• Seychelles

    The Seychelles is made up of 115 sparkling islands in the azure expanse of the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa. The main islands of this archipelago include Mahe, which is the largest followed by Pralsin and La Digue. No matter how seductive images of the Seychelles are in a glossy travel magazine or brochure, they cannot compete with the reality of the exquisite silvery secluded beaches and crystal clear waters that are the Seychelles. Other nearby island countries and territories include Zanzibar to the west, Mauritius and Reunion to the south, Comoros and Mayotte to the southwest, and the Suvadives of the Maldives to the northeast.

    Seychelles has the smallest population of any sovereign state of Africa. As the islands of the Seychelles had no indigenous population, the current Seychellois are composed of immigrants, mostly of French, African, Indian, and Chinese descent. French and English are official languages along with a French-based Creole. The Seychellois People with their unique character and timeless island ways are waiting to welcome you to this tropical paradise.

    The granitic islands of Seychelles are home to about 75 endemic plant species including the well-known Coco de mer, a species of palm that grows only on the islands of Praslin and neighboring Curieuse.

    The giant tortoises from Aldabra now populate many of the islands of the Seychelles. The Aldabra population is the largest in the world. These unique reptiles can be found even in captive herds. It was once claimed that the granitic islands of Seychelles supported distinct species of Seychelles giant tortoises but recent genetic studies suggest only one form was present throughout the islands of Seychelles at the time of the arrival of man.

    Seychelles hosts some of the largest seabird colonies in the world. Islands such as Bird, Aride Island, Cousin, Aldabra and Cosmoledo host many species of seabirds including the sooty tern, fairy tern, white-tailed tropicbird, noddies and frigatebirds. The marine life around the islands, especially the more remote coral islands, can be spectacular. More than 1000 species of fish have been recorded. Since the use of spearguns and dynamite for fishing was banned through efforts of local conservationists in the 1960s, the wildlife is unafraid of snorkelers and divers.

     


    Click to learn more about the properties found in Seychelles areas