Mahé is the economic center, and
both the international airport and the seaport
are located on the island, which also acts
as the transit point for visitors enroute
to other islands. The island is inhabited
by some 65,000 people (90% of the population).
The capital is Victoria. It is scattered
with idyllic beaches - over 75 of them -
with soft white sand fringed by swaying palm
trees and lapped by the beautiful deep-blue
ocean.
Though small Mahe has many attractions,
from strolling around the market town of
Victoria, with a replica of Big Ben, the
clock is immortalized in a famous island
song as the Clock that chimed twice. Other
attractions include botanical gardens,
quaint shops and boutiques, a Hindu temple
and a variety of nightlife venues including
two casinos. For the more energetic there
are a series of nature trails and water sports
galore including several well-run diving
centers.
There are some 5,000 inhabitants and is
many people's idea of paradise. The coastline
is scattered with large rocks and surrounded
by coral reefs teeming with life, while
the interior is mainly untouched forest.
On the west coast of Praslin is one of
the world's most beautiful beaches, Anse
Lazio.
Praslin contains three of the world's
rarest birds as well as the Vallée
de Mai National Park, home to the Coco
de Mer, an extraordinary and much prized
palm tree fruit, which produces a double
nut. An airstrip on the northwest coast
provides access from Mahé in just
15 minutes, while a boat trip will take
60 minutes.
Transport
is generally by ox cart or bicycle on La
Digue, a tranquil paradise and the most untouched
of all the beautiful Seychelles islands.
However, any part of La Digue can be reached
in less than an hour on foot.The island is
surrounded by coral reefs, which provide
excellent diving and snorkeling opportunities
and also protect the beaches, so the sea
is safe for swimming. Fishing is also a rewarding
experience.
Inland, the woods of La Digue
are full of rare and exotic plants, and
the island is the only nesting place of the
extremely rare Black Paradise Flycatcher.
Daytrips to La Digue are possible, but a
timeless paradise such as this, where life
has remained unchanged for so many years,
surely deserves a longer stay.
The
island boasts over 20 species of birds, with
a great number of them breeding on the island;
Sooty Terns breed in their thousands from
May to the end of October, occupying one-sixth
of the whole islands. Bird island is also
known as the breeding place for both the
Hawksbill and the Green Turtle.
There
exist on earth only a few locations which
can offer a taste of perfection and among
these can be counted Desroches. Located
in the Amirantes islands, 240kms southeast
of Mahé, Desroches is a small
jewel with the shade of coconut palms,
14 kms of immaculate beaches, lapped
by crystal blue waters and protected
by its own coral reef.
There are plenty
of things to do, from exploring the
island coconut grove by bicycle,
to watersports, tennis, petanque, golf
or diving on one of 14 classified
sites, or just relax in this tranquil paradise.
DENIS ISLAND Area: 375 acres
It
is a privately owned coral island with two
long stretches of sparkling white beaches
bordered by coconut trees and a sea full
of beautiful fish and coloured corals. There
are 25 deluxe cottages on this island. There
are 4 flights from Mahé each week
and the island offers a real sense of tranquility
and isolation.
Frégate Island Private is a 16
villa resort opened in December 1998.
The voluntary limitation to 16 villas
restricts the number of guests present
on the island at any one time to 40.
No other hotel will exist on the island
so it will remain forever a private and
exclusive refuge for environmentally
conscious travelers.
Two of Frégate
Island's private villas are positioned
on sheltered meadows, built with the
needs of families in mind. The island's
own plantation guarantees that guests
can enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables
every day. The seven beautiful beaches
of Frégate offer swimming, snorkeling,
scuba diving, deepwater sea fishing and
other watersports. A freshwater swimming
pool is integrated within a natural rock
basin.
