Possession, which is on display in the National Museum.

The first settlers arrived in 1770 and 15 years later the population had swelled to 130 – 7 Europeans and 123 slaves. Today, there are 80,000 Seychellois.

BOTANICAL GARDENS
At the southern edge of Victoria, the Botanical Gardens host some of the most representative species of local flora and fauna. You will also have a chance to see the colony of giant tortoises, a rare species of fruit bat and the Coco-demer, the largest seed in the world, and one of the symbols of the Seychelles.

SIGHTS
• Mission Lodge Ruins
• Botanical Gardens
• National Museum of History
• Craft Village
• Jardin Du Roi
• Anse Royale Beach

Today’s Schedule – A Moment in Time Excursion

Today we enjoyed the highlights of one of the world’s smallest capitals. Our tour began with the drive past Independence House which adjoins a large roundabout. A winged sculpture to commemorate Victoria’s bicentennial 1770-1970 is in the center. The town’s central point is the silver-coloured clock tower erected in 1903 as a replica of the tower at London’s Vauxhall Bridge. Around the clock tower cluster bank buildings, the colonial-style law courts, and the Anglican Cathedral. We passed the National Museum constructed in 1911 with an endowment from the British-born steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. After driving up the spectacular Sans Souci Road we discover some of the island’s cinnamon plantations.

Mission Lodge Ruins

Originally known as Venn’s Town the site was established as a school for children of freed slaves. Ruins blanketed with tropical greenery and a magnificent avenue of endemic trees are the only reminders of the school. While the children received a basic education the adults worked as labourers in the surrounding plantations. A brief walk through exotic trees with massive roots and forest like environment was a beautiful setting. At the end of the gathering were lookout points with visas of the island below. One notable lookout was built for Queen Elizabth’s visit in 1972. Afterwards a short drive brought us to the Tea Tavern where refreshments are served overlooking the mountainside tea plantation. We continued the scenic drive along lower Sans Souci Road with views of mountain slopes covered with tea shrubs and the ocean in the background. We pass through the coastal villages of Port Glaud and Grand Anse on the south coast and traveled through dense vegetation of the La Misère Mountain Pass enjoying more spectacular views of Victoria and the inner islands.

Botanical Gardens

On the return trip we visit these lovely gardens located at the southern edge of Victoria. The gardens are protected from development by their status as a national monument. Our guide showed us a remarkable variety of rare and colourful plants including the endemic coco de mar as well as giant land tortoises and fruit bats.