Wild sands
Few crowds.
dronepicr — CC BY 2.0 · dronepicr — CC BY 2.0 · dronepicr — CC BY 2.0
A wide, wild beach at the far south of Mahé, one of the island's most beautiful and least crowded, with fine white sand, granite boulders at each end, thick coconut palms behind it and open-ocean waves breaking straight onto the shore. No coral reef shelters it, so strong waves roll in, especially from May to September when the south-east trade winds blow, making swimming dangerous; then it is best to stroll on the sand. From November to April the sea is usually calmer. The beach is a nesting site for hawksbill turtles, which come ashore to lay their eggs at certain times of year, so the area is protected. A luxury resort sits at one end, but access to the beach itself is public by road and a short path. There are no lifeguards or facilities, so bring water and food, respect any flags and warnings, and never swim alone when the waves are high.
Few crowds.
At each end.
A powerful sight.
Southern tip of Mahé, about 30 km from Victoria
Not always: there is no reef and no lifeguard, and waves are strong especially from May to September; the sea is calmer from November to April.