Seychelles
The Seychelles casts a spell over travellers, with crystalline turquoise waters, pristine coral reefs and powdery beaches that encircle vast granite pinnacles and verdant rainforest.
Consisting of 115 islands, the Republic of Seychelles is an archipelago of legendary beauty that is hard to beat. With a climate that provides endless summer and low volume tourism, this is the place to come for complete and utter relaxation. Each of the islands has its own unique character and charm and to this day many remain totally uninhabited.
On Aldabra, the world’s largest atoll (also listed as a World Heritage Site), one will discover giant land tortoises that outnumber even those of the Galapagos.
In keeping with the fact that 40% of the land mass is formally protected and preserved, Cousine Island focuses on conservation efforts. Only ten people are allowed on the island at any one time, and as a guest you can get involved in tree planting, turtle monitoring and ringing and feeding Magpie Robins. La Digue is the fourth largest island in the Seychelles. Renowned for its pristine beaches, vanilla plantations and copra factories, La Digue has a wonderful old world charm where the chief mode of transport is ox cart and bicycle.
Nid d’Aigles is the highest point on the island of La Digue and affords superb views of the beaches and the small island of Ile Coco. Wildlife abounds with the indigenous black paradise flycatcher, the rare yellow fin and the star-bellied terrapin making their home here. The Island of Mahe is blessed with around 70 pristine white beaches. You can have total privacy and swim and snorkel by yourself in empty coves and on the coral reef.
Mahe’s bustling markets and botanical gardens (containing wild orchids and tortoises) provide an insight into the island’s culture, as do the colonial-style mansions. For fishing enthusiasts there are deep sea opportunities in Denis, where marlin is the catch of the day. The best spots for fly fishing are in the salt waters of the Alphonse and Desroches islands. Desroches is also an excellent spot for water sports and diving.
The Seychelles casts a spell over travellers, with crystalline turquoise waters, pristine coral reefs and powdery beaches that encircle vast granite pinnacles and verdant rainforest.
