Fond Ferdinand on Praslin: the endemic palm forest of the Seychelles seen from the sea

The Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve is a 122-hectare endemic forest on the island of Praslin, managed by the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) since 2013. Larger and less crowded than the Vallée de Mai, it is home to the six endemic palms of the Seychelles, including the Coco de Mer, as well as a panoramic lookout over the inner archipelago. The guided visit lasts around two hours and includes a local guide. For a crew anchored at Praslin, this is the natural shore excursion for a morning stopover.

To plan a catamaran cruise in the Seychelles, Praslin stands out as an essential stopover between Mahé and La Digue - and Fond Ferdinand is one of its highlights on land.

What is the Fond Ferdinand reserve on Praslin?

The Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve is a 122-hectare endemic forest on the island of Praslin, managed by the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) since 2013 - a quieter and larger alternative to the Vallée de Mai, holding the highest density of Coco de Mer palms in the archipelago. It represents one of the last fragments of primary vegetation in the Seychelles, protected and managed for sustainable tourism since it opened to the public.

An area six times larger than the Vallée de Mai

Fond Ferdinand covers 122 hectares compared with about 19 hectares for the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site listed since 1983. This difference in size translates directly into the experience: the trails are less crowded, the forest areas deeper, and the guided visit crosses sectors rarely reached by visitors in a hurry. The reserve has been open to the public since 2013 under SIF management, which also administers the Vallée de Mai.

The endemic palms of Praslin gathered in a single site

The Coco de Mer (Lodoicea maldivica) is the reserve’s emblematic species: its seeds are the heaviest in the plant kingdom, commonly reaching 25 kg and up to 42 kg for record specimens. The nut takes up to 7 years to reach full maturity. Fond Ferdinand is also home to five other endemic palms of the Seychelles: the Latanye (Nephrosperma vanhoutteanum), the Latanier (Verschaffeltia splendida), and several rare species including Gastonia seychellarum and Diospyros seychellarum. No other site in the Seychelles brings together all six endemic palms within a single area open to the public.

What is there to see and do at Fond Ferdinand?

A visit to Fond Ferdinand takes place in dense tropical forest along a guided trail of about 1 hr 30 to 2 hr 30, lined with giant Coco de Mer palms, endemic animal species and a panoramic lookout over the inner islands. The guided visit is compulsory and included in the entrance fee - no self-guided visits are permitted in the reserve.

The guided trail - the only permitted way to visit

The route includes about 550 to 600 steps over the whole trail, with shaded sections under the canopy and open areas on the climb up to the lookout. The actual duration varies depending on the group’s pace and observation stops. It is recommended to arrive between 8 am and 10 am: the light is better, the heat more bearable, and the local guides are available from opening time. Avoid arriving after 1 pm so you do not miss the last guided departure.

The endemic wildlife to spot in the forest

The Seychelles black parrot (Coracopsis barklyi) is the species visitors look for most. Its population is estimated at between 520 and 900 individuals according to the reference ornithological surveys - a species classified as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List, found only on Praslin in the entire world. Fond Ferdinand is one of the two sites where the chance of spotting it is highest, along with the Vallée de Mai. The reserve is also home to the Seychelles chameleon (Archaius tigris), the Seychelles bulbul, the Seychelles fruit pigeon, as well as several species of endemic geckos and skinks. Bringing binoculars significantly increases the chances of an observation.

The lookout - the widest view over the inner archipelago

The Fond Ferdinand lookout offers a 360° view over Praslin and the surrounding archipelago. To the east: Curieuse, Sister Island, Coco Island, Round Island, Félicité and La Digue. To the west: Mahé and Silhouette, and on exceptionally clear days, Denis Island on the horizon. This panorama from the land is the exact opposite of what you perceive from the cockpit of a catamaran anchored at Anse Volbert - the wooded hill of Fond Ferdinand that you glimpse from offshore becomes, from the lookout, the green horizon overlooking the entire inner archipelago.

Fond Ferdinand or Vallée de Mai - which to choose on Praslin?

The Vallée de Mai is the must-see UNESCO site on Praslin, but Fond Ferdinand is larger, less crowded, more immersive - and the two are compatible within a single stopover day. The choice depends more on the time available and your priorities than on a contest between the two sites.

	Fond Ferdinand	Vallée de Mai
Area	122 ha	~19 ha
UNESCO listing	No	Yes (since 1983)
Crowds	Quieter	Busier
Guided visit	Compulsory (included in the fee)	Possible (optional)
Coco de Mer palms	Very high density	High density
Panoramic viewpoint	Yes	No
Combined SIF ticket	Yes (valid 10 days for both sites)	Yes

For a stay of several days on Praslin, the two visits are complementary rather than substitutable. The Vallée de Mai can be explored in 1 hr to 1 hr 30, Fond Ferdinand in 2 hr - both fit into a single day if you set off in the morning. The SIF offers a combined ticket available on sif.sc, valid for 10 days, which lets you spread the two visits across the weather conditions and the stopovers of your sailing programme.

Practical information for visiting Fond Ferdinand from Praslin

The reserve is open every day, the visit lasts about 2 hours and includes a local guide - access is by rental car, taxi or bus from any anchorage or marina on Praslin. Online booking is possible and recommended.

Opening hours, fee and access

The reserve is open from 8.30 am to 4 pm (last entry at 3.30 pm), every day of the year except 25 December. The entrance fee is about 300 Seychellois rupees (SCR) on site, or roughly 16 to 20 € depending on the current exchange rate - confirm the exact fee on sif.sc before your visit. An online booking on sif.sc gives a discount of about 10 % (270 SCR). The guide is included in the fee, with no surcharge requested on site.

Access to the reserve is from Baie Sainte-Anne or Anse Volbert, the two main catamaran anchorages on Praslin. A parking area is available at Anse Marie-Louise, signposted by a red and white sign at the entrance. Cash payment is advised, preferably in Seychellois rupees, although euros are generally accepted.

What to bring

• Closed shoes or walking sandals (steps and climb up to the lookout)
• Plenty of water (essential in mid-morning)
• Sun protection and a hat
• Mosquito repellent (dense, shaded forest)
• Camera or phone (panorama from the lookout, Coco de Mer)
• Binoculars (spotting the black parrot)

The ideal is to arrive at opening time, between 8 am and 10 am, before the midday heat and before the organised groups.

The Fond Ferdinand excursion seen from a catamaran on Praslin

From a catamaran anchored at Anse Volbert or Baie Sainte-Anne, Fond Ferdinand is an ideal shore excursion for a morning stopover: you reach the anchorage the evening before, set off to the reserve as soon as it opens, and return to the catamaran for lunch by the water.

Baie Sainte-Anne is the reference anchorage on the east side of Praslin, the closest to the reserve entrance. Anse Volbert (Côte d’Or), the island’s main beach, has a larger anchorage with a 5 to 10 minute transfer ashore by taxi. The total duration of a half-day land excursion is between 4 and 5 hours, transfer included.

Combining it with Curieuse Island and its giant tortoises comes naturally from Praslin: the two sites follow one another over two consecutive half-days from the same anchorage, without repositioning the catamaran. Curieuse lies less than 2 nautical miles north of Praslin, directly reachable by dinghy or under sail from Baie Sainte-Anne.

For crews who wish to include Praslin in a full Seychelles itinerary, a crewed catamaran cruise in the Seychelles makes it possible to combine Fond Ferdinand, Curieuse, La Digue and the coral banks north of Praslin over 7 to 14 days, without any trade-off between the shore sites.

Frequently asked questions about Fond Ferdinand on Praslin

How long does it take to visit Fond Ferdinand?

The guided visit lasts about 1 hr 30 to 2 hr 30 depending on the pace and observation stops. Allow 3 to 4 hours in total with the transfer from the anchorage or the centre of Praslin, for a half-day excursion.

Do you need to book before visiting Fond Ferdinand?

Online booking on sif.sc is recommended - it saves about 10 % on the entrance fee (270 SCR online versus 300 SCR on site). Visiting without a booking is possible directly at the entrance, subject to availability. Arriving in the morning is recommended to avoid waiting times.

What is the entrance fee for Fond Ferdinand?

The fee is about 300 SCR (Seychellois rupees) on site, or roughly 16 to 20 € depending on the current exchange rate. By booking on sif.sc, the fee is 270 SCR. A combined ticket with the Vallée de Mai is available on the same site and remains valid for 10 days for both visits. The local guide is included in the fee.

Is Fond Ferdinand suitable for children?

Yes, with closed shoes and water, families with children from 6 to 8 years old can do the walk. The trail includes about 550 to 600 steps and a gradual climb. It is not suitable for pushchairs. Children who walk well and cope with the heat particularly enjoy the lookout and the wildlife sightings.

Can you see the black parrot at Fond Ferdinand?

Spotting it is possible but not guaranteed. The Seychelles black parrot (Coracopsis barklyi) is found only on Praslin in the world; its population is estimated at between 520 and 900 individuals according to the reference ornithological surveys. It frequents the forest areas of Fond Ferdinand. Walking quietly, avoiding loud noises and bringing binoculars increase the chances of an observation.

What is the difference between Fond Ferdinand and the Vallée de Mai?

The Vallée de Mai is the UNESCO World Heritage Site emblematic of Praslin, more famous and busier. Fond Ferdinand is six times larger (122 ha versus about 19 ha), quieter, with a panoramic lookout over the archipelago and a guided visit included in the fee. The two sites are complementary and compatible within a single stopover day.