Seychelles - Dreams of Paradise

The Seychelles is made up of more than 100 tiny islands that dot the face of the endless deep. Millions of years ago, these islands were stranded in the western Indian Ocean after Africa and Asia drifted apart. Wherever you come from, Seychelles will be far away from home. And this is indeed a key attraction for many who want to get away. It lies northeast of Madagascar, and is 1,593 Km east of the African coast at Kenya.

The Seychelles is a promise of sun, sand and sea; scenic landscapes, enchanting gardens, virgin forests, fabulous sea-beds; a treasury of flora and fauna, exotic cuisine and a people whose hearts are as warm as their weather. According to those who know such things, the Seychelles is in the top ranks of the world's most romantic destinations.

The Arabs are thought to have been amongst the earliest visitors, having come by as early as the ninth century. But it was Vasco de Gama- the celebrated Portuguese explorer, who formally discovered the uninhabited islands in 1505. For many years thereafter, the islands were a hiding place for pirates- thus the whispers of hidden treasures that occasionally surface. In 1756, the French claimed the islands and subsequently became the first settlers. They named them Sechelles -after King Louis XV''s finance minister.

In the turbulent period between French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars, they changed hands several times, between the British and the French. They finally passed to the British under the Treaty of Paris of 1814 that also saw to the forced abdication of Napoleonic Bonaparte. The British graciously retained the French name and French language and culture. They were only selfish in the matter of the capital, whose name was changed in 1841 from L'Establissement du Roi to Victoria in honour of their esteemed monarch. The British remained in charge until independence was granted in 1974.

As the Seychelles islands were unoccupied before the French period, its people have no common native ancestry. Here, Africans, Indian, Asians, Chinese, Europeans, and Arabs met in various circumstances, mingled and the times rolled. Today, Seychelles prides itself in the resulting rich Creole culture. The spoken tongues are Creole (French based), English and French. The people of Seychelles are warm, easygoing, welcoming and very friendly; their home being so isolated, they are keenly aware of how lonely life on the planet can be.

The 115 islands of the Seychelles stretch a vast 400,000 sq km. Only 33 of the islands are inhabited, with a population of about 82,000 (2005). About 56 other islands are strictly set-aside as Natural Parks and Reserves to preserve their incredible natural beauty and rare species of flora and fauna. This has put Seychelles on the world map as the country with the largest proportion of natural resources protected in conservation sanctuaries.

The islands fall within the inner and outer group of islands. The inner group are larger and more populous and are a fascinating formation of granite rock. On these islands, the green vegetation against the pink granite backdrop surrounded by the turquoise ocean is quite picturesque. The outer group comprises smaller coralline atolls with little or no population and host amazing botanical and wildlife resources.

Mahe is the largest of all the islands and houses the country's political and commercial capital -Victoria. It holds 80% of the population and is 27 km long and covers 150 sq km. Mahe also carries the International Airport and the two main ports that allow docking of deep-sea vessels.

Morne Seychellois National Park at 905m is Seychelles highest point. From this point, you get spectacular view of the surrounding islands. The Baie Ternay and Port Launay Marine National Parks are sanctuaries for endangered marine species and where you can discover a magnificent underwater world. At the Victoria Botanic Gardens, you will find exhibits of orchids, flying foxes and the unique giant Aldabra land tortoise. It is difficult to miss Victoria's famous clock tower, which was built in 1903 and is a replica of London's Big Ben.

Further away from Victoria, you find a lively green jungle of spice and coconut plantations. At the National Museum there are displays of Seychelles' colourful history and culture -music, folklore and artefacts. Bel Ombre -where some 18th century pirate plunder is believed buried, also makes a good outing. At the craft village, you can stopover to observe the painters and artisans at work. At Mahe's Beau Vallon beach - Seychelles most popular beach- take time to swim and enjoy some water sports. You can explore the whole island by hiring a Jeep or Mini Moke.

Praslin, the second largest island, occupies 112 sq km and is home to 5,000 people. It is regarded as the epitome a tropical island paradise. Over 100 years ago, a delighted General Gordon of Khartoum thought he had set foot on paradise itself as he described Praslin as the 'Garden of Eden'. From Mahe, Praslin is a 3 hours boat ride away and 15 minutes by air. You can rent a car or bicycle to explore Praslin.

Anse Lazio Beach, famous for its beautiful white sands speckled with pink granite, is Seychelles' best-rated shoreline. The waters here are excellent for deep sea diving and carry over 800 species of fish. Other good beaches are Anse Georgette, Anse Kerlan and Anse Volbert.

Praslin is the native home of a curiosity coconut, known as coco de mer. Also known as the love nut, its form is suggestive of the anatomy of the human female. This coconut is a protected species and is the world's largest seed. You may come across some people in the Seychelles who believe that it is not only a powerful aphrodisiac but that it is Eden's forbidden fruit itself. Emperor Rudolf II of Hapsburg, no doubt aware of the power of the coco de mer, on his deathbed requested for just a single nut and offered an excellent reward.

Nature lovers must take time to visit the Vallee de Mai garden, which is recognised as a World Heritage Site. This stunning site is filled with many rare and unique birds and plants. According to local legend, it is the original location of the Garden of Eden. The black parrot, Seychelles bulbul and the fruit pigeon are some of the very rare birds protected here, together with the coco de mer.

La Digue, which is the third largest of the islands, is 43 km from Mahe and 30 minutes boat ride from Praslin. The island's tranquillity and serenity is unsurpassed and among its attractions are beautiful beaches and landscapes, spice gardens, plantations and birdlife. Cars are restricted and they number probably not more than two-dozen. The roads are unpaved and the most reliable way of getting about is by bikes and ox-driven taxis.

La Digue's outstanding beauty has attracted many photographers and film producers. It is indeed one of the world's most photographed places. Some tropical wear fashion shots and international commercials you may be familiar with have been taken here. This quiet paradise has been highly praised by discerning honeymooners.

Aldabra - the world's largest coral islands are a World Heritage Site. They consist of 4 small islands, which ring to enclose a tidal lagoon that teems with sea life including: dolphins, tiger sharks, manta rays, and occasional whales. This is the native place of Seychelles' common giant land tortoise and many of the country's endangered species -such as the flightless Aldabran Rail, which are protected here. Only guided day tours are permitted, for there is no rental accommodation. Aldabra is Seychelles' scientific research centre and only scientists live here.

Aldabra Islands are also a popular bird sanctuary. Some of the species you may see include: the Aldabra sacred ibis, red-footed boobies, sooty and fairy tern, great and lesser frigate, dimorphic egrets, greater flamingo, noddies and the Malagasy kestrel. Other islands abundant with sea-bird life are Bird, Aride, Cousin and Cosmoledo Islands.

The Seychelles has 12 endemic bird species, which are found nowhere else. April marks the commencement of the breeding season, while the migration begins in October. The islands blossom to full life in May through to September when the nestlings hatch. Year round, birders are sure to have a good time.

South of Aldabra, the tiny island of Assumption struggles to thrive. The island was stripped lifeless in the early 20th century, in the search for guano. It is now steadily nurturing back to life. Its waters though, are a wealth of reef life and are excellent for diving. It is in these waters that Jacques Cousteau's famous documentary "The Silent World" was filmed.

Ste. Anne National Marine Park is made up a group of six diverse islands off the shores of Mahe at the port of Victoria. The privately owned Moyenne Island is most popular for its legendary tales of pirates, buried treasures and ghosts; and its ancient colonial setting and sumptuous Creole buffet. You can cover the entire island in a 30 minutes walk.

The Ste Anne Island is a block of tropical vegetation that rises 246 m above sea level. Its waters are abundant with sea fish, but fishing and shell collection are prohibited. Long Island is secluded as a prison and quarantine area and is off public limits. Beacon Island is well known for its plentiful bird life and lovely diving course. Round and Cerf Islands offer excellent Creole cuisine, in addition to under-sea sighting, walking trails and un-crowded beaches.

A holiday to the Seychelles is ever timely and therapeutic. It presents an unmatched location for all kinds of water sporting all year round. To mention a few - wind surfing, angling - both deep sea and fly fishing, canoeing, sailing and yachting, water skiing, scuba diving, snorkelling, hiking, biking, walking, bird watching and swimming.

Scuba diving is an all time favourite for many visitors. The Seychelles Underwater Centre in Mahe gives excellent guidance on what to see, where and how to carry on about diving. Snorkelling is also favourable throughout the year and many hotels and resorts rent out masks, snorkels and fins, as well as give lessons for amateurs and first-timers. The Amirante group of islands offers the best waters for angling. These are the only islands where fishing for sport is allowed.

Water skiing, sailing and yachting are year round activities. The seas however tend to be rougher between May and September during the southeast trade winds. Wind surfing is agreeable with the calmer November to April winds. The May to September period is favoured by the southeast trade winds and is good for big game fishing. Bottom sea fishing is best between November and February.

The Seychelles inspires love and poetry. And many are those who flock here, to find or bind themselves in love. There is no better place for the wedding and tropical honeymoon of your life. Whether, you want a religious or civil ceremony, the arrangements can be made. If for some inexplicable reason, after coming here love still eludes you, consider buying some Creole love portion and then plunge into the flow!

In this mainly Catholic country, the principal non-religious festival is Festival Kreol. The festival is held annually for a week around the end of October to celebrate Creole cuisine, fashion, art, poetry, music, puppetry, literature and dance. Masters of these arts hail from all over the Creole world - the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean, and bring along a welcome infusion of colour to this quiet corner of the globe.

The Seychelles can hardly be described as a budget destination. There are no youth hostels and camping is not allowed. The bigger Seychelles hotels and resorts come equipped with air-conditioning, private bathrooms, swimming pools and a variety of sporting facilities. Some smaller establishments may lack some of theses facilities but make up by way of privacy and seclusion.

You can get reasonable rates -by Seychelles standards- for apartments, bed-sitters and bungalows. Most of the hotels sit on Mahe Island while some of the smaller islands host only a single hotel. The Seychelles is deliberately not a mass-market destination. Accommodation can get very tight especially in the high season, especially the periods mid December-early January and mid July-end August.

It is always advisable to book hotel accommodation early and if required confirm with a deposit. For convenience you may also wish to buy a Seychelles holiday package that covers accommodation, airport transfers and some onsite tours and activities.

Only a few airlines offer direct flights to Seychelles. Air Seychelles offers direct flights from selected cities in Europe and Africa, as well as inter-island links. Connections to North America, Australia and the Far East are widely available.

Seychelles enjoys a steady, warm and humid tropical climate with average temperatures at 29°C. There are two distinctive seasons, which are influenced by the monsoon winds. May to September is cooler and less humid, while November to March tends to be hotter, rainier and sometimes suffer heavy storms. Unlike other Indian Ocean Islands, Seychelles luckily falls outside the cyclone belt and does not experience devastating storms. The islands escaped almost unscathed from the Asian Tsunami of December 2004.

Be sure to bring comfortable tropical attire; cotton is highly recommended. There are many opportunities for walking and you need to carry comfy steady shoes. You must not forget your beachwear, rimmed caps, sunglasses and some sunscreen to fight the tropical sun