Destinations Details Welcome to Seychelles One of mother nature’s finest, the Seychelles is made up of 115 islands (dated ,roughly, 750 million years), 41 of which are the dramatically beautiful granitic Inner Islands and the remaining 74 (Outer Islands) are laced across picture postcard coraline atolls, complete with low-lying beaches and coral reefs. Nestled in the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles offer a sanctuary for unique flora and fauna. Spot giant tortoises and the indigenous Coco de Mer palm on the many walking trails around the islands. Picture perfect beaches are in abundance, many encircled by coral reefs teeming with marine life. When to visit There’s a tropical year-round climate with sunny temperatures averaging between 24C and 30C. Rain, sometimes heavy, is common December-February. During the drier months between May and September, the southeast trade winds can bring breezy relief, but will also mean rougher seas Wildlife Seychelles is a unique environment, which sustains a very special biodiversity. It is special for a number of different reasons. These are the oldest oceanic islands to be found anywhere on Earth. Seychelles is home to Aldabra, the largest coral atoll in the world, and an endangered species in itself. The country can boast 12 endemic bird species, including national bird, the black parrot. And also, the Green and Hawksbill turtles that lay their eggs on the Seychelles beaches. Green turtles lay all year round whereas Hawksbill turtles lay from August to February. Culture The islanders are mainly descended from African slaves bought here by the French and later freed by the British. Chinese merchants and traders also started arriving around 150 years ago, contributing to the Creole mix, along with Europeans and Indians before them. The people live a relatively simple life and tourism here is both young (the international airport only opened in 1971) and carefully controlled, in order to protect Seychelles’ charm. Its music is rooted in African, Malagasy and European cultures, while the hip-swaying, foot-shuffling Sega dance is still popular. The Seychelles Travelling in Seychelles Seaplanes Seychelles Speedboat Seychelles Domestic Flight Seychelles Areas of Seychelles Victoria The main island of Mahé is home to the capital Victoria, which is as bustling as Seychelles gets. Soak up the local atmosphere, including the central market, where stalls display fruit, vegetables and fish, while upstairs, tourist shops sell clothing and souvenirs. Try Kenwun House – one of the oldest and best examples of French colonial architecture on the island – for jewelry, art and crafts of a higher quality (and price). At the heart of the capital is the silver-coloured Victoria Clocktower. Praslin Seychelles’ second most populated island has around 6,500 locals and is 45km from Mahé. There are several hotels, but daytrippers come to this granitic island to visit Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve (see attractions), one of Seychelles’ most treasured habitats and a living laboratory. The island is also known for Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette, heart-stopping gorgeous beaches. A ferry runs from Mahe to Praslin, but between May-September, it’s not so pleasant if seas are rough; it’s possible to fly between the two. It’s also handy for islandhopping around nearby Cousin, Cousine, Curieuse, Felicite, Grande Soeur, Ile Cocos, La Digue and St Pierre. Aldabra Closer to Madagascar and the Comoros than it is to the rest of the Seychelles, Aldabra Atoll lies 1,150km from Mahé. This huge coralline was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in order to protect its delicate eco-system and huge population (thought to be more than 152,000) of endemic giant Aldabra tortoise, which are the world’s oldest living creatures but were nearly wiped out by colonial use of them for food and their shells. Tourists cannot visit, but it’s a key part of the Seychelles story.