Mahé highlands and surrounding areas Important Bird Area, Bird conservation area in Mahé, Seychelles.
This bird conservation area spans roughly 4600 hectares across the central and northwestern parts of Mahé island, featuring dense forests and rocky granite outcrops. The site offers hiking trails and entry points near La Misère and Cascade districts.
During the 1800s and early 1900s, most of the original forest was logged for timber and converted into cinnamon plantations. This intensive use reshaped the landscape before protection efforts began.
Walking paths here are used by residents and visitors to watch native bird species and learn about local plants. You can experience directly how people in Seychelles connect with and protect these rare animals.
Marked trails wind through the conservation area with several entry points nearby. The terrain is often steep and wet, so proper hiking shoes and water are essential.
These mountains hold the entire world population of the Seychelles Scops Owl, one of Earth's rarest birds. With only around 90 to 180 breeding pairs surviving here, this species exists almost nowhere else.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
