10 Unique Seychelles Species: Wildlife You Must See

Seychelles may be famed for powdery beaches and gin-clear seas, but this little island nation hides a trove of one-of-a-kind creatures and plants you won’t find anywhere else. In-the-know locals will tell you the real magic happens when you wander off the sunbed and into the wild. From colossal Coco de Mer to birds back from the brink, here are ten endemic Seychelles species that’ll make you grab your binoculars (and give you serious bragging rights).

Now, slap on some mosquito repellent, channel your inner Attenborough, and get ready to meet the Seychellois residents who put the “wild” in “wildlife.” Each entry comes with where to spot them, fun anecdotes, and how to enjoy the encounter because this is not your average beach holiday.

1.Seychelles Black Parrot :The “Black” Parrot That’s Actually Brown

This drab-chic bird is Seychelles’ national icon, found only here. It isn’t truly black but smoky brown, blending into Praslin’s palm forests. Only a few hundred remain, mostly flitting around Praslin’s Vallée de Mai. Despite its low-key looks, this parrot can belt out a surprisingly shrill whistle from the canopy a treat if you’re lucky enough to hear it.

Get a glimpse into the incredible Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve on Praslin, Seychelles. Often described as a "garden of Eden" and a UNESCO World Heritage site, this primeval forest is home to unique flora, including the famous coco de mer palm. The stunning image below, shared by @tour.parrot,

Where to see them: 

Vallée de Mai on Praslin is prime habitat. Go at dawn with a guide, keep quiet, and listen for high-pitched squeals raining down from the palms. With luck you’ll spot one feasting on a wild papaya. It’s a treasure hunt vibe these parrots are elusive divas. But patience pays: snap a pic of a banded bird and you might get to name it in a conservation program.

2: La Digue’s Legendary “Widow”

Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher  La Digue’s Legendary “Widow”The male paradise flycatcher is goth-glam with inky-black plumage and a tail longer than its body. No wonder locals call it “veuve” (widow). This bird nearly vanished down to a few dozen on La Digue but now a few hundred exist (mostly on La Digue, plus some on Denis and Curieuse). Males flaunt streaming tail feathers, females are chestnut-brown, and pairs perform acrobatic mid-air dances. It’s the fanciest aerial show in the archipelago, if you’re lucky enough to catch it.

Where to see them: 

La Digue’s Veuve Reserve is the place. Go at sunrise when these “widow” birds are most vocal you might hear a raspy call or see a flash of that long tail overhead. They swoop low to snatch insects, sometimes whizzing right past your nose. The experience feels like stepping into a 19th-century nature journal, especially if a ranger shares how this “bird of love” escaped extinction.

3.Seychelles Magpie Robin: Comeback Kid of Cousin Island

This dapper black-and-white songbird nearly blinked out by 1965 only 16 were left on one island. Thanks to rescue efforts, 500+ now sing across five islands  a true conservation success story. The magpie robin is bold and curious, often following visitors down trails hoping we’ll stir up insects. They warble lively, personalized songs as if greeting you. Basically, they’re the unofficial welcoming committee of Seychelles’ forests cheeky, charming, and back from the brink.

Where to see them: 

Hop a 15-minute boat from Praslin to Cousin Island  a predator-free bird haven teeming with magpie robins. On guided walks, they often hop right up to your feet to show off their white wing patches. (One might even tug your shoelaces.) They live on other isles too, but Cousin is the easiest visit. It feels like avian utopia: birds everywhere with zero fear. Don’t be shocked if a robin practically eats from your hand – not bad for a species once nearly gone

4.Aldabra Giant Tortoise: Ancient Island Time Traveler

Ever met a 150-year-old, 250 kg local? On Seychelles’ remote Aldabra Atoll, herds of giant tortoises roam like it’s the Jurassic era. These are the world’s largest tortoises, unique to Aldabra  about 100,000 of them live there. Slow, steady, and perpetually munching, they’ve watched centuries come and go. Each has personality: some crane their necks for a scratch, others gaze at you with world-weary eyes. They’re literally living time machines with shells.

Where to see them: 

No need to voyage to far-off Aldabra. Take a short boat from Praslin to Curieuse Island, where hundreds of Aldabra giants wander freely. Picture a beach picnic where giant tortoises lumber over to check you out that’s Curieuse! You can also meet some on Moyenne Island near Mahé or at Victoria’s Botanical Gardens, but seeing them roaming wild on Curieuse is unbeatable. It’s surreal and zen watching these gentle giants at their unhurried pace (and please resist the urge to hitch a ride!).

5.Seychelles Flying Fox (Fruit Bat): Sunset Sky Surfer

At dusk, look up: those “birds” against the sunset are actually fruit bats heading out to feed. The Seychelles flying fox the islands’ only native mammal has a foxy face and a 1.2 m wingspan. By day they hang in trees like upside-down umbrellas; by night they glide over beaches seeking mangoes and guavas. Locals have a love-hate for these critters: they’re key pollinators but also pesky fruit thieves. (Some still wind up as bat curry, but most people now stick to shooting them with cameras.)

Where to see them: 

Almost anywhere at dusk. Park yourself on a beach (say Beau Vallon on Mahé or Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue) at sunset and watch silhouettes of bats gliding like kites. By day, look up into big trees – you’ll spot them snoozing in clusters. A bat encounter here is oddly serene: warm twilight, silent wings drifting by. And fear not these “flying foxes” want fruit, not blood.

6.Seychelles Kestrel: Pint-Sized Predator with Swagger

Known as katiti in Creole, the Seychelles kestrel is brimming with attitude. It often skips nest-building and moves into tree holes or building ledges instead. Look for it perched on telegraph poles (or listen for its sharp kee-kee-kee call) as it scans for geckos and skinks to snatch. Unlike other kestrels, it doesn’t hover – it prefers a swift pounce. Small bird, big boss energy.

Where to see them: 

Mahé is kestrel central. Scan the skies around granite cliffs and coconut groves especially in Morne Seychellois National Park – for a tiny falcon silhouette. They also hunt above villages (one pair even nested in the airport rafters!). For better luck, have a guide whistle a katiti call during a hike; these curious raptors often swoop in to investigate. It’s thrilling when one glides close a pint-sized predator making a big impression.

7.Coco de Mer: The World’s Sauciest Coconut

Coco de Mer  The World’s Sauciest CoconutThis is the famous double coconut with the world’s largest seed – a cheeky butt-shaped nut up to 30 kg. Found only on Praslin and Curieuse, the Coco de Mer palm has inspired plenty of legends. (Victorians even whispered that the palms “mated” on stormy nights!) Its enormous fan fronds form a cathedral-like canopy over primordial forest, making you feel like you’ve wandered into the Garden of Eden. No wonder some believed Seychelles was Eden blame it on this nut’s seductive charm.

Where to see it: 

The ultimate spot is Vallée de Mai on Praslin, a UNESCO-listed reserve where thousands of Coco de Mer palms loom overhead (like a prehistoric movie set). Walk under their giant fan leaves and marvel at the massive nuts on the ground. It’s almost spiritual sunlight filtering through ancient fronds, hushed footsteps on thick leaf litter. Unforgettable. (And don’t even think about smuggling a coco de mer nut home it’s illegal. Stick to photos!)

8.Jellyfish Tree: The Unicorn of Mahé

This oddball tree was long thought extinct until a handful were rediscovered on Mahé in the 1970s. Even today, fewer than 100 survive, clinging to a few high ridges. It’s named for seed pods that look like tiny jellyfish. Locals call it bwa mediz. Don’t expect a giant it’s a scraggly little tree with gnarled bark and modest white blooms. But what it lacks in looks it makes up in mystique. Spotting one is like finding a secret level in nature serious bragging rights for any plant nerd.

Where to see it:

Only on a few steep slopes of Mahé (Morne Seychellois National Park). Realistically, you’ll need a guide who knows the spot. There’s no marked trail to this tree; it’s a treasure you must hunt. The hike is half the fun: scrambling through jungle and over boulders until your guide finally whispers “here it is.” The jellyfish tree itself looks unremarkable, but that moment is pure gold. (If you can’t brave the trek, check the Victoria Botanical Garden they sometimes nurture a seedling or two.)

9.Seychelles Pitcher Plant: Carnivorous Cutie

Bet you didn’t expect a carnivorous plant in paradise. Nepenthes pervillei, Seychelles’ endemic pitcher plant, hides on mountaintops of Mahé and Silhouette. It grows on exposed granite ledges under blazing sun surviving by snacking on insects. Its speckled green-red pitchers collect rainwater and digestive juices to trap ants and flies. Hikers often mistake the little cup-shaped plants for odd flowers until they peek inside and see the remains of yesterday’s bugs. A bit gruesome, a lot cool a pint-sized Little Shop of Horrors amid the palms.

Where to see it: 

Hike the Copolia Trail on Mahé. Near the summit, clusters of pitcher plants bask in full sun with their tiny cup mouths agape. Guides will point out these oddities to you. It’s a crazy sight: epic ocean views, granite outcrops, and little green carnivores at your feet. You might even catch one “in action” digesting a bug strangely transfixing (and slightly gross). Just don’t poke your finger in the fluid it’s not exactly coconut water.

10.Wright’s Gardenia: Aride’s Fragrant Secret

Wright’s Gardenia  Aride’s Fragrant SecretAride Island is the only place on Earth where the critically rare Wright’s gardenia grows. This small tree’s white, purple-flecked flowers are so fragrant their scent carries half a mile out to sea. Sail toward Aride in bloom season and you might smell it before you see it. Once upon a time gardenias grew on larger isles until logging wiped them out. Now about 2,900 trees flourish on tiny Aride  a miraculous comeback for one of the world’s rarest (and most aromatic) trees.

Where to see it: 

Aride Island is reachable by guided day trip from Praslin (April–October). It’s worth the voyage. Rangers lead you up gentle slopes to the gardenia groves, and you’ll likely smell that “island perfume” before you see the flowers. If you visit after rains, the trees might be in full bloom the blossoms practically hurl their fragrance at you. Standing on Aride with seabirds swirling and that intoxicating aroma in the air, you’ll understand why this tree is pure island magic. Rare, resilient, and absolutely unforgettable.

There you have it ten wild reasons to peel yourself off that sun lounger and explore Seychelles beyond the sand. From meeting century-old tortoises to sniffing elusive blossoms, you’ve earned some epic travel tales to tell. A few tips from your clued-in local friend: go with certified guides for the best spotting chances, respect the wildlife (no petting, picking, or poking even if that Coco de Mer begs for a cheeky squeeze), and pack patience along with your sunscreen.

Seychelles may be a tiny dot on the map, but it’s bursting with life found nowhere else. Get out there and make eye contact with a fruit bat, share a moment with a magpie robin, or simply stand in awe under ancient palms. Chances are, you’ll leave the islands not just with a tan, but with a newfound appreciation for the quirky, beautiful creatures that call this paradise home. And trust us that beats any souvenir T-shirt. Happy exploring!