Mahe sits strategically in the Indian Ocean and is the largest island of the Seychelles. A spectacle in its own right, the Mahe Island was named after a French Governor of the Mauritius, Bertrand-Francois Mahe de La Bourdonnais. While its many natural attractions make it a traveller’s paradise, a resort in Seychelles such as the AVANI Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa can help guests enjoy their holiday better.

For those who choose to holiday on Mahe island, there’s news. The Ste. Anne Marine National Park is just a 20-minute slow boat ride away and is a must visit that should be on every traveller’s list. The park was declared a wildlife reserve in 1973 and is incidentally the very first of its kind in the entire Indian Ocean. The government of the Seychelles in 2005 approved the establishment of a few hotels and resorts with the aim to help preserve the island at a lesser cost.

Home to the Hawksbill Turtle, the national park is popular for being the largest area constituting sea grass. The park is also frequented by schools of friendly Bottlenose Dolphins. Incidentally, the very first human settlement in the area too was reported to have been on the island of Ste. Anne back in 1770. The island was also a station for marines during the time of the Second World War. Legend has it that one of its neighbouring islands, the Moyenne Island houses a treasure buried deep within its soil.

The clear shallow waters of the Ste. Anne Island are also ideal for snorkelling and offer a glimpse of its exotic marine life and coral reefs. Other water sporting activities that can be enjoyed include scuba-diving and even glass-bottom boat tours. No visitors are allowed to go fishing on the island or engage in water skiing in efforts to preserve its marine life.

Many local tour operators offer exciting day and night tours to the island at a reasonable rate. Nevertheless, it’s advisable that visitors consult the local community for a reliable tour operator before embarking on an excursion to the island.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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