Cerf Island

Cerf Island sits closest to Mahé of the marine park group, ten to fifteen minutes by boat, and unlike its neighbours it has a small permanent population, a handful of guesthouses and restaurants and no roads to speak of. Beaches run round most of the edge and the water between it and Mahé is shallow. It works as a quiet base within sight of the capital, and day trips stop here for lunch.

History

The island is named after the French navy frigate Le Cerf, which reached Port Victoria on 1 November 1756; the expedition's leader, Corneille Nicholas Morphey, claimed the islands by laying a Stone of Possession on Mahé, now the oldest monument of Seychelles (Wikipedia, Cerf Island).

What's there

• The short crossing - ten to fifteen minutes by boat from Mahé.
• The beaches - sand running round most of the island's edge.
• The small community - a permanent population and guesthouses, unlike its neighbours.
• The park water - the shallow protected sea between the island and Mahé.

When to go

April to May and October to November are calmest for crossings. Day trips run year round. Boats do not run late in the evening.

Things to know

Facilities are limited and boats stop running in the evening, which constrains staying. The beaches are shallow with seagrass in stretches. Coral in the surrounding park is largely dead.

Nearby

Moyenne Island is beside it, and Victoria is across the water.

Key facts