The small African island nation of Seychelles lies in the Indian Ocean, about 1,000 miles to the east of Kenya. It has a population of about 100,000 people with the capital
city of Victoria, on the island of Mahé, being home to about 75,000 of them. Seychelles gained its independence from Great Britain in 1975 and became a republic a year later. The
islands were isolated from the rest of the world for years and developed their own language, culture, and traditions over that time. The language spoken is a Creole patois.
The islands are hot and humid with warm sea temperatures all year round, making it a great place for all types of water sports. It can get a bit wet in January and February, but other
than that, it’s got a great climate for visiting.
The Seychelles offer spectacular beauty as the islands are filled with crystal turquoise waters, beautiful coral reefs, sandy beaches, and lush green rainforest. There are a total of
115 islands, but only a few of them are inhabited. The nation has a rich history of freed African slaves, Indian, Chinese, and Arab traders, and French and British seafarers and
settlers.
The islands offer world-class resorts and hotels and amazing, rare wildlife. One of the most popular of the islands is Praslin, which is a hot spot for cruise ships, beach lovers, and
honeymooners. The beach known as Anse Lazio is one of the best in the world and the rest of the island consists of exotic secluded beaches that have colourful coral reefs and crystal
clear seas. The island is also the home of the 'coco de mer' palm tree which produces the largest nut in the world, weighing up to 40 lbs. There are several types of rare birds and the
flora and fauna is simply spectacular.
The island of Mahé is the most populated and largest. It sports many deserted beaches, a wonderful mountain range, and the nation’s airport and capital city of Victoria. There’s a
great national park on the island that offers superb scenery, dozens of beaches, and great hiking trails. Mahé is known as the liveliest island with several of the resorts, nightclubs
and restaurants offering entertainment.
Victoria is actually the world’s smallest capital city, but it’s very charming and quaint. You can explore it by foot and check out the bustling local market for arts and crafts,
fruit, vegetables, and fish. You’ll still be able to see some of the British and French colonial influence in some of the buildings, especially the main post office and courthouse. The
houses are colorful and you’ll find an interesting cathedral and clock tower, which is a copy of London’s famous Big Ben.
There are several art galleries and you can find out a lot about the nation’s history, wildlife, and culture at the Seychelles Natural History Museum. The National Museum of History is
also a great place to visit for information on the islands’ past. Some other places to check out include the National Botanical Gardens, Ste Anne Marine National Park, George Camille
Gallery, and Vallée de Mai World Heritage Site on Praslin Island. You can play golf on Praslin and there are places to play tennis, badminton, and squash.
The main airport is on Mahé Island and you can get to Victoria by bus and taxi service. When you get to the Seychelles there are chartered flights to several of the other islands, many
of them by helicopter. You can also get around by boat. There are paved roads on the islands of Mahé, La Digue, and Praslin. There is bus service on Praslin and Mahé as well as taxis.
You can also rent cars on Mahé and Praslin.
The food is just as marvellous as the scenery as it’s a mixture of African, French, English, Chinese, and Indian with some wonderful spices. The seafood is as fresh as could be. Some
of the favourite dishes include octopus, lobster, chicken, pork, beef, and lamb. When it comes to nightlife, you’ll find local music, dancers, evening barbecues, theater productions,
the cinema, and casinos at the Plantation Club and Beau Vallon Bay Hotel.
Seychelles is one of the most scenic places on the face of the earth and it’s natural beauty is hard to beat. It has everything you could imagine from fantastic beaches to rare
wildlife and a rich history and culture to boot.
About Seychelles