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About Seychelles
Scattered like jewels across a sparkling ocean, the 115 beautiful islands of the Seychelles are an incredible sight.
The Seychelles islands are divided into two distinct categories with the higher granitic ‘inner’ islands and the lower coralline ‘outer’ islands - just 30 are inhabited.
Geography The lovely Seychelles islands are scattered across the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and India. The diagonal distance between the islands of Denis in the northeast, and Aldabra in the southwest is 1,500km. There are 115 islands that make up the Seychelles and they are divided into two distinct origins based on their geology. The higher ‘inner’ islands have granitic remnants, while the lower ‘outer’ islands are coralline in nature. Only 30 of the islands are inhabited. The inner island of Mahe is the largest and home to Victoria, the administrative capital of the Seychelles. Language The three languages of Creole, French and English are spoken in the Seychelles. Creole is the most widely spoken, but English and French are widely used and understood. Climate The climate in the Seychelles is humid and tropical with temperatures always above 20 degrees centigrade. May to October, the southern hemisphere winter, sees dry weather, while the summer months of December to March can see some refreshing rain. The transitional months of April and November have light, variable winds. Health The Seychelles poses no particular health threats apart from the odd case of sunburn! Only visitors travelling from an infected yellow fever area will need proof of vaccination, otherwise it is wise to be up to date with routine immunisations. The main islands have an efficient healthcare system and are within easy reach of Victoria where there is a well-equipped hospital that includes pharmacies and a dental clinic. Money matters The local currency is the Seychelles rupee divided up in 100 cents. Due to a foreign exchange deficit, visitors must use foreign currency (in the form of cash, traveller's cheques or credit or debit cards) to pay for most services, while incidental payments, petrol and taxi fares can be made in local currency. Money can only be exchanged at banks, the airport or hotel cashiers and it is illegal to leave the country with more than SR2,000. There are banks and ATMs in Victoria and also on the islands of Praslin and La Digue. Electricity The electrical voltage is 240v and plug sockets are the three-point square-pin variety, so take an adaptor if necessary. Time and communications The Seychelles is four hours ahead of GMT. There is an efficient worldwide telephone service with coin and card telephones on the main islands. Most big hotels offer room telephones, but it’s more cost effective to use phone cards. There is a GSM mobile phone network and there are three Internet service providers - Atlas, Intelvision and Kokonet – with Internet cafes on some islands. Visa and entry requirements Visitors need a passport valid for six months after the date of departure and a one-month entry permit is issued on arrival. Beaches Where do we start? Every island in the Seychelles is unique and all the beaches are simply breathtaking with silvery white sands punctuated by swaying coconut palms framed by turquoise seas. The largest island is granitic Mahe and here the granite hills and mountains provide a dramatic backdrop to the coastline. There are breathtaking bays and coves along with swathes of soft white sands all protected by the coral reef that encircles the island. Tranquil Praslin, home of the coco de mer palm, is also surrounded by coral reefs and its long stretches of white sand are interspersed with secluded coves sheltered by granite boulders. The fourth largest granitic island of La Digue, which is almost completely ringed by coral reef, boasts some of the most exquisite of the Seychelles beaches. Visitors can step out on to the most dazzling, magnificent white sands and just bask in the sun. What to see and do The Seychelles is really all about sun, sea, sand and some enthralling scenery. The major resorts understandably allow their guests to make the very most of those gorgeous seas and a plethora of watersports are available. Although the ideal destination to relax and laze, there’s plenty more to see and do for anyone able to tear themselves away from those stunning white sands – and it’s well worth the effort. Ecotourists are increasingly making a beeline for these lovely islands, many of which have now become nature, mountain and forest reserves, as well as marine parks, because of their amazing biodiversity. Scuba diving, snorkelling, angling, bird watching and hiking are all available, while charter boats and sailboats can take visitors to explore the surrounding satellite islands. Mahe There’s plenty to see and do on Mahe from learning about Creole culture, to taking an art tour or visiting the perfumery. This largest island is home to the Seychelles’ only town, Victoria, one of the smallest capitals in the world. A fascinating place with typical Creole-style buildings, there’s plenty to explore with a natural history museum, harbour, the Victoria Botanical Gardens, main shopping streets and avenues. Mahe is also a good base from which to explore nearby Praslin, just an hour away on the Cat Cocos catamaran, or the satellite islands of Ste Anne, Cerf, Long, Round, Moyenne and Cahee. Praslin Praslin’s claim to fame is that it is home to the coco de mer palm, an elegant female palm that produces a huge seed shaped like a female belly and thighs. Romantically known as the ‘island of palms’, visitors can learn more at The World Heritage Site of Vallee de Mai within Praslin National Park where there are 4,000 coco der mer palms. Other interests include the Black Pearl of Seychelles with its small aquarium and black pearl jewellery boutique. An ideal location for island hopping, Praslin offers several trips to nearby locations that include the larger island of La Digue, just 30 minutes away by ferry. La Digue The fourth largest of the granitic islands, is the unhurried La Digue - home to coconut and vanilla plantations, boat builders and yet more gorgeous beaches. Hire a bike and cycle round. Places to visit include La Digue Vev Reserve, established as a safe haven for the black paradise flycatcher, and the various excellent art galleries. Silhouette Possibly the most densely vegetated island in the Indian Ocean, Silhouette is home to Anse Mondon Valley featuring many rare Seychelles hardwood trees and a pristine forest on its highest levels. The Island can be reached by a 40 minute boat ride or helicopter. There is one hotel on island Labriz Silhouette. No cars here, so the only way to explore is to walk and the Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles Information Centre is a good place to start with its giant tortoises and fascinating facts about Seychelles natural history. Take a nature tour through rehabilitated forests areas and enjoy some excellent diving and snorkelling. Shopping Visitors to the Seychelles are in for a shopping treat with vibrant markets; colourful boutiques and stalls selling a whole range of locally produced handicrafts, fruits, spices and teas. Lookout for the lovely pearl and gold jewellery made in Mahe and Praslin and take your pick from handmade batiks, woven hats and mats. A good selection of galleries offer some excellent pottery, sculptures and paintings, while some Seychelles perfumes are unique to the islands. There are various locally made liqueurs available starring the Coco d’Amour that arrives in an exciting bottle shaped liked the coco de mer! Eating out and nightlife Eating out in the Seychelles is a pleasure with plenty of fresh fish and seafood available, while most hotels offer international cuisine. The widest choice of restaurants are located on Mahe and Praslin, and tasty Creole-style food like samosas, pies and chill bites, as well as sweet cakes, can be taken away for a tasty lunch. There are also plenty of beachside barbecues, which make the most of freshly caught fish and seafood for the perfect barefoot supper. Visitors to Mahe can live it up at night at a casino, take in a sega show or party the night away at one of the local discos. Those staying on Praslin can head for Grand Anse, home to the Jungle Nightclub, or there are plenty of restaurants to choose from on the island. Events There’s always something going on the Seychelles, but one event not to be missed is the Kreole Festival. This is when Creole people from several nations get together to celebrate their cultures with art, dance and music. Festivalgoers arrive from the Caribbean islands, Mauritius, Madagascar and other destinations for this fantastic event that usually takes place the last week in October. Other noteworthy events include African Week in May, an annual horticultural show in June and the Lafet jazz festival in July. The Festival del la Mer in September is an annual inter-island windsurfing race from Mahe to Praslin, incorporating the Beau Vallon regatta.
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Suite 402, Albany House
