Discover Cerf Island in Seychelles

Hello again! This time I’d like to introduce you to Cerf Island in the Seychelles, which is very close to Mahé (just 4km away, to be precise). This private island is part of the Sainte-Anne Marine National Park! If you’re planning a trip to the Seychelles, you’ve probably heard of it. As the name suggests, the park is a protected area with rich biodiversity and coral reefs. In other words, it’s a diving and snorkelling paradise! To tell you a little more about Cerf Island, its surface area is 2 km long and 1 km wide (yes, it’s not very big!). On this little piece of paradise, you will discover beautiful white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and tropical vegetation. As well as an idyllic setting, you can enjoy an exclusive stay on this island (away from the tourists). You’re beginning to know me – it’s the kind of little-visited island I like to visit!

As you can see, the aim of this article is to introduce you to this corner of paradise in the Seychelles. Of course, I’ve based my opinions on the experiences of my friends and Aurélie, who simply loved their stay in the Seychelles archipelago.

There are 115 islands in Seychelles! So why choose Cerf Island? As mentioned above, this island is part of the Sainte-Anne Marine National Park, a nature reserve with exceptional biodiversity. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover marine life (clown fish, butterfly fish, dolphins, turtles, black tip sharks) by diving or snorkelling. If you ask me, you’ll leave this island with your mind full of images! What’s more, Cerf Island is just a 7-minute boat ride from Mahé. It would be a shame to miss it.

As far as activities are concerned, you can go hiking, cycling or just relax on the dream beaches, all in an intimate and tranquil setting. As you can see, even though it’s a small island, there are plenty of activities to choose from. Whether you’re with family or friends, there’s something for everyone!

A word of advice: book a day and night to visit this beautiful island and enjoy a luxurious evening! In my opinion, this is the ideal length of stay if you want to take some time out to enjoy this little piece of paradise.

These are simply the two must-do activities on Cerf Island! Even for beginners, now is the time to take the plunge. Don’t worry, Cerf Island’s turquoise lagoon is only 4 metres deep. Just don your mask, snorkel and flippers and you can stay on the surface and discover the colourful fish, starfish, coral and much more. You won’t notice the time passing. After a dive or snorkelling session, you’ll always come away with some wonderful discoveries. A feast for the eyes!

For the more sporty, and to make the most of the crystal clear waters of Cerf Island, there are a number of water sports available:

• Kayaking: the ideal way to explore the crystal clear waters. A little tip: to make sure you don’t miss anything and to discover the best spots and mangroves, I recommend a kayak trip with a local guide. In my opinion, it’s always a plus!
• Paddling: a water sport that’s still relaxing! It’s a great opportunity to take your time and watch the turtles and tropical fish right under your feet. We used to do it from time to time in Polynesia, on the lagoon in Bora Bora, and it was great. Since we’ve been in Guadeloupe, we’ve discovered the mangroves – a different but equally magical experience!
• Kitesurfing: Admittedly, the waters off Cerf Island are pretty calm. But there are spots where the wind is strong enough for kitesurfing!

If you’re staying on Cerf Island, I highly recommend taking a boat trip to discover the other islands in the Sainte-Anne Marine National Park:

• Sainte-Anne Island: the largest island in the Marine National Park, famous for its beautiful sandy beaches and rich waters! What’s more, the lagoon on this island is deeper (if you go a little further out, it’s between 10 and 15 metres deep to discover the seabed). A real treat for divers!
• Moyenne Island: This uninhabited island is home to a large number of free-roaming giant tortoises. It’s a great opportunity to see them on the beach!
• Ronde Island: a beautiful island with white sandy beaches as far as the eye can see and plenty of birdlife.
• Longue Island: As well as a heavenly setting, this small slice of land offers a wealth of historical remnants of Seychelles’ colonial past. A must for history buffs!
• Cachée Island: The smallest island in the Seychelles’ Sainte-Anne Marine National Park. Located 50 metres from Cerf Island, you can easily go snorkelling to explore the coral reefs. At low tide you can even walk out onto the sandbanks!

In my opinion, a boat trip to the islands of the Sainte-Anne Marine National Park is the perfect way to discover their biodiversity. Each island has something unique to offer. On the programme: lounging, swimming, diving, history, giant tortoise encounters and much more! For your information, there is no accommodation on Moyenne Island, Ronde Island, Longue Island and Cachée Island. One thing’s for sure, you won’t forget this trip!

Let’s face it, Cerf Island is still a small island, so you have 3 heavenly beaches to choose from:

• Anse Takamaka: This is the main beach on the island! The water is calm, turquoise and shallow, perfect for swimming and snorkelling. What’s more, this beach is not very crowded. You’ll have the chance to be (almost) alone in a postcard-perfect setting (ahah),
• Anse La Fontaine: a small white sandy beach on Cerf Island with palm trees, coconut palms and rocks. You’ll be able to relax in complete tranquillity,
• Cachée island: as mentioned above, this is a small island off Cerf Island with a beautiful beach and a wealth of underwater life to discover!

As you can see, with these 3 beaches, you’ll be in the heart of secluded landscapes, far from the crowded beaches. In my opinion, this is a real opportunity!

On Cerf Island, the rules for preserving the environment are very strict: local species and their habitats are protected, fishing is limited, etc. All these efforts will allow you to observe the local wildlife. All these efforts will allow you to observe a beautiful ecosystem:

• Exotic birds like parrots, bubul and terns,
• Lizards and geckos: there are many of them, hidden in the heart of the tropical vegetation,
• Colourful tropical fish, turtles, corals and hermit crabs.

Depending on the activities you choose to do on the island, you’ll come across many different local species. In other words, a holiday on Cerf Island promises to put you right at the heart of nature and biodiversity!

For hikers, there are several trails in the rainforest at the heart of the island. All the trails are accessible and easy to follow. A word of warning: as this is a private island, you may have to cross private property. Rest assured, the locals are very welcoming. You can even stop and chat to them. What’s more, they’ll be able to advise you on the best routes to take! A word of advice: if it’s very hot, the north of the island is more wooded, so you’ll be quieter there. And if you prefer, you can take the coastal path and admire the Longue Island and the Moyenne Island! Pretty, isn’t it?

As mentioned above, it’s very easy to get to Cerf Island by boat from Mahé. It only takes between 5 and 7 minutes by boat (even if you’re seasick, it’s doable ahah). What’s more, most hotels offer this water taxi service. If you’re on La Digue or Praslin, don’t worry. You can also take a boat to Cerf Island (it’s just a bit longer)!

Hier stelle ich dir einige Unterkünfte auf Cerf Island vor, die nur positive Rückmeldungen erhalten haben (Mittel‑ und Oberklasse):

• Cerf Island Resort : schlichtweg das bekannteste Hotel der Insel – und das aus gutem Grund! Ein schönes 4‑Sterne‑Haus in einzigartiger Lage mit Blick auf den Indischen Ozean. Was die Ausstattung betrifft, stehen Exklusivität und Luxus an erster Stelle! Kurz gesagt: der perfekte Aufenthalt zwischen tropischer Natur und Luxus,
• L’Habitation Cerf Island : ein charmantes 3‑Sterne‑Hotel, auf der Insel sehr renommiert! Direkt an einem Privatstrand gelegen, wohnst du in großzügigen Zimmern mit Panoramablick auf das Meer. Und das ist noch nicht alles! Ein Außenpool und ein gutes Restaurant mit lokalen Gerichten warten ebenfalls auf dich,
• South Point Villas Cerf Island : Für einen Aufenthalt mit Familie oder Freunden kannst du geräumige Villen wählen, die direkt zum Ozean hin liegen! Zudem befindest du dich in einer paradiesischen Umgebung mit atemberaubenden Landschaften. Auch beim Service wirst du nicht enttäuscht: privater Pool, Kanu/Kajak und eigene Veranda stehen auf dem Programm. Alles da für einen gelungenen Urlaub!
• Fairy‑Tern Chalets Cerf Island : Fairy‑Tern bietet gut ausgestattete Apartments mit Sitzecke und einer Terrasse mit Blick auf einen tropischen Garten. Außerdem bist du direkt am Meer! Was will man mehr?

Ich hoffe, dass du unter diesen vier Unterkünften, die alle gute Leistungen bieten, fündig wirst. Um dir bei der Planung deiner Reise auf die Seychellen zu helfen, empfehle ich dir unseren Artikel über Unterkünfte auf Mahé.

As you can imagine, there are very few restaurants on this small private island. The most famous are those of the two hotels: Cerf Island Resort and L’Habitation Cerf Island.

• Restaurant 1756: a blend of Creole and French cuisine. Ideal for discovering local flavours while feeling a little at home! And don’t forget the panoramic view of the Indian Ocean. A word of advice: book a table in advance to enjoy a pleasant moment at the end of the day and admire the sunset!
• Zepis Restaurant: To make your taste buds travel, this restaurant offers dishes with local and international flavours. Bonus: great atmosphere and themed evenings!
• The main restaurant on L’Habitation Cerf Island: I’ve heard a lot about this restaurant. The Creole food is very good and all with sea views! You should definitely try it!

If you’re curious, you can find all the information you need about the Seychelles (gastronomy, languages spoken, etc.) here.

Given the small size of Cerf Island, you won’t need to hire a car. It is easy to get around the island:

• On foot: This is a good option for those who want to discover the island at their own pace (no need to rush, you’re on holiday)!
• By bike: A faster way to explore all the little corners of the island! You can easily hire bikes from your hotel,
• Golf Cart: A handy way to get around without too much effort ahah! Just so you know, hotels on the island often offer this service.

That’s it, I’ve come to the end of my article on discovering Cerf Island in the Seychelles. I hope it has inspired you to take a trip to this little corner of paradise, far away from the hustle and bustle of tourism.

If you’re in the middle of planning your trip to the Seychelles, I invite you to read the articles on things to do on Praslin and La Digue. They have been written by Aurélie, who was lucky enough to spend her honeymoon there.

If you’ve already been to this dream destination, don’t hesitate to share your experiences in the comments section. It’s always interesting to hear from you!

See you soon for new discoveries,