Satellite Islands of Mahé
Sainte-Anne
Sainte Anne, the largest island in the National Marine Park, lies 4 km off the east coast of Mahé and in close proximity to its neighbours, Cerf Island, Round Island and Moyenne Island.
Discovered in 1742 by the famours explorer Lazare Picault, Ste Anne was the first island to be settled by the early French settlers before taking up residency on Mahé. The island was later home to a commercial whaling station and World War II gun battery.
Apart from its countless coconut palms, among which may be counted three Coco-de-Mer, cinnamon plants grow wild on the lush hillsides as do casuarinas.
Ste Anne is home to Beachcomber’s 5-star Sainte Anne Resort, an 87-villa property that opened in 2002 along the island’s two main beaches.
Ste Anne, the largest island in the Ste Anne Marine National Park, lies 4km off the east coast of Mahé and in close proximity to its neighbours, Cerf Island, Round Island and Moyenne Island.
Cerf
Situated within the Ste Anne Marine National Park, Cerf is Mahé’s closest neighbour and offers excellent swimming and snorkelling opportunities. Cerf is a popular picnic venue with Mahé residents on account of its fine beaches.
Cerf earned its name from the navy frigate that visited Seychelles in 1756 to take formal possession of the island in the name of France.
The island is home of lush coconut groves and has a population of giant land tortoises and flying foxes.
Cerf is the only island in the marine park to have a small local population who commute to Mahé for their daily business, making the 4km trip in a matter of minutes.
A high standard of accommodation is available in three hotel establishments currently on the island.
Long Island
A former prison, Long Island is located in the midst of the Ste. Anne Marine Park close to Round and Moyenne Islands. This coconut palm-covered gem reaches an elevation of 90m, and features fabulous powder soft beaches and beautiful turquoise seas.
The Shangri-La Resort and Spa will open on the island in 2009. The hotel will feature Seychelles’ first funicular
Moyenne
Located within the Ste Anne Marine National Park, Moyenne is a beautiful, 10 hectare island. It is a private island. There is no hotel accommodation offered on Moyenne, but excursions can be arranged through local ground handling operators.
Round Island (Mahé)
A close neighbour to Moyenne in the Ste Anne Marine National Park, Round Island features stunning beaches and coves with memorable swimming. A leisurely stroll around the island takes approximately 15 minutes.
Late 2008, the island will be home to Enchanted Seychelles, a new boutique resort consisting of some 10 private chalets that will occupy the island’s entire 5 acres, each featuring its own private access to the beach.
Ile cachée
Ile Cachée, located also within the marine park, remains unspoilt and uninhabited.
Anonyme
Anonyme Island is only a stone’s throw from the international airport on the main island of Mahé.
Plant life on Anonyme is plentiful upon its area of 9.6 hectares, and the island plays host to rare species of trees such as bois noir (iron wood) as well as a magnificent banyan tree reputed to be more than 100 years old.
Anonyme boasts more than its fair share of bird life, and fruit bats are also to be found along with a number of giant land tortoises. The waters surrounding this tiny island are ideal for snorkelling and the isle commands spectacular views of sunsets and the other neighbouring inner islands.
Conception
Conception Island lies about 2 km northeast of the Mahé headland at Cap Matoopa.
One of the largest of Mahé's satellites, Conception is hilly with a mountainous ridge running virtually its entire length. The island is 1km long, 600m wide, 131m high and covered in coconut trees.
Conception was exploited as a coconut plantation until the mid-1970's but has remained abandoned and uninhabited since then, its hilly aspect and lack of beach placing constraints on its development.
The island has recently been created a wildlife reserve to protect its population of Seychelles white-eyed zosterops, a rare endemic species of bird.
Therese
Therese Island is a small 179 acre islet off the western coast of Mahé in the Seychelles. It has white sand beaches, with numerous coconut palms. The island is popular for water sports (snorkelling) and its open air restaurant. It can be accessed by boat from the Berjaya Mahe Beach Hotel.
Back to
Seychelles Islands Main Page
Seychelles travel guide Homepage