Seychelles Nature Trail Draws Runners from 14 Countries to Mahé
The third edition of the Seychelles Nature Trail brought 151 international runners to Mahé Island on 16 May 2026, reinforcing the event's growing profile as a sport-tourism draw for the Indian Ocean destination. Competitors from 14 countries - including South Africa, France, Réunion Island, Great Britain, Italy, Mauritius, India, the UAE, Germany, Madagascar, the Netherlands, Pakistan and Portugal - took on the 22-kilometre course set within the Morne Seychellois National Park, which features approximately 1,210 metres of elevation gain across rainforest trails, granite rock sections and coastal paths. Pakistan's Wiqar Ahmad Nasir defended his title, finishing in 2:11:39, ahead of South Africa's Daniël Classen in 2:13:00 and Seychellois athlete Jonathan Quatre in 2:29:13.
The course runs from Constance Ephelia in Port Launay to the Grand Mahé Stadium at Grand Anse, integrating resort, national park and community spaces within a single event footprint. The finish area hosted a public programme of local vendors, food services and family activities, with an awards ceremony concluding proceedings at 15:00. Seychelles' Minister for Tourism, Amanda Berstein, noted that participants were already expressing interest in returning for the 2027 edition, pointing to the event's potential as a repeatable driver of international arrivals and its broader role in diversifying the island's tourism offering through sport-based experiences.
Source: VoyagesAfriq