 Introduction:
Among the 115 islands of the Seychelles you will find the
luxuriant, tropical paradise that appears in countless advertisements
and glossy travel brochures. But however seductive the images,
they simply can’t compete with the real-life dazzling
beaches and crystal-clear waters.
There are more shades of blue and green in the Seychelles
than it is possible to imagine. Forming a backdrop to the
relaxed tropical image of the Seychelles are the rhythms,
colours and flavours of Africa and gris gris, the local brand
of black magic.
When to
Visit Seychelles:
You should plan your trip to the Seychelles around what you
want to do. Windsurfing and sailing are best at the start
and end of the trade winds, usually around May and October.
Some beaches are better during the monosoon season, others
during the trade winds. Diving is best in March, April, May,
September, October and November. Room rates are highest and
everything is busiest in December, January, July and August.
 Attraction
in Seychelles:
Victoria
Victoria, on the island of Mahé, is one of the smallest
capital cities in the world, and the only major port in the
Seychelles. It's also the only town - every other settlement
is a village. The courthouse and main post office in the centre
of town have been untouched since colonial time.
The streets emanating from the centre have been rebuilt over
the past 20 years, giving the town a clean and modern look.
There are a few old houses and shops in the city centre, but
it's unfortunately barely enough to give the town any character.
Anse Lazio
The best beach on Praslin - in fact, one of the best in the
country - is Anse Lazio, in the far north of the island. The
beach has glorious white, soft sand, a few rounded granite
boulders and a lively line-up of waves. The water is a magical
turquoise colour.
There's also a sheltered area with great snorkelling at the
end of the beach. There's even a terrific restaurant at the
end of the beach road. The beaches east of Lazio are protected
by a reef, which makes the water like a giant bath - it's
shallow, warm and safe, and there's some nice snorkelling.
 Cousin
Island
This island, about 2km (1mi) off the south-west coast of Praslin
- has been a nature reserve since 1968, and is home to several
endangered species, as well as being a breeding ground for
seabirds and turtles. It's an amazing experience to walk through
thick forest with a bird on every branch.
The birds are apparently oblivious to humans, and the rarest
among them are the brush warbler and magpie robin, and you
might also get to see a white-tailed tropic bird, the emblem
of Réunion and Mauritius. The island is also home to
two very old tortoises, George and Georgina.
Mahé Beaches
Beau Vallon is one of the largest and certainly most popular
beaches in the Seychelles. The sand is good, clean and relatively
free of rocks. The waves can sometimes be large, as there
is a big break in the reef. There are platforms in the ocean
that you can swim out to.
The local resort allows non-residents use its beach loungers
and bar. Beau Vallon village has useful facilities including
a petrol station, a bank and some souvenir shops. The beach
is about 3km (nearly 2mi) west of Victoria, and you can either
catch a bus or walk.
Ste Anne Marine National Park
There are six islands lying within the park a short distance
off Victoria. The snorkelling here is superb. Moyenne is probably
the best island to visit, although you can only get here on
a tour. The island is known for its buried treasures and ghosts.
 You can also have a look at the House of Dogs, built around
1900 by an eccentric English woman as a home for stray dogs.
There's a lovely marked trail around the island, with plenty
of pretty plants and animals to look at (including two giant
tortoises), as well as some excellent snorkelling sites.
Aldabra Atoll
Aldabra is one of the world's largest coral atolls, stretching
some 22km (14mi) east to west and enclosing a huge tidal lagoon,
which is sometimes home to tiger sharks and manta rays. Aldabra
is the original habitat of the giant land tortoise.
There are about 200,000 of the tortoises on the atoll, as
well as thousands of seabirds, including the white-throated
rail, the sole remaining species of flightless bird in the
Indian Ocean. The only people who live on Aldabra are scientists,
and they're only here three months of the year.
Curieuse Island
This island, just 1.5km (1mi) off the north coast of Praslin,
was a leper colony until 1965. The leprosarium ruins still
stand on the south coast, like an early resort. You can still
see the old doctor's house, a Créole home with a spacious
verandah, which has been declared a national monument.
The only people who live here are the island manager and several
park wardens, but if you're feeling lonely have a chat with
the couple of hundred giant tortoises that roam the island
unhindered. There protection is guaranteed by the island's
status as an official marine national park.
 Silhouette
Island
About 20km (12mi) from Mahé, Silhouette is a large
and beautiful granite island which rises steeply from its
beaches to three high peaks. Visitors have described this
island as eerie and mystical - it looks particularly dark
and mysterious at sunset.
Rumour has it there's pirate treasure in the hills. Whether
the rumours are true or not, there are some interesting caves.
The beaches on Silhouette are protected by a reef and are
great for swimming, snorkelling, or lazing around developing
melanomas.
Reaching
Seychelles:
More and more airlines are flying to the Seychelles, so it's
worth checking with your travel agent to see if you can get
a direct flight. There are flights from Australia via Singapore,
from Africa and Mauritius and direct from London. Travellers
from Continental Europe can also fly direct - most take package
holidays. Lots of cruises pass through Victoria, but there
are no direct passenger services. There is a 20.00 departure
tax. |
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