Most people picture Seychelles as a postcard of powder-white sand and granite boulders. And sure, that’s there. But the archipelago’s real story starts long before the first resort was built — with pirates. During the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the uninhabited islands became a secret haven for outlaws escaping European naval patrols. Its 115 scattered landmasses, hidden coves, and dense jungle made it almost purpose-built for piracy.
Anse Forbans literally means “Pirates’ Cove” — one of several spots believed to hide the remnants of pirate operations.
This guide digs into the real pirate legacy of Seychelles — the figures who operated here, the places they used, and how their presence shaped the islands’ culture and early settlements. If you’re planning a trip and want to see beyond the beaches, this is where to start.
Seychelles’ pirate history is real, but it’s not a theme park. You won’t find re-enactments or pirate ships. What you will find is a landscape that still holds its secrets — and a few place names that hint at what happened here. The treasure of La Buse has never been found, and probably never will be. That’s part of the appeal.
Where the Pirates Operated: Mahé and the Hidden Coves
The geography of Seychelles made it a natural pirate base. The question is where to look for traces of that history today.
Most of the action centred on Mahé, the largest island. Its coastline is a maze of secluded bays and granite outcrops that offered perfect cover. Pirates would pull in for repairs, fresh water, and to plan their next strike on merchant ships travelling between India, East Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula.
History buffs
Treasure hunters (the dreamers)
Travellers who want a break from the beach
Two spots stand out. Anse Forbans on the south coast — its name gives it away — is a quiet beach where pirates are said to have hidden their loot. Bel Ombre, on the northwest coast, is the site most closely tied to Olivier Levasseur’s legendary treasure. Neither location has a visitor centre or interpretive signs. You just stand on the sand and imagine what happened here.
One honest limitation: there’s not much to see. No excavated ruins, no marked trails. The value is in the storytelling — and in knowing you’re walking the same shore where La Buse himself may have stood.
Anse Forbans is exposed to the south-east trade winds, so the water can be rough for swimming. Go for the history, not a dip. Bel Ombre is calmer and closer to Victoria if you’re basing yourself in the capital.
Olivier Levasseur — La Buse, the Buzzard
Of all the pirates who operated in Seychelles, Olivier Levasseur is the one who stuck. A French pirate active in the Indian Ocean during the 1720s, he earned his nickname for the speed of his attacks. Before his execution in 1730, legend says he threw a coded map into the crowd, claiming it led to his buried fortune. That treasure — supposedly hidden somewhere on Mahé — has never been found.
Historians note that Levasseur’s treasure is possibly at Bel Ombre, but centuries of searching have turned up nothing. That hasn’t stopped modern fortune hunters from trying, and the mystery remains one of the Indian Ocean’s great unsolved stories.
Other Pirates in the Waters
Levasseur wasn’t alone. Thomas Tew, a privateer from New England, frequently passed through these waters during campaigns against Mughal and Ottoman ships. Henry Every and William Kidd are also associated with piracy near Seychelles, though their direct involvement with the islands is debated. What’s clear is that the archipelago sat right on the Indian Ocean trade routes — and any pirate working that corridor would have known these islands well.
Planning Your Pirate History Trip
A few practical things to know before you set out to trace the pirate trail.
The best time to explore Mahé’s pirate sites is during the south-east monsoon (May to October), when the weather is drier and the trails are less muddy. The north-west monsoon (November to April) brings more rain and humidity, which can make the rough roads to places like Anse Forbans trickier to navigate.
| Site | Location | Best time to visit | Access note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anse Forbans | South Mahé | Dry season (May–Oct) | Rough road, limited parking |
| Bel Ombre | Northwest Mahé | Year-round | Easy road access, near hotels |
| Victoria museums | Victoria, Mahé | Year-round | Indoor, air-conditioned |
Getting around Mahé is straightforward if you rent a car. The island’s main road circles the coast, and both Anse Forbans and Bel Ombre are signposted. Taxis are available but expensive for a full-day outing. If you’re short on time, a half-day trip from Victoria can cover both sites plus a museum stop.
The road to Anse Forbans is unpaved and can be muddy after rain. A standard rental car will manage it, but go slow. The beach itself has no shade, so bring water and sun protection.
On the Ground: What the Pirate Legacy Actually Looks Like
The pirate history of Seychelles isn’t displayed in glass cases. It’s in the place names, the stories, and the way locals talk about the past.
Museums and Artifacts
For tangible history, head to the museums in Victoria. The Seychelles National Museum and the Natural History Museum both hold collections that touch on the pirate era — fragments of coins, naval fittings, and historical records that piece together the maritime story. It’s not a dedicated pirate exhibition, but the artifacts are real and the context is valuable.
Pirate Stories in Seychellois Culture
Pirate legends didn’t disappear when the last ship sailed. They became part of Seychellois identity. Local folklore, art, and music still carry echoes of those tales. Around bonfires, elders recount stories of ghost ships and hidden gold — narratives that blur the line between history and myth. Modern artists reinterpret the pirate world through painting and sculpture, and annual events sometimes celebrate this adventurous side of Seychelles history.
One local phrase you might hear: “Zistwar bann pirat” — stories of the pirates. It’s a reminder that this isn’t just tourist lore. It’s living heritage.
- Visit Anse Forbans and Bel Ombre for the atmosphere, not artifacts — there’s nothing to see but the landscape itself.
- The Seychelles National Museum in Victoria holds the best collection of pirate-era objects on the islands.
- Pirate stories are still part of local culture — listen for them in Creole storytelling and contemporary art.
Seychelles Pirate History — Your Questions Answered
Was Olivier Levasseur’s treasure ever found?
No. Despite centuries of searching, the treasure of La Buse has never been recovered. The most likely location is Bel Ombre on Mahé, but no verified discovery has ever been made. That hasn’t stopped people from trying — and the mystery is part of what keeps the story alive.
If you’re planning a treasure-hunting trip, manage your expectations. The search is more about the experience than the outcome. Bring a waterproof map case if you’re serious about exploring the coastline.
Can you visit pirate hideouts in Seychelles?
You can visit the coves and beaches where pirates once operated — Anse Forbans and Bel Ombre are the most accessible. But don’t expect caves or structures. The hideouts were the natural geography itself: hidden bays, dense jungle, and secluded anchorages. The experience is about standing in the same place and imagining the scene.
The tradeoff is that these sites have no visitor infrastructure. No signs, no guides, no facilities. You’re on your own with the landscape and your imagination.
Are there any pirate artifacts on display in Seychelles?
Yes, but not in a dedicated pirate museum. The Seychelles National Museum in Victoria displays coins, naval fittings, and historical documents from the pirate era. The collection is small but genuine. It’s worth pairing a museum visit with a trip to the coves for context.
For a deeper dive into Seychellois culture, check out how local artists reinterpret pirate legends through contemporary work.
Did pirates actually live in Seychelles?
They didn’t settle permanently — the islands were uninhabited during the pirate era. But pirates used Seychelles as a base for repairs, resupply, and hiding between raids. Their camps later became early settlements, complete with freshwater sources and crude shelters that explorers and traders later adopted.
That’s a more honest answer than the romantic version. The pirate presence was practical, not domestic.
The pirate legacy of Seychelles isn’t a polished attraction. It’s a layer of history you have to look for — in place names, in museum cases, in the stories told by elders around a fire. That’s what makes it worth the effort. The islands are still balancing their past with their present, and the pirates are part of that balance.
Sources and further reading
Historical Pirates of Seychelles. Story Seychelles.
What Pirates Were There in the Seychelles?. Maarco Francis.
History of Seychelles. Exodus Africa.