Beyond the beaches: Exploring the abundant wildlife of the Seychelles

Most holidaymakers and honeymooners visit the Seychelles to relax on pristine white beaches, but it’s the awe-inspiring wildlife that can elevate a trip to the east African archipelago.

The country, comprised of 115 tropical islands, boasts coral reefs teeming with a diverse array of marine life, as well as endemic bird species that swoop and dive through the palm trees.

The second largest island, Praslin – where I’m staying – is one of only two that naturally grows the world’s largest and heaviest seed, known as the Coco De Mer, which functions as an unofficial cultural mascot for the country, featuring on souvenirs, currency and the Seychelles’ coat of arms.

Geckos, which are thought to be pollinators of the Coco De Mer, dominate the Vallée de Mai nature reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and palm forest I visited that sits in the heart of Praslin and remains largely unchanged since prehistoric times.

The reserve is home to a number of endemic species, including the black parrot and blue pigeon, as well as creepy crawlies I learned were as friendly and harmless as the curious birds that lived in the palm trees flanking my hotel, Indian Ocean Lodge.

During my short stay, I enjoy buffet-style meals in the hotel’s dining area, a light and bright floor space that overlooks a beach almost untouched by humankind, albeit for a few long-tail boats dotted along the shore.

The hotel offers pared-down luxury, seamlessly blending indoor with outdoors for an experience that allows you to feel truly immersed in nature.

A trip to the Seychelles would not be complete without a visit to the main island of Mahe, home to the country’s capital, Victoria – a seaside city with market stalls and restaurants offering a taste of Creole culture amid a backdrop of towering mountains with granite peaks.

One of the more secluded hotels on the island is Mango House, a Hilton hotel positioned on a slightly rocky part of the coast line that houses three main swimming pools, as well as a private beach area where you can kayak, snorkel and swim.

The resort feels expansive; rooms are contained in buildings dotted across the resort and guests hop onto golf buggies to make the route down to the main building via a winding path lined with palm trees and vibrant hibiscus flowers.

Thought of as an ideal location for honeymooners, I also find the hotel to be perfect for an easy-going solo trip, offering a trifecta of relaxation, indulgence and great food.

During the day, cake is offered in the main building, which connects to an infinity swimming pool overlooking the Indian Ocean, while rounds of champagne are poured for guests in the evening.

The hotel also offers a range of activities, including a cocktail-making class, which I happily participated in, concocting a bold-tasting drink using Takamaka rum, a spirit that has been crafted in the Seychelles since 2002.

While I found solace lounging by the pool, the highlight of my stay in Mahe is visiting Vallée des Fruits, a fruit plantation and eco-tourism experience that demonstrates the possibility of pesticide-free agriculture that aims to nourish the land, as well as those who eat its produce.

Co-founder Gvantsa Khizanishvili conducts a tour of the grounds, showing their bananas, pomegranates, pineapples, soursop and more – all of which are grown atop a hillside offering expansive views of the island, and all of which I ate at the end of the tour.

Environmental sustainability is a theme that extends to my stay at Denis Private Island, where I arrive after boarding a dinky eight-person plane, landing on a grass strip dividing the island in two.

The resort, which was recently awarded two Michelin Keys (the hotel version of a Michelin star), is predominately powered through solar panels and offers farm-to-table dining, sourced almost exclusively from its internal farm.

Denis offers magnificent scenery, as well as plenty of activities, including bird-watching and kayaking.

The lack of Wi-Fi – which is only available in the main building – provides a welcome reprieve from social media and awards me an appreciation for a slower style of living where you can wake up to the call of sea birds and lapping waves, rather than a piercing alarm and half an hour of phone scrolling.

Robyn Shield, PR and branding manager of the group that runs Denis, says: “The fact that there is no internet, that there’s no TV, it means people are connecting with each other and talking to each other, going outside, doing activities.

Adding: “People who love the ocean would really, really enjoy Denis Island.”

After landing on the island I immediately go for a swim, but it was only when I went snorkelling the next day I realised I had been floating above myriads of tropical fish, turtles and multicoloured coral.

Another surprise came walking past a large enclosure filled with the Aldabra giant tortoise, a species native to the Seychelles.

Curious about the reptiles, I get speaking to the staff who let me feed the tortoises at breakfast time and tell me that, while most of the tortoises would not have hatched on the island, they could not be certain for the older ones as they would have been born before any of the island’s current inhabitants.

From hearing the calls of endangered birds during a massage on the beach to feeding a 128-year-old tortoise named Toby, my experience on the island – and of the Seychelles as whole – proved to be a tranquil journey rich in culture and wildlife.

How to book

Turquoise Holidays (turquoiseholidays.co.uk) prices start from £3,995 per person combining one night (half board, standard room) at Indian Ocean Lodge, Praslin; two nights’ B&B in a king deluxe room at Mango House, Mahe; and two nights full board in a beach villa at Denis Islands.

Prices includes all private transfers, internal flights in the Seychelles and return international flights on Etihad from London Heathrow (based on two people travelling in June 2026).