Location

Far remote in the western part of the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles are located between the 4th and 10th degrees of latitude south of the equator on the Mascarene Ridge, together with Mauritius, La Réunion and the Cargados-Carajos Islands. The archipelago, scattered over a vast sea area north of Madagascar, belongs topographically to Africa and consists of about 115 islands.

History

Ancient tombs on Silhouette testify that seafarers and traders from the Middle East already knew the Seychelles despite their were already familiar with the Seychelles despite their remoteness, as were presumably settlers from Southeast Asia who settled on Madagascar. In the 9th century, the archipelago is first recorded on an Arabic sea chart, and later Arabic writings mention high islands on the route to the Maldives.

For a long time, however, the Seychelles remained undiscovered by the Europeans, who did not sail around the Cape of Good Hope until around 1500.

and explore the spice route to India, with Vasco da Gama reaching the Amirantes. In 1609, a British expedition anchors off Mahé for provisions and drinking water, and from 1685 pirates are reported to exist in the region. Mahé with the eastern islands is formally taken possession of for France in 1756, soon permanent settlement takes place and French corsairs make life difficult for the English merchant fleet in the Indian Ocean, the bold privateer Robert Surcouf from Saint-Malo alone is said to have robbed over 40 ships. In an effort to make the sea route to South Asia safer, the English attacked several times, finally annexing the islands in 1811. Under the new colonial rule, the slave trade is banned and slavery abolished, the region serves mainly as a place of exile and receives little attention from London, which is why the French influence is still strongly felt today.

Since 1976, the Seychelles have been an independent republic and a member of the Commonwealth. The inhabitants are mostly descendants of French settlers and African labor slaves, but there are also small Chinese and Indian minorities. The strong mixture is also reflected in the culture, celebrated with the lively carnival in April, the FetAfrik in May and the festival Kreol in October. As a common everyday language, seselwa has developed, Seychelles Creole is based lexically on French.

Other official languages are English, which is used primarily in administration and business, and French, which is less widely spoken.

Economy

Hospitality and a simple island life characterize the Seychelles. With the change in Eastern Europe, they have moved from a moderate socialist system, which provided the population with a high level of social security and relative prosperity, to a pluralistic constitution and moderately liberal economic system. Today, tourism is the country's main source of income. On the one hand, high-priced luxury tourism is the order of the day, with no hotel towering above the palm trees except for an old concrete building on the west coast of Mahé; on the other hand, well-kept guesthouse tourism is the order of the day, so that even modest families can share in the profits. Local currency is the Seychelles Rupee (SCR), local motifs adorn the coins and banknotes, just as the special flora and fauna often provide the subjects for stamps, which are highly sought after by collectors. The area belongs to the UTC+4 time zone, no visa is required for entry, but a valid passport, a return ticket and sufficient financial means for the stay.

Things to know and places of interest

In the course of the geodynamic drift at the junction between India and East Africa, the Seychelles were left in their present isolated position in the ocean as a fracture splinter, a microcontinent of granitic primary rock and unique in the world. Separated from the mainland for millions of years, numerous endemic species have survived here, some of which are highly endangered and strictly protected. These include the Seychelles flying fox, which feeds mainly on fruit, the bronze gecko and the green day gecko, the tiny Seychelles frog and the Aldabra giant tortoise, exotic bird species such as the Seychelles dajal, the bulbul, the fruit dove or the raven parrot as well as various palm species such as the Latanier palm with its stilt roots. The landmark is the famous koko-d-mer, the palm tree bears its first fruit when it is about 20 years old, it produces the largest and heaviest plant seeds in the world, whose sensual shape is reminiscent of a woman's buttocks, the sale of the expensive nuts is limited by law.

On stormy nights, the male and female sea nut palms, which can grow up to 30 meters high, are said to mate - anyone who watches the phallus-like inflorescences copulate with the inconspicuous, knotty feminine flowers, it is said, must die.

The island groups of the Seychelles with their waters rich in fish are divided according to their location into the mountainous Inner Islands made of granite stone and the flat Outer Islands.

Seychelles - Victoria - Mahé

The Inner Islands rest on the large Seychelles Bank rising steeply from the seabed, with water depths ranging from 15 to 65 meters. With Victoria as the urban center and Morne Seychellois (905 m) as the highest point of land, Mahé is the main island where 80% of the population lives, followed by Praslin and La Digue. The granite islands are very green, covered by lush vegetation with palm groves and colorful flowers. The former tropical virgin forest with tall trees, dense foliage, orchids and cannelianas can only be found in the higher mountain areas, in the coastal area the mangrove forests have largely disappeared. As a result of settlement, many original plants have been pushed back, especially at lower altitudes, and replaced by introduced species such as cinnamon tree, eucalyptus, albizia, hibiscus or bougainvillea. On Mahé a gray to gray-brown granite predominates, on Sainte Anne pale-gray gneiss determines the picture and Ile Thérèse shows exceptionally bright quartz crystal inclusions, while Praslin and La Digue consist of reddish rose granite, Silhouette and Ile du Nord on the other hand mainly of dark colored syenite.

Seychelles - Vallée de Mai - Praslin

In contrast, the almost deserted Outer Islands, far from any civilization, form a sparkling strand of small coral islands and atolls, some with shallow lagoons rising from the deep sea on the rim of submerged volcanoes. These lonely outposts of the Seychelles are primarily home to numerous seabirds and sea turtles. In addition to the southern islets of Coëtivy and Platte, they include the Amirantes, the Alphonse, Farquhar and Aldabara archipelagos, which extend up to 600 nm to the southwest and lie only a few meters above sea level, dry and barren, without freshwater sources.

Nature is therefore the wealth of this resource-poor island state, which was the first country in the world to incorporate nature conservation into its constitution and designate more than half of its land area as protected areas, including an almost untouched area around Morne Seychellois on Mahé and Silhouette Island. The Vallée de Mai on Praslin, remnants of a prehistoric forest, and the Aldabra Atoll are UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites.

Winds

Due to their proximity to the equator, the Seychelles have a tropical maritime climate, air and water are warm all year round. They are particularly suitable for relaxing and fun vacations on the water in fantastic nature.

The average temperatures are between 24 and 30 °C during the day, 18 to 23 °C at night, the sea offers with 25 to 28 °C a pleasurable bathing pleasure, which you can not indulge in every beach because of the sometimes strong surf. The weather conditions are locally very variable and change rapidly, so it can rain heavily on one side of a larger island while the sun shines on the other side.

Seychelles - La Digue

The region is under the influence of the monsoon, from October to April it is warm and humid, from May to September cooler and drier, the two seasons differ mainly in wind direction and rainfall. Between sunny spells, the northwest monsoon brings heavy, gray clouds and lots of rain. With the southeast monsoon, a full wind often blows and the seas are relatively rough, although moderate rainfall, which limits the amount of sunshine, is not unusual. Humidity is consistently high at around 80%, but usually bearable thanks to the sea breeze.

The transition period cannot be predicted exactly, it may well start a little earlier or later, or sometimes last for two months. The transition periods are relatively hot, with light variable winds and calm clear seas, occasionally there are lulls. On calm days it can become oppressively humid, then one is glad about a warm downpour, which brings refreshment.

Weather

On the Seychelles it blows from December to March with 10 to 15 knots partly unsteady from northwest, from May to September constantly with 15 to 30 knots from southeast, wind forces over 7 Bft are rather rare and occur mainly in August and September. Best sailing time with ideal weather conditions is at the beginning of the southeast monsoon between March and June. The wind freshens strongly from July to September and the long waves from the southeastern quadrant, hardly noticeable in deep water, create imposing breakers on the exposed coasts, which are impossible to approach. Sailing is also possible during the northwest monsoon, but then heavy rain showers and thunderstorms are to be expected, some of which can last for several hours.

The existing sea currents have their origin in the monsoon, they start from January to March with about 1.5 kn to the east, from June to September with 1.2 kn to the west. Locally, current speeds of up to 4 kn are possible, especially in the passages between islands or banks and in the reef entrances. Slightly delayed, the current capsize follows the change of the monsoon winds and takes place in April and December, respectively.

Tropical cyclones, known as cyclones in the Indian Ocean, may form in the far south of the Seychelles but move rapidly to the southwest, where they mainly threaten Mauritius, La Réunion and Madagascar as well as the East African coast. The Inner Islands lie outside the cyclone belt, only the far-flung Outer Islands of the Farquhar or Aldabra group are tangentially affected.

Tides

With about 6 hours between low and high tide, mostly asymmetric tides occur twice a day, and often successive high and low tides are very different. At neap, the tidal range can occasionally be extremely low, reaching 3 m at spring, with some bays or lagoons being partially or even completely emptied. The swell is usually moderate at 1 to 2 m and only higher during strong winds, but even during the northwest monsoon a slight residual swell from the southeast remains.

Yacht charter Seychelles: Current weather and weather forecast from Windy.com

Yacht charter Seychellens

Cruise - Info Seychelles: A cruising area under the spell of the monsoon

Duration: 1 - 3 Weeks

Port of departure: Mahé or Praslin

Incredibly beautiful bays, almost untouched silver-white sandy beaches, majestic palm trees and bizarrely shaped granite rocks, a colorful sea with coral reefs close to the coast, shimmering brown, orange, green or blue, rare animal and plant species as well as huge bird colonies are the trademarks of the Seychelles. Yachting, usually limited to the manageable Inner Islands, leads here through a very special and little traveled part of the world, which makes this area so interesting. They are not considered an exotic dream destination in unique nature for nothing.

Seychelles - Eden Island

Apart from the Eden Island Marina on Mahé and some small facilities in the capital, there is no nautical infrastructure, one lies exclusively at anchor or moors at buoys. Provisioning for the entire duration of the cruise is best done before setting sail from the starting point. Basic foodstuffs are usually available and fresh fish is easy to get, fruits and vegetables are seasonally available. The supply in supermarkets and mini-markets is not comparable to European conditions and imported goods, including meat, have long supply routes

when the delivery arrives. Water is only available at the piers of Victoria, Praslin and La Digue. Designated as marine protected areas or nature reserves are Baie Ternay and Port Launay in the northwest of Mahé, the small archipelago of Sainte Anne off Victoria, and the islands of Silhouette, Aride, Cousin, Curieuse and Coco. Both landing and mooring fees are required to visit them. Ile du Nord, Cousine, Les Soeurs, Félicité, Marianne and Frégate are private islands. They may not be entered without prior permission, but anchoring is tolerated. Only Grande Soeur is open to the public, but a fee is charged.

Between Mahé and Silhouette as well as La Digue and Frégate it is about 13 nm over open sea, the largest distances are 20 to 30 nm, for example from Mahé or Silhouette to Praslin or from Frégate to Mahé, many of the small islands are only a stone's throw away from each other. All destinations can be reached within a day's sailing, and the passages combine a mixture of open sea sailing and short strokes between nearby islands.

Which leaves all the more time for exploring and enjoying.... Sailing, swimming, snorkeling, shore excursions and - last but not least - Creole food. The basis for most dishes is rice and fresh fish, typical are delicious curries, as well as coconut milk for the preparation of delicious sauces. There is also a lot of ginger, garlic and onions as well as hearty chutneys. Bird eggs, available only at certain times of the year, especially those of terns, are considered a delicacy in the Seychelles. Local beers are a popular thirst quencher, main varieties being SeyBrew, a mild lager, the slightly more tart Eku, and the local Guinness, a very spicy dark beer. Palm wine, called kalou, is also a must try.

Seychelles - Grande Anse - La Digue

A Seychelles cruise can be arranged "à la carte", there are countless fantastic anchorages, one more magnificent than the other. The tour starts either on Mahé, where the international flights arrive and most providers have their base, or on Praslin, the transfer takes place by short domestic flight or with the fast ferry Cat Cocos. The sailing schedule is largely dependent on weather conditions, as wind direction, surf and currents determine the locations that can be visited and used for safe overnight stays. Trips from 7 to 14 or more days are feasible, also wonderful to combine with vacations on land.

Since it gets light in the tropics in the morning from 06.00 o'clock and dark quickly in the evening around 18.00 o'clock after a short twilight, it is important to get up early and use the day. Night sailing is not allowed for safety reasons due to the lack of lighting and the many rocks, reefs and shoals.

On Mahé the main fairway to Victoria is buoyed, freighters and island ferries moor here, pleasure boats find shelter in various, often small marinas. You should take some time to explore the sleepy charming capital with its pretty colonial buildings, stroll through the colorful market, past the central square with Lorloz or visit the museums and the botanical garden. Also worthwhile are excursions to the Morne Seychellois National Park or to La Plaine Saint André, the traditional plantation house now houses a Creole restaurant and the Takamaka Bay rum distillery.

From Victoria, the first strike usually leads to the neighboring archipelago of Sainte Anne, Ronde and Moyenne, partly surrounded by dry-dropping shoals, with extensive reefs, spectacular underwater world and bars and restaurants best known among sailors. In the north of Mahé, Beau Vallon and Bel Ombre are rather lively places, while Anse Major and Baie Ternay are located on a wild, lonely stretch of coast and can only be reached on foot or by boat. Rounding Pointe Mapoota, you reach the well-protected natural harbor of Port Launay, starting point for a hike to Sauzier Falls or to Pointe de l'Escalier, where naturally layered stone steps lead into the sea. A cab takes you to the Tea Factory at the foot of Morne Blanc with a magnificent view of the west coast. You're also in good hands at Anse à la Mouche, Anse Soleil or Anse Petite, as well as Baie Lazare, while Anse aux Poules Bleues is a great snorkeling spot.

The offshore islands of Conception and Thérèse are only accessible in calm weather, the latter offers a beautiful beach, a narrow passage through the reef allows landing by dinghy, where then a staircase carved into the rock leads to the top.

Seychelles - Vallée de Mai - Praslin

Permission must be obtained in advance to visit Silhouette Island in the northwest of Mahé, one of the most important biodiversity areas in the Indian Ocean. It has a tropical forest still almost intact and houses a breeding station for giant tortoises. Anse de la Passe is the main landing site, anchoring is near the reef passage, alternatively in Anse Lascars or Anse Mondon. On the neighboring, private Ile du Nord is one of the world's most extraordinary luxury hotel complexes, a refuge in the middle of nature.

From Mahé, head northeast along a chain of shoals to Praslin. Just off the coast are the private island of Cousine and the Cousin Nature Reserve, which is worth visiting with a guided tour.

Quiet and beautiful anchorages can be found mainly on the north coast, while the huge and shallow Grand Anse in the west, dotted with numerous coral stacks, is unsuitable. In Baie Sainte Anne, the "supply port" in the south of Praslin, you are anchored. Anse Volbert with the islet of Chauve Souris to the east is the most popular beach on the island, anchored off the reef or inland. From both places you can make excursions by cab to the magical Vallée de Mai, where the famous Seychelles palms grow in the remaining part of the prehistoric jungle, which are also found in Fond Ferdinand.

At Curieuse Island, east of Praslin, there are buoys where you can spend the night. As on Silhouette, there are free-living giant tortoises as well as a breeding station, plus a small museum and ruins from the time when the island was a leper colony. Paths lead across the mountainous island, where isolated Seychelles palms grow, and in the mangrove forest, boardwalks lead to the marshlands, where thousands of crabs can be seen. The waters are ideal for snorkeling, the marine park also includes the island of Saint Pierre, probably the most famous photo motif of the Seychelles.

Further north lies Aride, the exposed island can only be approached in calm weather. It is home to one of the most important bird populations in the Indian Ocean, breeding Noddi and Roseate Terns, Frigatebirds and Red-tailed Tropicbirds. A pre-arranged tour of the island is a sensational experience and still best gives an impression of the Seychelles before colonization.

Unlike Mahé and Praslin, La Digue is a tranquil island best explored by bicycle or on foot. Only a few yachts find accommodation in the modest Port de la Passe, anchoring in the harbor area is usually the order of the day. Absolute highlights are the bays in the scenic south of the island, especially Anse Cocos, while the beautiful Anse Marron is only accessible by dinghy. On land, there is the Union Estate with coconut and vanilla plantation, historic settlers' house and still active copra mill, the traditional shipyard with boats made of Takamaka wood, the beach Anse Source d'Argent with fine sand, crystal clear water and rounded granite rocks or the nature reserve La Veuve, breeding area of the rare Paradise Flycatcher.

The neighboring private islands of Félicité, Marianne and Petite Soeur may not be entered, but this does not exclude mooring at anchor. On Grande Soeur, however, landing is allowed, and there is even a beach bar where you can enjoy locally caught seafood and a cool drink. On the east coast, anchoring is not easy because of the rapidly increasing water depth. A stop at Ile Coco is almost a must, the shallow turquoise sea gives a breathtaking view into the colorful underwater world of the Seychelles. If the weather is right, you can venture a detour to Frégate, the isolated private island with a beautiful north coast and luxurious resort offers only in the southeast a protected anchorage, landing is not allowed. If you are looking for an island all to yourself, head for Ile aux Récifs on the way back to Mahé in calm weather.

Seychelles: Price list

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