Laboudalloniana Tours for your nature tour guiding experience |19 March 2018

Laboudalloniana Tours Ltd is a Tour Guiding business based at Cap Samy, Praslin.

It has as objective of sensitising and inspiring both locals and tourists on the unique and fragile natural environment of Seychelles through quality and personalised nature walks on Praslin to experience our natural history, local folkore, flora and fauna.

Laboudalloniana Tours Ltd is run by 31-year-old Medina Laboudallon, a freelance tour guide and a proud Praslinoise. She normally works alone but gets help from a colleague guide during busy periods.

Medina, who was inspired by the natural beauty of Seychelles through his father Victorin Laboudallon, a well-known environmentalist, got her licence in September 2016. Her business targets mainly botanists and bird watching groups or individuals.

She said she was inspired by and exposed to nature from a young age during her various trips with his father on various trails and by her teacher Gemma Jessie.

She said since she was a little girl she was exposed to nature and has even been to Aldabra, a place she always dreamed of visiting.

She provides tours round Fond Ferdinand, Vallée de mai, Glacis Noir, Pasquiere, Mont Plasir, Anse Lazio.

She is also learning how to become a field coast for birdwatcher.
Medina meet clients at hotels on Praslin to provide them with information on her business if they need or to join her on a tour.

“I was a student at the then SHTTC now STA at La Misère from 2002-2004 following a course in tourism and tour guiding for two years. I did all my attachment with Creole Holidays where I was later on employed as a tour guide. Due to my hard work I was promoted as excursion coordinator, a post I occupied for eight years. Then I went to work with the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) at Vallée de Mai on Praslin as a senior visitor’s attendant. I was awarded the women recognition award on March 8, 2016 for engagement and commitment towards environmental preservation in the community,” said Medina.

She then attended a course in business, worked part time with the Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve and with the Seychelles Tourism Board for four months.

Medina is also a volunteer with TRASS (Terrestrial Restoration Action Society of Seychelles).

“There is a demand for nature trail and bird watching business on Praslin. So I concentrate more on these two types of tours as there are lots of visitors who are interested in such tours,” said Medina.

But some trails, said Medina, need restoration works and the neglect is so visible.

“Salazie, La Plaine Hollandaise for example are trails very rich biodiversity-wise for botanists but nobody maintains them. Same goes for Glacis Noir where the tower has been affected by termites. There is also the lack of a proper sign board,” she said.

“Like in every business, it is not easy but I am determined to be successful. I am currently doing some networking and branding my business,” added Medina.
Explaining the inspiration behind the name of her tour business, Medina said:

“Apart from being dedicated to my dad, Victorin Laboudallon, Laboudalloniana is the name of the fern (pti baton monsennyer) which was first discovered by J. Stanley Gardiner in the early 20th century and was rediscovered in May 2008. After careful study, this species appeared to be endemic to the island of Mahé with the name ptisana laboudalloniana in reference to ‘botanist’ Victorin Laboudallon who contributed significantly to the botany, natural history and nature conservation of the Seychelles. The name is in a way to pay tribute to my dad who has helped me a lot to being an experienced and knowledgeable guide.”

Laboudalloniana Tours can be contacted on tel: 2522505 whttsapp:2593001 Facebook page: Laboudalloniana Tours, Email ddress:laboudalloniana@gmail.com