What to expect
With their ravishing elegance, glossy colours, bold geometric lines and symmetrical perfection, tropical blooms are the very definition of floral brilliance.
"Tropicals" are a buzzword around the world at the moment. The group includes heliconia, ginger, anthurium and others such as musa bananas, costus, calatheas and spectacular jungle foliage like caladiums and ti leaves. Originally from the rainforests of Central and South America, from South-East Asia and from the South Pacific islands, tropicals now set the scene for celebrations, for saying "I love you", "thank you" or "I'm sorry". Above all, though, they are simply there to lift the spirits in their natural state. Young or old, everyone will find their own kind of pleasure at Kot Man-Ya, in peace and quiet, in a local community setting.
In addition to more than 200 species of tropicals and orchids, Kot Man-Ya is also home to giant land tortoises, guinea pigs, rabbits, green geckos, skinks and frogs. Other attractions include birds such as the Seychelles sunbird, the zebra dove, the cardinal and other migratory species. There are fruit trees and medicinal plants such as papaya, breadfruit, passion fruit, starfruit, sweet potatoes, bilimbi and curry leaves. Lemongrass also grows in abundance.
The garden is compact, about one hectare in size, and feels more like a well-kept family garden than a park. Visitors report that the founder, a former Seychelles diplomat, often accompanies the tour himself and tells you about many of the plants and about the history of the family home. Allow a little extra time for this.
Background
Kot Man-Ya was created from scratch over 8 years and opened on 31 August 2008. It is part of a pilot project, the Anse Royale Eco-Tourism Pilot Initiative, which is run by The Ecotourism Society of Seychelles (TESS) and was prescribed in SETS 21, the Seychelles Ecotourism Strategy for the 21st century.
It is one of the first steps towards bringing tourism activities truly into the communities, and it offers a unique and different experience of Seychelles, both for discerning nature lovers and for local flower enthusiasts.
Getting there
The garden is on Les Canelles Road, about half a kilometre from the centre of Anse Royale, on the south-east coast of Mahé.
By car
From Victoria, take Bois de Rose Avenue south, join the Providence Highway, pass the airport and carry straight on to the East Coast Road. Follow this to the village of Anse Royale and turn right onto Les Canelles Road opposite the church. Once the road starts to climb after countless speed bumps, keep an eye out for the signpost. It is slightly hidden on the right-hand side of the road, directly opposite the supermarket "Seekar Les Canelles 2" (the supermarket "Seekar Les Canelles" comes shortly after, which means you have already driven past the garden). Turn onto the small road just before the "Kot Man Ya" sign and follow the signs to the small gravel car park. Driving time is about 30 minutes.
By bus
Route 6 (Baie Lazare via Les Canelles) and route 9 (Port Launay via Les Canelles) pass the garden. The bus stop is directly opposite the entrance and in front of the supermarket "Seekar Les Canelles 2".
On foot
If you are staying in Anse Royale, you can walk to the garden. The route leads up Les Canelles Road from the church and, because of the gradient and the speed bumps, is best done in the morning. You can find out more about the village and its beach at Anse Royale.
Opening hours and admission
| Information (as of November 2026) | |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | Monday to Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Adults | SCR 150 |
| Children | SCR 75 |
To avoid overcrowding and possible damage to the valuable plants, groups of visitors are asked to make a reservation beforehand.
Tips and nearby
Opening hours are not given consistently on visitor portals. If you were thinking of coming late in the afternoon, it is better to come earlier in the day. Showers are possible on Mahé all year round, especially between December and February. According to visitors, the tour can be paused briefly in the rain and then continued.
Nearby are the beach at Anse Royale and the Le Jardin du Roi Spicegarden. Further south, Anse Soleil and Anse Takamaka are well worth a visit. The garden combines nicely with a beach day on the south coast.
