Why your next holiday destination should be Seychelles?

By BUSINESS REPORTER

WITH its porcelain white sandy beaches, baked sun with colours, spectacular boulders combined with hospitable inhabitants that are just open to the world, you need not ask further why your next holiday should be in Seychelles.

The island country offers “one of the most spectacular sceneries in the world” as its coastlines and landscapes stretch to impressive formations.

Spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, the country is home to no less than two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the legendary Vallée de Mai on Praslin where the wondrously shaped Coco-de-mer nut grows high on ancient palms, and fabled Aldabra, the world’s largest raised coral atoll, first seen by early Arab seafarers of the 9th century A.D.

For over two centuries, the islands with an estimated population of 86,525 (the smallest population of any African State) have remained a melting pot of different races, traditions and religions from the four corners of the earth. There is a high level tolerance, and most visitors come to worship nature that is more beautiful on the island than any other place on the African continent.

A little contact with the main island of Mahé, home to the international airport and the capital, Victoria, and its satellites Praslin and La Digue, plunges visitors further into the Seychellois vibrant culture. After a fete on the heritage, you will discover why the island country still retains its reputation as the melting pot of cultures – a country which openly spells out its cultural diversity to the world.

 Besides the sprawling beaches and sand domes, Seychelles is a living museum of natural history and a sanctuary for some of the rarest species of flora and fauna on earth. With almost 50 percent of its limited landmass set aside as national parks and reserves, Seychelles prides itself on its record for far-sighted conservation policies that have resulted in an enviable degree of protection for the environment and the varied ecosystems it supports.

The fabulous Coco-de-mer, the largest seed in the world, the jellyfish tree, with only eight surviving examples, the Seychelles’ paradise flycatcher and Seychelles warbler are among the unique endemic specimens that can only be found on the islands.

From the smallest frog to the heaviest land tortoise and the only flightless bird of the Indian Ocean, Seychelles nurtures an amazing array of endemic species within surroundings of exceptional natural beauty.

However, Seychelles’ enviable climate that is always warm and without extremes is one unique feature that encourages all-year-round fun on the island. In this tropical haven, the temperature seldom drops below 24°C or rises above 32°C. All but the remotest southern islands lie comfortably outside the cyclone belt, making Seychelles’ a year-round destination for sun worshippers and beach lovers.

But besides the stunningly beautiful landscape with topaz water, white sand beaches, best of flora and fauna, Seychelles is attracting the world because “it is one of the safest countries in the world and its welcoming tourism policy allowing visa-free travel for every nationality.

Accommodation is something that will marvel you as global hotel chains compete to establish their outlets and marks on the islands’ tourism landscape. Beyond Seychelles’ homely charms of small hotels, creole guest houses, and self-catering establishments, the destination’s image reflects a wide choice of accommodation comfort of 5-star resorts.

When asked how he found Seychelles on his return, an European tourists said: “Seychelles is the land of beauty, history, and romance. But it encompasses other amenities that other destinations I have visited in Africa do not offer.”

You now see why Seychelles is such a popular tourist destination in Africa for the world.