A restored wetland offering a unique nature experience
The Sanctuary at Roche Caiman is a restored wetland habitat created on reclaimed land.
Located in the heart of the Greater Victoria area between the Stad Linite Sports complex and the highway from Victoria to Southeast Mahe, the Sanctuary is a cherished attraction for students, tourists, and nature enthusiasts. It is one of the few places in Victoria where people can enjoy the restorative qualities of nature.
Situated on reclaimed land, it underwent a remarkable transformation in the early 2000s through an ambitious rehabilitation project led by Nature Seychelles and supported by international donors.
Several projects and activities have been accomplished with international and local donors’ support as well as local businnesses, the community, schools and individuals, including the removal of non-native trees and planting of native ones, tackling the overgrowth of typha reeds that were choking the wetland, re-opening and deepening water areas, creating a scrape for wading birds and a pond dipping area for children, and the diversification of mangrove stands through planting.
The Mangroves for mankind project supported the enhancement of mangroves in the wetland. Mangroves are essential coastal habitats for building natural resistance to climate change. The wetland is now used as a demonstration site to explains how mangrove works and how restoring this essential habitat can be done.
We have developed the area as a park for people and in 2012 the Sanctuary became the first park in Africa to join the Healthy Parks Healthy People network. This is an international network, which works to recognise the contribution of nature to our wellbeing. In 2011 the Sanctuary was awarded the World Leisure International Innovation Prize.
In recent years, the Green health programme has helped people reconnect with nature and included a weekly programme of yoga led by a trained yoga professional and a green exercise area, with equipment for self-led fitness and stamina building. It was also central to our Greening Livelihoods project whose aim was using nature to benefit vulnerable groups in Seychelles.
