About Seychelles

Geography

The Republic of Seychelles is spread over 115 small islands in the Indian Ocean, east of Africa and north of Madagascar and Mauritius. There are two types of islands scattered across an area of approximately 1100 x 800 km. In the northeast of the country are the actual Seychelles islands known as the “Inner Islands” (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and others). These are formed of massive granite rocks. The rest of the archipelago is known as the "Outer Islands" - these islands are formed of flat coral atolls which account for almost half of the dry land. Thirty-three islands are inhabited. Four-fifths of the population live on the largest island of Mahé, where the Seychelles capital of Victoria is located. The population is composed of a varied ethnic mix. There is a blend of African, European, Chinese, Indian as well as Arab blood here, which is also reflected in the languages. French, English and Creole are spoken on the islands, with Creole being the mother tongue of all Seychellois.

Climate

Because Seychelles lie near the equator (south of it, actually), the climate is tropical, moist, but very stable. Temperatures throughout the year range between 25-32°C, with a warmer climate prevailing from November to April, when also tropical rains are more frequent, however, rains come mostly at night in the form of short abundant showers. The water temperature hovers around a pleasant 27°C all year round, in coastal lagoons it is even a few degrees higher. Moreover, thanks to its location, Seychelles are not within the band of tropical cyclones and are therefore ideal for year-round visits.

Nature

The magic of Seychelles lies in the beautiful unspoilt countryside, which still consists largely of dense tropical forest with endemic species of flora and fauna. In this respect, Aldabra Atoll particularly stands out. It has the world's largest population of giant tortoises numbering 150 to 180 thousand and in 1982 was declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Another unique symbol of the country are its Coco de Mer palm trees with huge coconuts weighing up to 30 kilograms with a shape resembling a woman's lap. The grove of almost four thousand palm trees extending through the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve on Praslin island was also inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Seychelles government makes great efforts to preserve the local natural resources and therefore up to half of the land area is covered by nature reserves and national parks.

Accessibility

The accessibility of Seychelles has improved significantly with the introduction of daily flights by Emirates Airlines from Prague with a transfer in Dubai. Another option is a direct flight from Frankfurt, Germany with Condor. The airplanes land at the Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) which is located 8 kilometres southeast of the capital Victoria on Mahé island.