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State House
You can't visit the former 'British Government' residence, now the office of president, unless you have Government permission. Inquire at the entrance gate guard post. Intriguingly, it was designed by the wife of a governor early this century and after its construction had begun, discovered she had forgotten to put any staircases in the plan.
The 'great capitulator', Le Chevalier Jean Bapticte Queau de Quinssy is buried in the grounds. He arrived in 1794 as the French governor and remained in charge through British occupation until he died in 1827.
Botanical Gardens
The Gardens are next to the hospital, just past le Chantier roundabout and the Sans Souci road exit, at the south end of town. They are open daily and are highly recommended for short and shady walks among a variety of native and introduced trees. Among those identified trees are elephant apple trees from Malaysia, Rose of Venezuela, pandamus, palmiste palms and coco de mer palms from Praslin. Within the garden is a cafeteria, a pen of giant tortoises, an orchid garden and a souvenir shop.
Entry to the gardens is free. It contains other tropical plants as well as orchid, whose blooms are staggered throughout the year. The best time to visit is between June and August and the worst is during December and January, when the blossoms are hammered by buckets of rain.
Sauzier Waterfall (North Mahe)
Not many people know about this beauty spot near Port Glaud on the West Coast. Take a bus to Port Glaud from Victoria. If you have a car, park opposite the small island known as L'islette and take the track inland along side the church. Walk straight ahead past the Creole homes for about 10 minutes and when you hear the waterfall, turn left towards it. The cascade is magnificent, the surroundings are peaceful and the water is clean (no washing) and deep enough to swim.
La Gogue Reservoir (North Mahe)
La Gogue Reservoir, which could be loosely considered the Seychelles' only mountain lake, is a pleasant wet spot in the center of Mahe's northernmost peninsula. You can reach it either by the parallel concrete tracks (which are just passable for mini Mokes) climbing from the east coast near the Manresa guesthouse or on foot from near Le Northolme Hotel on the west coast. If you are walking, the latter route is steeper but it passes through less populated areas and is the more enjoyable.
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