Anse Intendance
A wild bay at the southern tip of Mahé with white sand and rolling turquoise waves, framed by palms; one of Seychelles' most photogenic beaches.
Anse Intendance lies at the southernmost tip of Mahé. It is a roughly 1 km long, undeveloped, wide white-sand bay. With no outer coral reef to block them, the waves are large, and the surf rolls into white foam over the blue water. Together with coconut palms and granite headlands, it makes an extremely photogenic scene, beloved by surfers and photographers. A high-end resort sits at the south end of the bay, and most of the rest of the beach remains natural. From October to February each year, hawksbill turtles come ashore at night to lay eggs, and green turtles occasionally appear too. To visit, drive along the mountain roads of southern Mahé (about 45 minutes from Victoria) and enjoy walking, photography and sunbathing on the beach. Swimming is only advisable on calm days. During the southeast monsoon (June to September), waves are large and currents strong, so do not swim. There are almost no shops or facilities on the beach, so bring your own water and food. Nearby Anse Takamaka and the Polynesian-style Petite Anse are worth a stop. Note: there are no lifeguards, so always check the surf conditions, and parking at the beach entrance is limited.
Opening hours
All day, free
Nearby sights
- Le Jardin du Roi
- Anse Soleil
- Anse Royale
- Takamaka Rum Distillery, La Plaine St. André
- Mission Ruins of Venn's Town
- Copolia Trail
- Morne Seychellois National Park
- Seychelles National Botanical Gardens