Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve

A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Largely untouched since prehistoric times, Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve is a natural palm forest covering an area of 19.5 hectares. Almost conserved in its original state, the national park is a real natural sanctuary and is highly recommended. Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.
The park is home to the world’s largest population of endemic coco-de-mer and to five endemic palms. It is one of only two locations in the world where the double nut coco-de-mer grows in the wild. The famous coco-de-mer is one of the central attractions due to its bizarre form and it bears the largest seed in the plant kingdom. One famous gentleman, General Charles George Gordon of Khartoum, believed that Vallée de Mai was the Biblical “Garden of Eden”.
To add to its beauty and richness, the park contains unique wildlife; these include the rare Seychelles black parrot, mammals, crustaceans, snails and reptiles. You can choose from three hiking trails, treading pristine paths surrounded by untouched forest–a rare example of such undisturbed nature and a prime spot for birdwatching. The hikes vary between 1 and 2 kilometres, with guided tours available throughout the morning.
The recommended duration to stay at Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve is 2 hours.