Location and character
This beach lies in the northwest of Mahé, close to the former NYS Youth Village at Cap Ternay. It sits in a small sheltered lagoon, so the water is fairly calm and shallow. At the northern end you can see mangrove trees. The beach is usually empty, and there is hardly any shade. It is good for swimming and snorkelling. Between June and September seagrass can wash up on the shore.
Tucked between the broad beaches of Port Launay and Baie Ternay, this tiny bay is well worth a short detour. The little beach is framed by large granite boulders and is often completely deserted, and the sea here is suitable for both swimming and snorkelling.
The NYS Youth Village, a government training programme for young people, closed in 1998. Today the bay is part of the Baie Ternay Marine National Park. Because Anse Souillac is the easiest of the local beaches to reach, clean-up campaigns report that more rubbish is washed up or left behind here than elsewhere.
Getting there
By car
The route leads from Victoria over the mountains to the coast. Driving time: a little over 40 minutes.
- In Victoria, drive from the clock tower to the traffic lights and turn left into Revolution Avenue.
- Drive past the police headquarters (on your left) and take the first road on the left after it, Bel Air Road.
- It continues along the quite winding Sans Souci Road as far as Port Glaud. On the way you can make a short stop at the Mission Lodge viewpoint and at the tea factory.
- In Port Glaud you reach the coast road and turn right. Follow it past Eden’s Holiday Resort and the church (on your right) and through the mangroves, until you reach the end of the two-lane road.
- Shortly after Port Launay (Constance Ephelia, formerly Ephelia Resort) the road becomes much narrower, with some potholes and few places to pull over. Continue uphill on the narrower road for about 250 metres to the entrance of the former NYS Youth Village.
- The first small bay you then come to is Anse Souillac. You can park right at the roadside here. Next to the gate you will see a sign pointing left to "Back Beach".
Parking is only possible at the roadside. Leave your car so that oncoming traffic and passing places stay clear.
By bus
Take one of the buses terminating at "Port Launay" (the larger bus station). From there, follow the road on foot for about 25 minutes. Timetable overviews list routes 9 (via Les Canelles) and 13 (via La Misère), among others, as connections from Victoria to Port Launay. Services away from the main routes are infrequent, so plan your return journey in advance.
| Route | Duration from Victoria | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Car | a little over 40 minutes | winding, later narrow road, parking along the roadside |
| Bus to Port Launay | depending on route and timetable | then about 25 minutes on foot along the narrow road |
Swimming and snorkelling
In the sheltered lagoon the water is calm and shallow, which makes the beach pleasant even for less confident swimmers. For snorkelling, the granite rocks at the edge of the bay are worth a look. Do not swim far out of the lagoon, as beyond it you lose the protection of the bay.
At the neighbouring beach of Baie Ternay, visitors report seeing rays in the shallows. There, and here too, wear water shoes and shuffle your feet as you walk into the water. Corals and rocks are sharp-edged, and walking barefoot in the water is not advisable.
The seagrass season from June to September mainly affects the strand line. When there is a lot of seagrass, the water in front of it is often less clear. The usual marine park rules apply: do not take corals or shells, do not feed or touch animals, and do not leave rubbish behind.
Facilities
There are no known toilets, sunloungers, parasols or kiosks on the beach itself. According to visitor reports, there is no beach café at nearby Cap Ternay either. Bring water, food and sun protection. A parasol makes sense, as there is little shade. As a mangrove beach with a few rocks, the bay also offers no large area for lying out, so a light beach towel is enough.
If you want to eat out, you will find restaurants and accommodation around Port Glaud and Port Launay, which you can look up at /restaurants/?island=mahe and /holidays/?island=mahe.
Tips and what is nearby
- The bay combines well with the neighbouring beaches: Port Launay with its broad beach and Baie Ternay with its views over the sea. The beach area of Anse Port Glaud is on the way back.
- Near Port Launay, take a look at the Port Launay Coastal Wetlands, one of the few larger mangrove areas on Mahé.
- On the way there, Mission Lodge, the tea factory and the Morne Seychellois National Park are good stops.
- The road is narrow and slippery after rain. Drive slowly, and allow enough time to cross back over the mountains in daylight.
- Boats and tours into the marine park start from other places, and many offers include the park fees in the price. Ask about this when booking.
- If you would like to explore the coast road further, you will find more beaches in the list for the island of Mahé.
