Seychelles or Mauritius?
 

Both are on my radar, and ideally I'd visit both over an 8-9 day stretch, but I'd probably opt for the Seychelles in your case. Mauritius seems a little smaller and not quite the biodiversity or sights to see that the Seychelles looks to have. I like the idea of island hopping and visiting Praslin.

I can't speak to Mauritius but the Seychelles were really wonderful. It would take an extra ferry ride or flight but I would especially recommend Praslin or La Digue.

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Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue
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also Anse Source d'Argent

When are you planning on going..? I am following your thread also as my wife and I plan on going to the SEYCHELLES for 2 weeks in September so that I can cycle and just hang out...

Coincidentally, I also went in late September. It was a good time for getting deals, and on all 3 islands I stayed at guesthouses for $40-50/night for a private room (two with ensuites)

Being so close to the equator, it'll be hot no matter when you go.

All setup in my Travelocity Account, just not paid for the trip yet. 2 weeks starting the the 15 of September on the main Island. I am a "ROAD CYCLIST" Bicycle and curious if there is a main road that circles the perimeter of the island I could ride my bike on...? I will be bringing my own bike along with me..

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Here's a Mahe map from Googling.

If memory serves from using the rental car, the flattest sections are along the east coast from Victoria southward. The Northern loop is hilly even along the coast because of the headlands, and just about anything through the interior except at the very south will involve some real up-and-down, and on roads not engineered to western standards (drainage ditches could be a hazard for getting a wheel stuck in places). Mahe also easily has the most car traffic.

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Aerial of Mahe, I believe from the southern tip.

Even if it's only a daytrip, it's probably very do-able to go via ferry to Praslin with bike and come back. Praslin has the Valee de Mai park with the coco de mers and Anse Lazio, the #1 beach in the world according to some surveys.

We have done similar trips. First time we did 4 days Safari, 5 days Cape Town, 3 days Franschhoek and 2 days Johannesburg. Last summer we did 4 days Safari and 10 days Mauritius. Depending on what you are looking for we found that there was lots more to do in Mauritius outside of our resort (The One and Only). However, our son,16, was on the trip and getting out made our visit.

With that said, we are now looking at a big family trip to the Seychelles August 2021. Both my husband and son are divers. After lots of advice, a visit to the Seychelles should take into account what month you are travelling. From what I have learned some parts of the Seychelles get a lot of seaweed on the beaches from June - August.

Both Mauritius and Seychelles will make for a great post-safari R&R. Mauritius has lovely beaches, but they also have some larger resorts and three golf courses (at least) that I am aware of. Although Seychelles does also have some larger properties like the two Constance resorts, there’s only one golf course which is on the island of Praslin (a part of Constance Lemuria). Seychelles also has a higher focus on conservation and wildlife. They are proud to boast their unique biodiversity so it, to me, feels a bit more of a natural tie in to the theme of being on safari. If you fancy golf as a part of your post safari R&R, Mauritius will be great. If you plan to head to the beach and wish for a truly unique experience, I think Seychelles is a great option.

You should note that roughly May – October is the SE Monsoon Season in Seychelles. You can expect higher winds this time of year and relatively choppier waters. Otherwise, temperatures are great and although it can rain, it tends to be relatively drier this time of year.

If you have 4-5 nights to spend, I suggest staying at one property. As a previous poster noted, Praslin Island is a great place to enjoy. Two stunning beaches there (Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette [Anse Georgette is right behind the golf course at Constance Lemuria]) plus immediate access to Vallée de Mai for the endemic Coco de Mer (worthy of a visit and only naturally occur in 3 of the islands in the Seychelles and the seeds can grow to be 40 lbs). I stayed at Raffles on Praslin and remains one of my favorite spots in the Seychelles. You can also access La Digue via a public ferry from Praslin as well as book yourself a boat charter to take you to Curieuse Island for free roaming tortoises, Cousin Island for beaches and birding and St. Pierre for snorkeling.

Depending on your budget, if you wish to consider other higher end properties, Six Senses on Felicite Island would be fantastic. Unlike Mahé, Praslin or La Digue, Six Senses is uninhabited except for the people staying at the property. It’s a newer property, super sexy and dishes out some amazing experiences.

Fregate Private will be closed for a good portion of 2021, but depending on when you are traveling, this may also come into play. The original conservation project of the Seychelles, this place is teeming with wildlife. Over 5000 free roaming tortoises, tons of birds and other wildlife combined with stunning beaches. Like Felicite, it’s private and very exclusive.

I was also privileged to stay at North Island. Another successful conservation story, ultra-luxury and rated in the past as the world’s most exclusive beach resort. Overall stunner.

Everything I have noted is within the inner-granitic chain of islands which are the most photographed areas of the Seychelles with the big boulder beaches. If you wish to explore the outer coraline islands, I suggest you take a look at Blue Safari.

Kota Tabuchi - Africa Director - Travel Beyond

Been to both recently back to back. Had a better experience in the Seychelles. IMO Seychelles had more natural beauty, chill vibes, and more activities. Mauritius was more budget friendly however. If funds aren't an issue, go with Seychelles.