Things to do

It would seem an understatement to say that The Seychelles is a nature lover’s paradise. Just being there is gratifying enough. Aside from the three main island choices, there are 112 others to explore through the network of air and sea transport operating daily out of the principal island of Mahé that caters to tourist whims—ferry services, domestic flights, chopper transfers.

Bird watching

Few other places on earth have equal or better bird-watching breaks than the Seychelles. The islands of Cousin and Aride thrill bird watchers and orthinologists with their rare residents, brown and lesser noddies, Seychelles fody, Seychelles warbler, white-tailed tropicbirds, black parrots and greater frigatebirds. In Aride, the most northerly of the granitic islands, watch vast colonies of seabirds from October to the end of April.

On Bird Island between May and October, millions of sooty terns come with breeding purpose.

The nature reserve of Cousin shelters lots of rare bird friends: the brush warbler, the Seychelles toc-toc and the fairy tern. In April or May, feast on the sights of more than a million birds coming to nest here. http://www.env.gov.sc/html/seychelles_endemic_species__an.html

Fish watching

Because of the great non-involvement of man with The Seychelles, there are still universities (not just schools) of fish to ogle and gasp at. Albeit fishing is a way of life for many locals and the islands hold world records for both fly and game fishing, it’s a shame to rob the oceans of its beautiful citizens. So be a good child of Mother Nature and leave the fish where they belong.

A great way to share the privileged underwater wonders without getting wet is aboard a glass-bottomed boat. Relish moving pictures of coral, fish, plants, creatures, and more fish from Victoria to St Anne Marine National Park, an enclave of the islands of St Anne, Beacon (classified as a nature reserve), Cerf (renowned for Creole food), Long (closed to the public), Round (reputed for its tuna steaks) and Moyenne (privately owned, but open to visiting tourists).

Island hopping

Seychelles’ smorgasbord of islands, one set apart from the other, each shaped by its own history, geography and character, is such a pleasurable adventure to cruise through. Absolute must! Go for a whole day, or stay and immerse in any of its exotic island hideaways by power boat, cabin cruiser or yacht which can be booked daily, weekly or monthly. Contact www.seychelles.net/mca.

La Digue, a three-hour schooner cruise from Mahé or a 30-minute one from Praslin, is a postcard pretty treat of old plantation houses such as Château Saint-Cloud, a vanilla plantation, copra factories and superb beaches. While there, watch out for the black paradise flycatcher, a gorgeous little winged citizen of the Seychelles.

Frégate, at the easternmost and most isolated of the granitic islands, you’ll find the almost extinct magpie robin.

Thérèse, five-minute boat trip from Port Glaud is another tortoise haven with interesting rock-pools.

Get wet

The sparkling clear and oh-so-warm waters of the Seychelles can hypnotize you to plunge in with sheer abandon. Take your pick: waterskiing, windsurfing, sailing, fishing, scuba-diving, sea-kayaking, snorkeling or all of the above.

One of the world’s top 10 diving spots, The Seychelles diving rewards are matchless: shipwrecks, coral gardens, tropical fish like you’ve never seen before—in color, quantity and quality. There are diving courses for rookies. Desroches, the largest of the Amirantes archipelago takes you to another dimension of this plane deep under the sea. Sea cliffs, tunnels, caves and a multitude of tropical fish. Even shallower exploring, snorkeling at the St Anne National Marine Park, is a mesmerizing treat.

National Parks

For such a small area on earth, The Seychelles boasts six national marine parks, two of which are proclaimed UNESCO World Heritage sites, both managed by the Seychelles Islands Foundation: Aldabra Islands and Vallee de Mai on Praslin (see Praslin). They are all wonderful live learning opportunities to experience exotic local species up close and personal in their home sweet homes.

Aldabra Islands, the world's largest raised coral reef comprises 13 islands of the Seychelles, covering one-third of its land mass, is home to 150,000 giant land tortoises, reputedly five times more than on the tortoise-famous Galapagos Islands. Some tortoises have been exported to Curieuse, now a reserve for giant tortoises.

Cousin Island Special Reserve, its bird and marine sanctuary has put this island reserve on the world-map and earned a number of conservation and eco-tourism awards.

St Anne National Marine Park, a short drive from the capital Port Victoria, is an unforgettable rare chance to watch the deep blue sea in action. No aquariums, no tanks, everything is where nature wants them to be.

Beaches

Seychelles can very well boast of having some of the world’s best beaches—uncrowded, powder fine sand, pristine, great for kids from 2 to 200 years to construct sand castles, play a game of football, or to just veg out. http://www.seychelles.travel/en/things_to_do/beaches.php

Anse Source d'Argent in La Digue is Seychelles’ most famous beach featuring its nature-designed and -constructed granite rock art from which people jump off into the warm waters. At La Digue’s northernmost tip close to the Patatran Village is Anse Patates, an incredibly fun venture. Anse a la Mouche, on the southwestern coast of Mahé offers ball game, water sports, and more for children.

Some guidelines on beach combing: Keep posted on ocean updates; some times of the year, there are beaches that are very swimmer-unfriendly due to strong underwater currents. No shark attack within the last 20 years; no Great Whites exist around the main islands. Wear swimmer shoes while wading or swimming unless you don’t mind stubbing toes against coral or Stone Fish (very rare within the islands). Naked and topless bathing is strictly forbidden, violators will be fined. (Could there be some connection to Adam and his girlfriend’s banishment from paradise?)

Check out:

http://www.hoteltravel.com/seychelles/guides/sightseeing.htm#top_things
http://www.seychelles.travel/en/things_to_do/from_mahe.php
http://www.seychelles.travel/en/things_to_do/activities.php