What to expect
The Seychelles Natural History Museum has exhibitions on the flora, fauna and geological history of the islands. It also aims to inform visitors about environmental issues and to encourage a positive attitude towards conservation. It should not be confused with the National Museum of History of the Seychelles.
The exhibition presented seven well-known aspects of the natural heritage of the Seychelles through displays and dioramas. The museum's documentation centre holds a wealth of research material.
History of the building and the collection
The museum was housed for 21 years in a Carnegie building that is more than 100 years old. At the time of closure it showed over 6,000 exhibits and specimens from botany, zoology, geology and anthropology.
The building is being renovated: the walls are being re-plastered, and there will be a new roof as well as new doors and windows. The original façade is to be restored. According to the Seychelles News Agency in 2024, the museum team and the Ministry of Finance will share the building afterwards. The collection is currently in storage, and the team continues to run education and outreach programmes.
Getting there
The museum is on Independence Avenue in Victoria, very close to the Clocktower and almost next door to the post office. These directions apply to the time after reopening.
By car
You can park at the Stadium Car Park. To get there, drive from the Clocktower into Francis Rachel Street (which becomes one-way from the car park onwards). From the car park, walk back to the Clocktower and turn right into Independence Avenue. The museum is on the opposite side of the street.
By bus
From the bus station, turn right and head west into Palm Street. At the junction turn left into Albert Street, and at the Clocktower turn left into Independence Avenue. The museum is on the left, just after the post office.
Opening hours, admission and contact
While the museum is closed, there are no opening hours and no admission. The following details date from before the closure. No hours or fees have been published for the reopening.
| Weekday | Previous opening hours (no longer current) |
|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 08:30 to 16:30 |
| Friday | 08:30 to 12:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 to 13:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Visitor group | Previous prices (as of November 2026: unconfirmed) |
|---|---|
| Adults | SCR 15.00 |
| Guided visit | SCR 60.00 |
| Children under 12 | Free |
| Persons with disabilities | Free |
| Students with ID | SCR 2.00 |
Only cash was usually accepted. Whether that will remain the case after reopening is unclear. A guided tour for SCR 60 is also mentioned for the National Museum of History, so check that price on site. According to the official website, the National Museums' herbarium is open free of charge on weekdays from 09.30 to 12.00 and from 13.00 to 16.00, mainly for researchers. For questions about the museum, contact the National Museums by email at nathismus@gov.sc or by phone on +248 4 321 333.
Duration, tips and surroundings
Before the closure, visitors reported spending 30 to 60 minutes here. The museum is small, and the exhibition favours information over spectacle. It is best to include it as part of a walk around Victoria rather than make a separate trip of it. If you are interested in natural history, there are alternatives in the area until it reopens. The page on Mahé also gives an overview of the island's nature as a whole.
