Excursion Hike fond ferdinand nature reserve tour at Praslin

A trek in Fond Ferdinand reserve will give you the opportunity to discover the wild Coco De Mer plants and other endemic species, and enjoy an amazing panoramic view over Baie Sainte Anne.

This former palm plantation was ravaged by fire in 1990; it was painstakingly restored and opened to the public in 2012. Today, dominated by a magnificent uneven-aged palm forest type, Fond Ferdinand, with an altitude raising from 10 to 300 m, is home to four of the endemic palm trees, the coco de mer (Lodoicea maldivica), Latannyen Fey (Phoenicophorium borsigianum), Palmis (Deckenia nobilis) and Latannyen Milpat (Nephrosperma vanhoutteana). These palms grow intermixed with sparse stems of indigenous species like Takamaka (Calophyllum inophyllum), Bwa Rouz (Dillenia ferruginea), and Prin Maron (Ludia mauritania). Other such species in that area are Gayac Intsia bijuga and Agati (Adenanthera pavonia).

This natural reserve trails are still less known and less busy than those in the UNESCO site, just a few km away, and covers an area several times the size of Vallée de Mai, c.150 acres.

Besides the winding path through the valley, the two to three-hour hike up to the viewpoint is well-worth a trip too. From this point you can enjoy a beautiful view of Praslin itself, as well as the other inner islands of the Seychelles. In one direction you can see Curieuse, Sister Island, Coco Island, Round Island, Felicité, and La Digue, while in the other direction you can spot Frégate, Mahé, and Silhouette. If the weather is clear, you may even be able to spot Denis Island on the horizon.

Note

Please note: This tour includes extensive walking over uneven terrain and up and down hilly grounds, exposed roots and low hanging branches, making this tour less not suitable for guests with walking difficulties. Guests are recommended to wear good sturdy walking shoes.