Victoria Botanical Gardens — Attraction in Mahé

“One of the must see places in Seychelles for people with a love of nature is the Botanical Garden. Managed by the National Botanical Gardens Foundation since December 2009, it is located at Mont Fleuri, on the outskirts of Victoria, the capital. Established in 1901 by a Mauritian agronomist, Rivalz Dupont, the 15-acre garden is one of the Seychelles’ oldest national monuments and is a living green heritage providing a quiet, green getaway with a 20-minutes walk from the busy town centre. The garden has developed into one of Victoria’s main tourist attractions. The garden opens at 7.30 a.m and closes at 5 p.m. SNA presents seven must-see attractions at the botanical garden. The first thing to greet you as you enter the gardens is the sight of the biggest nut in the world -- the coco de mer. The most iconic of Seychelles' endemic plants, the Lodoicea Maldivica grows in its natural state in Vallee-de-Mai on Praslin, the island nation second-most populated island. In 1956 Duke of Edinburg planted the most fruitful Coco de mer palm in the Botanical Gardens. An added attraction to the gardens is the population of giant tortoises originally from the world heritage site of Aldabra. They are one of the top attractions at the botanical garden as one can get up close to one of the creatures that grow to a very old age. The tortoises are in an enclosure dedicated to these oldest inhabitants of Seychelles. These majestic creatures can live up to over 100 years and populated our islands well before the first settlers arrived. The garden also showcases a collection of terrapins locally known as torti soupap. These dull-coloured turtles are believed to have been introduced from the African continent and Madagascar. Take your time at their pond to see them emerge from beneath their shell as these small creatures are known to camouflage themselves. They can be difficult to be distinguished from other features in the pond especially the stones. The garden is also home to a variety of local and exotic flowers such as the heliconia, the rose of Venezuela, the Pride of Barbados, Ylang-Ylang, Frangipani, different colours of hibiscus as well as a collection of exotic and endemic orchids in attractive colours. Exotic fruits found in the gardens include the durian notorious for its strong smell which was introduced to the gardens in the early 1970s The rambutan locally known as letsi plim can be also found in the gardens. The Aromas of spices can also be smelled from the garden from nutmeg, vanilla, clove, and many others. Among the endemic birds found in the garden are the fruit eating Blue Pigeon, locally known as the pizon olande, the nectar-sipping Sun bird or kolibri, and the Seychelles Bulbul or merl. Some introduced species have also found their home in the garden like the colorful introduced Madagascar Fody or Sren, the Indian Myna Bird or marten, the Malagasy Turtle Dove or tourtrel de zil and the Barred Ground Dove or tourtrel koko”…. (Seychelles...

The garden itself is fine but nothing particularly special. It offers a short and easy walk through some tropical plants, but compared to other botanical gardens around the world, it lacks depth and variety.

What was most disturbing, however, was the enclosure for the giant tortoises. Around 30 of them are kept in a small, dusty, and rocky area that is clearly not suited to their natural needs. Many of the tortoises had visibly damaged shells, likely due to the cramped and unsuitable environment. What makes it even more heartbreaking is knowing how long these animals can live — often well over 100 years — and realizing that they may spend their entire lives without ever walking on grass or experiencing a more natural habitat. It’s a deeply sad and unfair situation for such gentle creatures. It’s sad to see such majestic animals being kept in such poor conditions, especially in a place meant to represent the natural beauty of the Seychelles.

Another thing to note: despite other reviews saying that only card payments are accepted, the lady at the entrance did accept cash from us — which suspiciously seemed to go straight into her own pocket. It raises questions about how well the place is managed and where the money actually goes.

If you care about animals, I would not recommend supporting this place with your entrance fee. The tortoise enclosure is more upsetting than educational — and frankly, it’s a shame for such an otherwise...

Victoria Botanical Garden – A Quiet Escape in the Heart of Mahé

I spent a slow afternoon wandering through the Victoria Botanical Garden, and honestly, it felt like stepping into a different rhythm—one where time moves gently and nature speaks softly. The garden isn’t massive, but it’s beautifully kept, with winding paths shaded by towering palms and bursts of color from tropical flowers.

The highlight for me was seeing the Coco de Mer trees up close. There’s something surreal about them—their size, their shape, the way they seem to hold centuries of island history in their silence. I also loved the giant tortoises, just lounging around like old souls. You can feed them, but even just watching them move slowly through the grass is strangely calming.

There’s a spice garden tucked in one corner, and the scent of cinnamon and nutmeg lingers in the air. If you’re into photography or just want a peaceful walk, this place is perfect. It’s not flashy or crowded—just quiet, green, and grounding.

Entry was Rs250, and it’s open every day till late afternoon. I’d recommend going in the morning or around 3 PM when the light starts to soften. Bring water, take your time, and let the garden do its thing. You’ll leave...