Mont Buxton is named after St Thomas Fowell Buxton (1786–1845), an English brewer and social reformer. As a member of the House of Commons, he campaigned in 1833 for the abolition of slavery in all British colonies. The place name thus points to a specific historical figure and his political work. Those interested in history encounter not just a name here, but also a reference to the struggle to abolish slavery.
Between Victoria and Creve Coeur
Mont Buxton is a suburb of Victoria, located west of the capital. Union Vale borders it to the north and Belonie to the south. Inland, the terrain rises to the steep Creve Coeur ridges, which reach 386 metres in height. On the western side of Mahé, the ridges descend towards Beau Vallon. Its location relative to the capital, neighbouring places and distinctive topography provide different reference points for getting your bearings in Mont Buxton: the relationship to the capital on the one hand, and the inland ridges on the other. The ridges are more than just an elevation figure; their steep slopes and course down towards the western side of Mahé create a striking landscape.
Houses and Maritime History
In Mont Buxton, you can see traditional Kaz Kreol, or small Creole houses, as well as former plantation houses. The two terms refer to different types of houses and different chapters in local history. Together with the name Buxton, they place the area’s built heritage in a historical context, without letting any one story overshadow the others.
Mont Pavillon also connects the area with seafaring: it guided arriving ships. Today, it is also credited with watching schooners as they continue across the ocean. These two maritime associations belong to different periods: guiding arriving ships is part of its traditional significance, while the role of lookout is attributed to Mont Pavillon today. For travellers interested in the area’s history, its name, houses and maritime story offer different ways to explore Mont Buxton.
More perspectives on the Seychelles
Elsewhere in the Seychelles, other islands offer further themes of landscape and history. On Curieuse, a boardwalk on stilts runs through a swamp and provides access to the mangrove habitat even at high tide. The mangrove swamp borders Baie Laraie. Curieuse was also used as a quarantine site for people with leprosy for almost a hundred years. Landscape and island history sit side by side here: the boardwalk runs through the mangrove area, while the long period of quarantine provides a distinct historical reference point.
On Praslin, nature reserves with different features can be compared. Covering 19.5 hectares, Vallée de Mai is one of the smallest natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. It is also the only area in the Seychelles where all six species occur together. There are several short paths in Praslin National Park; Glacis Noire is the only official trail. The park is home to endemic, native and indigenous plants, as well as various insects and other animals, including the Black Parrot, which is unique to Praslin and the surrounding islets. The information about Vallée de Mai and the national park therefore describes different aspects of nature on the same island.
The islands’ histories also take different forms. Moyenne Island, in Ste. Anne Marine National Park, which comprises six islands, is home to the remains of early settlers’ houses, pirate graves and a small thatched chapel. Aldabra, meanwhile, was inscribed as a UNESCO Marine World Heritage Site in 1982. It is the largest island in the Seychelles; the atoll measures 35 by 15 kilometres, covers around 155 square kilometres of land and has a protected area of 2,559 square kilometres in total, including the lagoon and land and marine protected areas. Aldabra’s larger scale and the Vallée de Mai’s compact 19.5 hectares show how varied the natural and protected areas in the Seychelles are.
Discover more destinations: Bel Ombre, Au Cap, Outer Islands, Plaisance, Anse Royale, English River, Saint Louis, Glacis.
For the overview of the wider destination: Seychelles.
