I Love Seychelles

Mahe map

Exploring Mahé island

Wednesday September 24th we decided to explore the island. We rented a small car with a car rental agency called Camec for €35 for a full day. We were told this was one of the cheapest options on the island. Renting a car can be expensive in the Seychelles.

The idea was to drive to around the island clockwise, starting at Victoria, making our way down along the east coast and then cross the island at Quatre Bornes in the south to the west coast. I had heard Anse Takamaka should be beautiful, so after a stop there the route would go along Baie Lazare, Anse Soleil (the lunch cafe there was recommended by Stephane from Clef des Iles) all the way up to Port Launay. Check out the map of Mahé for a more detailed view.

Empty tank of our rental car at Mahé island

Roundtrip itinerary

9:00 rental car dropped off at Clef des Iles by Jeffrey
9:30 Start in Beau Vallon → gas station Beau Vallon
10:00 Victoria, Mahe
10:30 – 11:00 Victoria → down the east coast to Anse Royale
11:15 westward to Quatre Bornes and further to Anse Takamaka
11:30 Anse Takamaka
12:00 Baie Lazare
13:00 Lunch & snorkeling at Anse Soleil
15:30 Anse Soleil → Barbarons → Port Glaud
16:20 Port Glaud
16:50 Port Launay
17:30 Mission viewing point over west coast Mahé island
18:00 back in Beau Vallon village

Empty fuel tank

In the morning around 9 Jeffrey came to bring our car. After filling out the paperwork and a short inspection around the car (dents everywhere!) we got the keys and were set to go. After driving a few metres, the petrol light started to blink. Apparently the fuel tank wasn’t filled for 1/8 according to the contract. So, there we went up the mountain to the nearest gas station. Fortunately, we made it. If you do rent a car in the Seychelles chances are the fuel tank is almost empty when you get the car. If you fill up at the gas station, don’t fill it up completely. Mahé is just a small island, and all other islands are even smaller. It will be very hard to use all that gas if you filled it up completely.

With a half full fuel tank we continued to Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles. Beau Vallon and Victoria are separated by a mountain ridge. A steep and curvy road first goes up and then goes down, with a deep gorge down to one side and a unprotected trench for drainage on the other side. Excellent conditions for getting used to a new car with the steering wheel on the wrong side (right).

Fortunately we made it to Victoria without any accidents…