Not too big, not too small, this medium-sized beach is on Baie Terné, on the west coast of Mahé. With its snorkeling trends and scuba dives, the popularity of this truly beautiful marine park may soon exceed that of exotic Bora Bora.Once you stretch your vision you can actually see for 20 kilometers across the beautiful blue ocean, your vision may even catch a glimpse of a silhouetted island. Famous for its sunset views, this place is best seen as a picnic spot. Then there’s the colorful biodiversity which you can’t possibly ignore, it’s a real attraction. Be careful: beware of whales and white sharks among the waves. The glimpse of white on the blue waves will definitely catch your attention.
All you need to know about Baie Terné Marine National Park
History of Baie Terné Marine National Park
Declared a national park in 1979, Baie Terné Marine National Park’s claim to fame is due to “the unique biodiversity of its underwater life”, quoting a scientific paper presented by G. Domingue, R. Payette and N. Shah in 1979. found. And several scientific research and monitoring programs have since concluded that Baie Terné Reef has become one of the most resilient carbonate reefs of the Seychelles’ interior granite islands.
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Flora and fauna of Baie Terné National Park
The obvious beauty of the island is enhanced by its exotic wildlife and vegetation. The Curieuse, where hawksbill turtles frequent, is the primary nesting site for them. The island also has a variety of bright tropical reef fish, showing a range of colors. Then there is the surprising population of large parrot fish. The park has gained all the fame for the accidental sighting of whale sharks. When in season, leisurely giants and giant sea giants swim and relax while feeding on the park’s rich plankton.
Vegetation: Complex coral reefs: A study conducted in 1996 by the Tropical Marine Research Unit of the University of York (UK) recorded 69 different species of coral in the Baie Ternay Marine Park. Baie Terné is one of the three beaches with the highest coral diversity.
living organisms: Home to families of sharks: Matching the diversity of the area’s coral reefs, marine life has also flourished over the years and the bay area has become an extremely important habitat for whales and white sharks. Sharks and many species of the ray family can be easily seen in the water. This beach seems to be a nursery for lemon sharks and what’s more, it is also an important resting area for several species of sting rays. This beach is home to the endangered hawksbill turtle, a habitat for hatching juvenile turtles. 40 hawksbills and 15 green turtles were observed in 2013.
watch out for: Hawksbill turtles, reef fish, parrot fish, whale sharks
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How to reach, best time to visit Baie Terné Marine National Park and everything else
How to reach Baie Terné Marine National Park
by plane: Fly into Seychelles International Airport (IATA: SEZ, ICAO: FSIA), or Aéroport de la Pointe Larue in French. It is the international airport of Seychelles located on the island of Mahe near the capital Victoria. The distance from the airport to the island is 25.4 km, about an hour’s drive but roads are mostly inaccessible, so it is better to use local boat charters or tours.
by train: There is no alternative to train travel by road in Seychelles, located in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
by road: The Seychelles islands are connected by a 400 kilometer paved road network. However it is not really maintained and is outside major urban areas.
Getting to the beach is not very difficult, but there is no parking next to the beach, so the bus will stop a short distance from the beach and passengers will have to travel on foot. Anyway it’s just a 5 minute walk. The nearest car parking is just a short walk away.
For route details, see area-wise map of Baie Terné Marine National Park.
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Best time to visit Baie Terné Marine National Park
Choose the best time based on how you plan your vacation. The weather in Seychelles is hot and humid from November to March due to the north-westerly trade winds and cool from April to October due to the south-westerly trade winds. The best season is the transition season. Plan your trips around April, May or October, November.
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Entry Fee for Baie Terné Marine National Park
Every non-resident adult entering Marine National Parks must carry a valid ticket. Tickets are to be purchased from the listed ticket-outlets. Everyone entering is required to show a ticket when asked by park rangers and daily regular patrols. The ticket will have to be surrendered or retained on demand.
adults: SCR200
children under 12 years of age: Free
opening timeBaie Ternay Marine National Park: All Marine National Parks in Seychelles are open daily (including public holidays). Ticket Outlet: Port Launay Ranger Base: Daily 0900 hrs-1700 hrs | SCMRT-MPA Headquarters, Victoria: Mon-Fri 0800 hrs-1600 hrs
Mooring Fee: An overnight mooring fee of 10 euros per boat applies.
Filming Fee: Euro 200 for film crews and professional photographers.
Filming is required to obtain written permission from the management of the Marine Park Authority (MPA) before proceeding with any commercial filming.
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Main attractions of Baie Ternay National Park
- amazing view: The beach is a part of the Baie Terné National Park which offers underwater bliss, amazing coral reefs and beautiful marine life.
- Lovers and Adventurers: It is an ideal love spot and a budding adventure dome.
- snorkeling and scuba diving: The beaches are pristine, but more interestingly, they are a hub for snorkeling and scuba diving, all thanks to the spectacular underwater views.
- Clear water, coral reefs: The water here is crystal clear and shallow, perfect for water sports and incredible coral reefs stand right off the coast.
- Perfect sunset: The beach, a sunbathers’ mecca, is famous for its sunset views and incredibly picturesque views.
- Best place to relax: Go and enjoy the day. Get some rest and soak up the sun. Capture picturesque sea views, catch a glimpse of the island’s highest peak, Morne Seychellois.
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Already excited to visit Baie Terné Marine National Park? You can go on a tranquil holiday in Seychelles and experience the best of its nature.
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