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The
Seychelles is made up of more than 100 tiny islands that dot the face
of the endless deep.
Millions of years ago, these islands were stranded in the western Indian
Ocean after Africa and Asia drifted apart. Wherever you come from,
Seychelles will
be far away from home. And this is indeed a key attraction for many who
want to get away. It lies northeast of Madagascar, and is 1,593 Km east
of the
African coast at Kenya.
The Seychelles is a promise of sun, sand
and sea; scenic landscapes, enchanting gardens, virgin forests, fabulous
sea-beds;
a treasury of flora and fauna, exotic cuisine and a people whose hearts
are as warm as their weather. According to those who know such things,
the Seychelles
is in the top ranks of the world's most romantic destinations.
The
Arabs are thought to have been amongst the earliest visitors, having
come by as early as the ninth century. But it was Vasco de Gama- the
celebrated Portuguese explorer, who formally discovered the uninhabited
islands in 1505.
For many years thereafter, the islands were a hiding place for pirates-
thus the whispers of hidden treasures that occasionally surface. In
1756, the French
claimed the islands and subsequently became the first settlers. They
named them Sechelles -after King Louis XV''s finance minister.
In
the
turbulent period between French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars, they
changed hands several times, between the British and the French. They
finally passed
to the British under the Treaty of Paris of 1814 that also saw to the
forced abdication of Napoleonic Bonaparte. The British graciously
retained the French
name and French language and culture. They were only selfish in the
matter of the capital, whose name was changed in 1841 from
L'Establissement du Roi to
Victoria in honour of their esteemed monarch. The British remained in
charge until independence was granted in 1974.
As the Seychelles
islands were
unoccupied before the French period, its people have no common native
ancestry. Here, Africans, Indian, Asians, Chinese, Europeans, and Arabs
met in various
circumstances, mingled and the times rolled. Today, Seychelles prides
itself in the resulting rich Creole culture. The spoken tongues are
Creole (French
based), English and French. The people of Seychelles are warm,
easygoing, welcoming and very friendly; their home being so isolated,
they are keenly aware of
how lonely life on the planet can be.
The 115 islands of the
Seychelles stretch a vast 400,000 sq km. Only 33 of the islands are
inhabited, with a
population of about 82,000 (2005). About 56 other islands are strictly
set-aside as Natural Parks and Reserves to preserve their incredible
natural beauty
and rare species of flora and fauna. This has put Seychelles on the
world map as the country with the largest proportion of natural
resources protected in
conservation sanctuaries.
The islands fall within the inner and
outer group of islands. The inner group are larger and more populous and
are a
fascinating formation of granite rock. On these islands, the green
vegetation against the pink granite backdrop surrounded by the turquoise
ocean is quite
picturesque. The outer group comprises smaller coralline atolls with
little or no population and host amazing botanical and wildlife
resources.
Mahe
is the largest of all the islands and houses the country's political and
commercial capital -Victoria. It holds 80% of the population and is 27
km long and
covers 150 sq km. Mahe also carries the International Airport and the
two main ports that allow docking of deep-sea vessels.
Morne
Seychellois
National Park at 905m is Seychelles highest point. From this point, you
get spectacular view of the surrounding islands. The Baie Ternay and
Port Launay
Marine National Parks are sanctuaries for endangered marine species and
where you can discover a magnificent underwater world. At the Victoria
Botanic
Gardens, you will find exhibits of orchids, flying foxes and the unique
giant Aldabra land tortoise. It is difficult to miss Victoria's famous
clock tower,
which was built in 1903 and is a replica of London's Big Ben.
Further
away from Victoria, you find a lively green jungle of spice and coconut
plantations. At the National Museum there are displays of Seychelles'
colourful history and culture -music, folklore and artefacts. Bel Ombre
-where some
18th century pirate plunder is believed buried, also makes a good
outing. At the craft village, you can stopover to observe the painters
and artisans at
work. At Mahe's Beau Vallon beach - Seychelles most popular beach- take
time to swim and enjoy some water sports. You can explore the whole
island by hiring
a Jeep or Mini Moke.
Praslin, the second largest island, occupies
112 sq km and is home to 5,000 people. It is regarded as the epitome a
tropical
island paradise. Over 100 years ago, a delighted General Gordon of
Khartoum thought he had set foot on paradise itself as he described
Praslin as the
'Garden of Eden'. From Mahe, Praslin is a 3 hours boat ride away and 15
minutes by air. You can rent a car or bicycle to explore Praslin.
Anse
Lazio Beach, famous for its beautiful white sands speckled with pink
granite, is Seychelles' best-rated shoreline. The waters here are
excellent for deep
sea diving and carry over 800 species of fish. Other good beaches are
Anse Georgette, Anse Kerlan and Anse Volbert.
Praslin is the
native home of a
curiosity coconut, known as coco de mer. Also known as the love nut, its
form is suggestive of the anatomy of the human female. This coconut is a
protected
species and is the world's largest seed. You may come across some people
in the Seychelles who believe that it is not only a powerful
aphrodisiac but that
it is Eden's forbidden fruit itself. Emperor Rudolf II of Hapsburg, no
doubt aware of the power of the coco de mer, on his deathbed requested
for just a
single nut and offered an excellent reward.
Nature lovers must
take time to visit the Vallee de Mai garden, which is recognised as a
World Heritage
Site. This stunning site is filled with many rare and unique birds and
plants. According to local legend, it is the original location of the
Garden of Eden.
The black parrot, Seychelles bulbul and the fruit pigeon are some of the
very rare birds protected here, together with the coco de mer.
La
Digue,
which is the third largest of the islands, is 43 km from Mahe and 30
minutes boat ride from Praslin. The island's tranquillity and serenity
is unsurpassed
and among its attractions are beautiful beaches and landscapes, spice
gardens, plantations and birdlife. Cars are restricted and they number
probably not
more than two-dozen. The roads are unpaved and the most reliable way of
getting about is by bikes and ox-driven taxis.
La Digue's
outstanding
beauty has attracted many photographers and film producers. It is indeed
one of the world's most photographed places. Some tropical wear fashion
shots and
international commercials you may be familiar with have been taken here.
This quiet paradise has been highly praised by discerning
honeymooners.
Aldabra - the world's largest coral islands are a
World Heritage Site. They consist of 4 small islands, which ring to
enclose a tidal
lagoon that teems with sea life including: dolphins, tiger sharks, manta
rays, and occasional whales. This is the native place of Seychelles'
common giant
land tortoise and many of the country's endangered species -such as the
flightless Aldabran Rail, which are protected here. Only guided day
tours are
permitted, for there is no rental accommodation. Aldabra is Seychelles'
scientific research centre and only scientists live here.
Aldabra
Islands
are also a popular bird sanctuary. Some of the species you may see
include: the Aldabra sacred ibis, red-footed boobies, sooty and fairy
tern, great and
lesser frigate, dimorphic egrets, greater flamingo, noddies and the
Malagasy kestrel. Other islands abundant with sea-bird life are Bird,
Aride, Cousin and
Cosmoledo Islands.
The Seychelles has 12 endemic bird species,
which are found nowhere else. April marks the commencement of the
breeding season,
while the migration begins in October. The islands blossom to full life
in May through to September when the nestlings hatch. Year round,
birders are sure to
have a good time.
South of Aldabra, the tiny island of Assumption
struggles to thrive. The island was stripped lifeless in the early 20th
century,
in the search for guano. It is now steadily nurturing back to life. Its
waters though, are a wealth of reef life and are excellent for diving.
It is in these
waters that Jacques Cousteau's famous documentary "The Silent World" was
filmed.
Ste. Anne National Marine Park is made up a group of six
diverse islands off the shores of Mahe at the port of Victoria. The
privately owned Moyenne Island is most popular for its legendary tales
of pirates, buried
treasures and ghosts; and its ancient colonial setting and sumptuous
Creole buffet. You can cover the entire island in a 30 minutes walk.
The
Ste
Anne Island is a block of tropical vegetation that rises 246 m above sea
level. Its waters are abundant with sea fish, but fishing and shell
collection are
prohibited. Long Island is secluded as a prison and quarantine area and
is off public limits. Beacon Island is well known for its plentiful bird
life and
lovely diving course. Round and Cerf Islands offer excellent Creole
cuisine, in addition to under-sea sighting, walking trails and
un-crowded
beaches.
A holiday to the Seychelles is ever timely and
therapeutic. It presents an unmatched location for all kinds of water
sporting all year
round. To mention a few - wind surfing, angling - both deep sea and fly
fishing, canoeing, sailing and yachting, water skiing, scuba diving,
snorkelling,
hiking, biking, walking, bird watching and swimming.
Scuba diving
is an all time favourite for many visitors. The Seychelles Underwater
Centre in
Mahe gives excellent guidance on what to see, where and how to carry on
about diving. Snorkelling is also favourable throughout the year and
many hotels and
resorts rent out masks, snorkels and fins, as well as give lessons for
amateurs and first-timers. The Amirante group of islands offers the best
waters for
angling. These are the only islands where fishing for sport is allowed.
Water
skiing, sailing and yachting are year round activities. The seas
however tend to be rougher between May and September during the
southeast trade winds. Wind surfing is agreeable with the calmer
November to April winds. The
May to September period is favoured by the southeast trade winds and is
good for big game fishing. Bottom sea fishing is best between November
and
February.
The Seychelles inspires love and poetry. And many are
those who flock here, to find or bind themselves in love. There is no
better place
for the wedding and tropical honeymoon of your life. Whether, you want a
religious or civil ceremony, the arrangements can be made. If for some
inexplicable
reason, after coming here love still eludes you, consider buying some
Creole love portion and then plunge into the flow!
In this mainly
Catholic
country, the principal non-religious festival is Festival Kreol. The
festival is held annually for a week around the end of October to
celebrate Creole
cuisine, fashion, art, poetry, music, puppetry, literature and dance.
Masters of these arts hail from all over the Creole world - the Indian
Ocean and the
Caribbean, and bring along a welcome infusion of colour to this quiet
corner of the globe.
The Seychelles can hardly be described as a budget
destination. There are no youth hostels and camping is not allowed. The bigger Seychelles hotels and resorts
come
equipped with air-conditioning, private bathrooms, swimming pools and a
variety of sporting facilities. Some smaller establishments may lack
some of theses
facilities but make up by way of privacy and seclusion.
You can
get reasonable rates -by Seychelles standards- for apartments,
bed-sitters and
bungalows. Most of the hotels sit on Mahe Island while some of the
smaller islands host only a single hotel. The Seychelles is deliberately
not a mass-market
destination. Accommodation can get very tight especially in the high
season, especially the periods mid December-early January and mid
July-end
August.
It is always advisable to book hotel accommodation early
and if required confirm with a deposit. For convenience you may also
wish to buy a
Seychelles holiday package that covers accommodation, airport transfers and some onsite tours and
activities.
Only a few airlines offer direct flights to
Seychelles. Air Seychelles offers direct flights from selected cities in
Europe and Africa,
as well as inter-island links. Connections to North America, Australia
and the Far East are widely available.
Seychelles enjoys a
steady, warm and
humid tropical climate with average temperatures at 29°C. There are two
distinctive seasons, which are influenced by the monsoon winds. May to
September
is cooler and less humid, while November to March tends to be hotter,
rainier and sometimes suffer heavy storms. Unlike other Indian Ocean
Islands,
Seychelles luckily falls outside the cyclone belt and does not
experience devastating storms. The islands escaped almost unscathed from
the Asian Tsunami of
December 2004.
Be sure to bring comfortable tropical attire;
cotton is highly recommended. There are many opportunities for walking
and you need to
carry comfy steady shoes. You must not forget your beachwear, rimmed
caps, sunglasses and some sunscreen to fight the tropical sun.
Help and More Information for Seychelles!
Planning for your next Seychelles beach holiday? Contact us
today and we will
assist you in picking and booking the best hotel and
flight, and all your other Seychelles travel arrangements.
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