Enter the Vallee de Mai

Situated in the middle of Praslin, the Vallee de Mai is a unique, and ancient, habitat where the Coco-de-Mer palm grows in its natural state. This extraordinary primeval forest, known as the Garden of Eden, has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status and is also home to one of the world’s rarest birds, the black parrot, of which there are thought to be only a few hundred left in the wild.

There are a number of walking trails that take you through the heart of the Vallee del Mai Nature Reserve and you can get a real sense of life in a prehistoric age as you pass under the giant trees on the lookout for black parrots and other endemic bird species such as the Seychelles bulbul, blue pigeons, and the Seychelles warbler. Definitely a great experience if you are staying on Praslin and worth travelling for if staying on a nearby island such as La Digue.