Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
Vallée de Mai
A World Heritage primeval palm forest that grows the coco de mer, the palm with the largest seed in the world. It is also home to the Seychelles black parrot, which survives in only a few hundred birds.
Vallée de Mai sits in the middle of Praslin inside Praslin National Park. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1983 and is often called the 'Garden of Eden.' The palm forest here remains almost untouched. Its most famous resident is the coco de mer, the world's largest and heaviest seed. A single seed can weigh 15 to 30 kg, and the plant has a striking shape with separate male and female trees. Male flower spikes can exceed 1 m in length. Coco de mer grows naturally only on Praslin and Curieuse, and it is a national treasure of the Seychelles. The forest also contains five other palm species unique to the Seychelles, along with the Seychelles black parrot (only a few hundred remain), blue pigeons, geckos and chameleons.
The park has several trails of different lengths, from 1 to 3 hours. The entrance visitor center has exhibits and a souvenir shop, and you can book a guide for the free scheduled tours. Entry for foreign visitors is relatively expensive, about EUR 50 (check the Seychelles Islands Foundation website for current prices). Opening hours are roughly 08:00 to 16:30. To get there, take a Praslin bus from Baie Sainte Anne or Grand'Anse, both of which stop at the entrance.
Please note: the forest floor is slippery, so wear non-slip shoes. Never pick or touch coco de mer. Coco de mer taken out of the country legally requires an official permit.
Opening hours
About 08:00–16:30
Nearby sights
- Anse Volbert (Côte d'Or)
- St. Pierre Islet
- Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve
- Curieuse Island
- Anse Lazio
- Anse Georgette
- Cousin Island Special Reserve
- Anse Sévère