{"id":18749,"date":"2022-11-17T15:20:26","date_gmt":"2022-11-17T15:20:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/seychelles\/all-news\/morne-blanc-nature-trail-reopens"},"modified":"2022-11-17T15:53:10","modified_gmt":"2022-11-17T15:53:10","slug":"morne-blanc-nature-trail-reopens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/seychelles\/all-news\/morne-blanc-nature-trail-reopens","title":{"rendered":"Morne Blanc nature trail reopens"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Seychelles. <\/strong><\/span>The Morne Blanc nature trail is officially open to locals and visitors after nearly a year of renovation works.<\/b><\/p>\n

The trail of 905 metres, the highest peak in Seychelles, is of intense difficulty and has proven to be for experienced hikers, with a duration of about five to six hours in total.<\/p>\n

It offers access to an extensive array of endemism such as the carnivorous pitcher plant and the Seychelles scops owl.<\/p>\n

The trail, managed by the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA), was closed off to visitors to facilitate renovation works, allowing for increased security, safety and infrastructure available to trekkers.<\/p>\n

Its reopening has been possible through funding from local insurance company H Savy Insurance. The plaque of the ticketing office, located at SPGA\u2019s sub-station in Sans Soucis, which will also cater for the Trois Fre\u0300res nature trail, was unveiled in a short ceremony yesterday morning.<\/p>\n

When addressing the guests, SPGA chairperson Lucas D\u2019Offay said the reopening recognises and commemorates an important step in their commitment and mandate to develop eco-tourism services.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also acknowledge the authority\u2019s dedication to the conservation and protection of our islands\u2019 unique biodiversity,\u201d said Mr D\u2019Offay adding that everyone must be committed to ensuring the protected areas and gardens are managed for the benefit of all.<\/p>\n

\u201cTourism partners and stakeholders need to create awareness among our visitors about the flora and fauna of Seychelles. It is everyone\u2019s responsibility to ensure compliance with guidelines set out for added safety on the trail,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He said with the maintenance, the Morne Blanc nature trail has reached the expected standards of SPGA-managed trails as well as provide hikers with a safe and relaxing experience, while they enjoy nature.<\/p>\n

Mr D\u2019Offay added that because of its high level of endemism, the Morne Blanc nature trail is considered a sensitive area and safeguarding the area remains as SPGA\u2019s priority.<\/p>\n

SPGA will therefore control the number of visitors to the trail at a given time. International hikers will pay a R250 entrance fee, whereas access remains free to Seychellois residents and gainful occupation permit (GOP) holders in possession of their local identification card.<\/p>\n

SPGA is also putting a lot of emphasis on visitors\u2019 safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cVisitors\u2019 safety will remain a priority, hence the compulsory registration at the ticket office. Tourists must be accompanied by a licensed tour guide,\u201d said Mr D\u2019Offay.<\/p>\n

SPGA\u2019s national parks unit, which carried out the renovation, has enlarged the pathways in some areas and added ladders and ropes in difficult terrain, and signage with detailed information have been placed along the way to provide visitors with a good experience.<\/p>\n

In his speech, SPGA\u2019s chief executive Allen Cedras said the two trails will diversify visitors\u2019 experience while in Seychelles. He said the trails which were well frequented during the Covid-19 pandemic has given the organisation an impetus to renovate and reopen all of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday our Copolia trail is doing very well, Anse Major is functional and will be commercial once we install the right infrastructure and we will then move to Praslin to open its first commercially-viable trail on the island,\u201d said Mr Cedras.<\/p>\n

He thanked H Savy Insurance for being a loyal partner. The company had the first request in 2020 for the Trois Fre\u0300res nature trail.<\/p>\n

General manager Lambert Woodcock said when they received the second request, H Savy Insurance saw it fitting to make an additional contribution.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe that the new experiences for visitors will strengthen the country\u2019s tourism offering and generate additional revenue for the community,\u201d said Mr Woodcock.<\/p>\n

Renovation work on the Morne Blanc nature trail has cost around R400,000 while the Trois Fre\u0300res trail was R250,000. The entrance fee for the latter is R150.<\/p>\n

The accompanying photos show some highlights of the opening ceremony yesterday.<\/p>\n\r\n