Intendance (Quatre Bornes)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Expert
- Skill Level
- Chop, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Intendance (Anse Intendance) is an exposed sandy beach break on Mahé known for fairly consistent surf and strong waves. Sources describe heavy lefts and rights working at all tides, with good wave quality when swell and wind line up. The beach is also described as visually wild and scenic, with a typically quiet lineup. For surfing, the most consistent results are generally associated with the May to October period. One set of conditions emphasizes southwest to southern swells building up roughly from about 1 meter to around 2.5 meters, while winds that come from the east/northeast are described as providing cleaner offshore setups. Rides are often short and fast, with vertical takeoffs that frequently end in the shore break. The primary challenge is safety: strong rips and undertow are repeatedly highlighted, along with a heavy shore break. Swimming is often prohibited or strongly discouraged, and conditions can be especially dangerous during the southeast monsoon window (May to September). Submerged hazards at the bay ends are also reported, and rescue/lifeguards are described as not available on-site—so the spot requires high situational awareness. Crowd patterns are consistently described as low: it’s unlikely to be too crowded even when surf is up, with weekends seeing only a few surfers. Overall, the spot is best treated as an advanced, high-commitment surf location rather than a casual swimming or beginner beach session.
- Exposed, fairly consistent beach break
- Good-to-good wave quality with strong power
- Low crowd even in good conditions
- Exposed beach break with fairly consistent surf
- Often uncrowded even when conditions are good
- Good wave quality in suitable swell/wind windows
- Strong rip currents and powerful undertow make swimming dangerous
- Heavy shore break and rough/wild conditions
- Limited/no on-site rescue or lifeguards
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NNE, NE, E
- Offshore directions
- E, NE, NNE, N
- Wind Range
- 12–22 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Southeast trade winds / monsoonal pattern for the region; spot winds include NE/N/easterlies that can turn onshore during certain monsoon periods.
- Reliability
- high during the trade wind seasons
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- May, June, July, August, September
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 8–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Fine sand is repeatedly mentioned.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — Sources describe small to medium surf with working sizes starting under 1 meter and holding up beyond 2 meters.
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop — One source emphasizes chop; other descriptions include rough/wild conditions and heavy shore break.
- Launch
- Small — Instant access reported as <5 minutes walking; access is described as easy to find with small parking and beach path.
Through the year
Usually very quiet; a handful of surfers on weekends.
December to February (northwest monsoon) is described as the wetter season; southeast monsoon (May to September) is associated with stronger currents and more challenging water entry.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Rarely used for kitesurfing due to heavy shore break/powerful waves, strong rip currents, and lack of rescue services. Wind is often onshore during the peak swell season, increasing hazard for all but expert riders.
- Kite Sizes
- 8–12 m²
Not recommended for foiling due to very heavy shore break and waves dumping directly onto sand, posing high risk to equipment.
- Foil Friendly
- No
- Min Depth
- 1.5m
An exposed beach break with fairly consistent surf. It can deliver heavy lefts and rights and is often rough due to strong rips/undertow and an intense shore break.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — All tides work; one source also emphasizes rising tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed beach with little protection from swell/wind.
- Wind Effect
- East and northeast winds are described as providing cleaner offshore conditions; southeast winds can be onshore and messy.
- Bigger Swell
- Becomes very heavy and more prone to closing out when swell exceeds about 3 meters; can close out in a heavy shore break.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Wave quality is described as good to good with consistent surf.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Sources describe powerful/strong waves; typically heavy during peak monsoon conditions.
- Wave Shape
- Mixed — One source also describes peeling/heavy shore-break behavior; mixed conditions are reported.
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Short — Often short, ending in the shore break; another source notes short rides (<50 m).
- Typical Ride Length
- 30–60 m
- Ride Length Details
- Fast, vertical takeoffs often lead to short, intense rides that commonly finish in the shore break.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Intendance (Quatre Bornes) in the full forecast view.
Intendance (Quatre Bornes) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–11 ktsGusts 15 kts
- Direction
- SE127°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 2611 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.1–1.2 m8s period
- Temperature
- 27–29 °C
Over the next 7 days, Intendance (Quatre Bornes) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–11 kts, peaking around 11 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 15 kts. The prevailing direction is SE. Waves run 1.1–1.2 m with a period of about 8s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- very strong rip currents
- powerful undertow
- heavy shore break
- rough conditions
- submerged rocks at bay ends
- reef/hazard reported
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No dedicated on-site rescue reported; regional maritime search and rescue is available.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest medical facilities are in Anse Royale or Victoria (major medical facility in Victoria). Seychelles emergency number is 999.
Rules of the spot
Swimming is often prohibited or strongly discouraged due to dangerous conditions; pay attention to local warnings and current safety status.
- not recommended for beginners
- limited swimming areas
- rescue not available on-site
- Be extremely cautious with rips and undertow; conditions can be very rough at times.
- The beach is most dangerous during the southeast monsoon (May to September).
- Respect the shore break to avoid neck or back injuries.
- Check with locals or nearby hotel staff for current safety conditions.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Victoria
- Nearest Town
- Takamaka
- Nearest Airport
- Seychelles International Airport (SEZ)
- Parking
- Parking available at beach; limited public parking is available near the beach entrance.
- Public Transport
- Public buses serve main coastal roads; car rentals are described as the standard for riders
- Access
- From northeast Mahé, drive south on Coast Road, turn left at Banyan Tree resort sign (near police station), then right at second Banyan Tree sign. Signs for Anse Intendance appear after (approx. 30 km from Victoria). Paved road access to a small public parking area near the beach path is also reported.
- Local Language
- Seychellois Creole, English, French
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Luxury villas/guesthouses in the Takamaka district; Banyan Tree Hotel is mentioned as nearby.
- Food & Drink
- A few small snack shops and restaurants are located within driving distance in Takamaka.
- Equipment Rental:
- Limited availability through mobile surf schools; no permanent rental shops on the beach reported.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Wild, scenic beach known for granite boulders and turquoise water.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Intendance (Quatre Bornes)?
The best overall months at Intendance (Quatre Bornes) are May, June, July, August, September, October. The best wind months are May, June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at Intendance (Quatre Bornes)?
Intendance (Quatre Bornes) works with N, NNE, NE, E winds. Offshore directions are E, NE, NNE, N.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Intendance (Quatre Bornes)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Intendance (Quatre Bornes): Kitesurfing: 8–12 m². The typical wind range is 12–22 kts.
What skill level is Intendance (Quatre Bornes) suitable for?
Intendance (Quatre Bornes) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Expert · Wingfoiling: Expert · Surfing: Beginner to Advanced.