Introduction
It's as sea-sun-sand relaxing as it sounds. 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.
Geography:
The Seychelles is a group of about 115 islands which lie 1600km (990mi) off the coast of east Africa. The three central islands - Mah é , Praslin and La Digue - are granite, while the outlying islands are coral atolls. Unlike most similar islands, the Seychelles are not volcanic - they seem to be the peaks of a huge underwater plateau that was torn away from Africa.
Destination Facts
Capital: Victoria (pop 27,000)
President: James Michel
Government: democratic republic
Time zone: GMT +4
Area: 455
Population: 79330
People: Seychellois (of African, Indian and European background)
Languages: Catholic (90%), Anglican (8%)
Currency: Seychelles Rupee (SR)
Major industries: Fishing, tourism, coconut & vanilla processing, copra, boat building
Major Trading Partners: China, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Japan, France, South Africa, UK, Germany
Country Dialing Code: 248
Getting there and away
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.
Getting around
Air Seychelles runs regular flights to Praslin, Fr é gate, Desroches, Bird and Denis Island, and will run charters to other islands. Helicopters also fly to some of the islands. Ferries run regularly betweenn Mah é , Praslin and la Digue - if you want to go to the other islands you'll have to charter a boat. An extensive bus service operates throughout Mah é , and there's limited service on Praslin. Hire cars are readily available on Mah é and Praslin. Most of the roads on Mah é and Praslin are sealed; it's other drivers that can be a bit of a danger. Taxis run on Mah é , Praslin and La Digue. Though taxis are metered, drivers are often reluctant to use them - be prepared to negotiate. There are plenty of bicycles for hire on La Digue, which is ideal for cyling and walking. There are a few rental outlets on Praslin but on Mah é , which is a bit hilly for casual cyclists, bike hire is hard to find.
Weather
The Seychelles' seasons are defined by the trade winds. These blow from the northwest from October to April, bringing warm, wet weather. From May to September the southeast trades usher in cooler, drier weather but the winds whip up the waves and you'll want to find protected beaches. The turnaround periods (March through April and October through November) are normally calm and windless. The annual temperature range fluctuates between 24 ° C (75 ° F) and 31 ° C (88 ° F) and the humidity sweats at around 80%. The rain generally comes in sudden, heavy bursts. January is the wettest month, and mountainous Mah é and Silhouette get the most rainfall. July and August are the driest. Although the Seychelles lies outside the cyclone zone, cyclone activity elsewhere in the Indian Ocean can still bring unseasonably grey, windy weather between December and March.
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It's as sea-sun-sand relaxing as it sounds. 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.
The Seychelles is a group of about 115 islands which lie 1600km (990mi) off the coast of east Africa. The three central islands - Mah é , Praslin and La Digue - are granite, while the outlying islands are coral atolls. Unlike most similar islands, the Seychelles are not volcanic - they seem to be the peaks of a huge underwater plateau that was torn away from Africa.
Capital: Victoria (pop 27,000)
President: James Michel
Government: democratic republic
Time zone: GMT +4
Area: 455
Population: 79330
People: Seychellois (of African, Indian and European background)
Languages: Catholic (90%), Anglican (8%)
Currency: Seychelles Rupee (SR)
Major industries: Fishing, tourism, coconut & vanilla processing, copra, boat building
Major Trading Partners: China, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Japan, France, South Africa, UK, Germany
Country Dialing Code: 248
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.
Air Seychelles runs regular flights to Praslin, Fr é gate, Desroches, Bird and Denis Island, and will run charters to other islands. Helicopters also fly to some of the islands. Ferries run regularly betweenn Mah é , Praslin and la Digue - if you want to go to the other islands you'll have to charter a boat. An extensive bus service operates throughout Mah é , and there's limited service on Praslin. Hire cars are readily available on Mah é and Praslin. Most of the roads on Mah é and Praslin are sealed; it's other drivers that can be a bit of a danger. Taxis run on Mah é , Praslin and La Digue. Though taxis are metered, drivers are often reluctant to use them - be prepared to negotiate. There are plenty of bicycles for hire on La Digue, which is ideal for cyling and walking. There are a few rental outlets on Praslin but on Mah é , which is a bit hilly for casual cyclists, bike hire is hard to find.
The Seychelles' seasons are defined by the trade winds. These blow from the northwest from October to April, bringing warm, wet weather. From May to September the southeast trades usher in cooler, drier weather but the winds whip up the waves and you'll want to find protected beaches. The turnaround periods (March through April and October through November) are normally calm and windless. The annual temperature range fluctuates between 24 ° C (75 ° F) and 31 ° C (88 ° F) and the humidity sweats at around 80%. The rain generally comes in sudden, heavy bursts. January is the wettest month, and mountainous Mah é and Silhouette get the most rainfall. July and August are the driest. Although the Seychelles lies outside the cyclone zone, cyclone activity elsewhere in the Indian Ocean can still bring unseasonably grey, windy weather between December and March.
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