|
|
...
Inner Isles
...
|
|
|
The most northerly islands of Seychelles
are known as the Inner Islands. These are all of the granitic islands and include the capital island of
Mahe as well as the popular islands of Praslin and La Digue and a host of smaller islands.
|
|
Mahé:
This is the largest of the islands, and hosts the international airport, the port and the capital Victoria. The
majority of the population live on Mahé. It is an island with at least 70 powder white beaches and lush
vegetation with forested peaks that allow unparalleled views of neighbouring islands. Mahé is dominated
by a mountain range that forms the backbone of the island. The highest peak, Morne Seychellois, reaches a
height of 905metres.
|
|
Excursions can be made from Victoria to nearby St Anne Marine National Park, which encloses the
islands of St Anne, Beacon (classified as a nature reserve), Cerf (offering accommodation in chalets),
Long (closed to the public), Round and Moyenne (privately owned, but open to tourists).
|
|
Other excursions on Mahé include the market, the Botanical Gardens (with coco-de-mer, giant tortoises
and orchids), and a replica of London's Vauxhall Bridge Tower in Victoria.
|
The nightlife is much livelier on Mahé than the neighbouring islands, there are two casinos, one in Beau Vallon Bay and one at the Plantation Club in the south of the island. The restaurants offer fantastic cuisine with a variety of international and local delicacies, each has its own identity. Most of the hotels have entertainment in the evenings by local singers and bands and there are some night clubs in and around Victoria for those who want to dance until the early hours.
Mahé
walks and hiking trails ......
|
|
Praslin: Praslin is the 2nd largest island of Seychelles. Only 3 hours by boat and 15
minutes by air, it is connected to Mahé with around 25 flights and various ferry-rides per day.
It is famous for the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which contains the large
double-nutted coco-de-mer palm. It is the ideal place from which to visit many of the
surrounding islands.
All around Praslin are huge, fantasically shaped rocks, fringing the beautiful beaches of which
Anse Lazio has consistently been voted one of the worlds best beaches. The reefs are
teeming with life, granite boulders covered with soft coral, jewel-like shells and an amazing
900 species of fish.
Much of the interior is virtually virgin forest.
Valleé
de Mai ......
|
|
La Digue:
This charming island is accessible by boat and helicopter; about half an hour from Praslin.
For years the way of life on La Digue has remained unchanged, transport is mainly by ox-cart or bicycle.
The ox-cart excursions include some of the more picturesque parts of the island with beautiful old
plantation houses, such as Château Saint-Cloud, as well as a vanilla plantation and copra factories.
Beautiful deserted beaches are perfect for long walks, safe swimming, snorkelling and fishing.
|
|
The rare black paradise flycatcher can be found in the woods of La Digue. Although this bird was once
thought to be extinct, recent estimates suggest that there may be as many as one hundred on the island.
Cycads, one of the oldest and most primitive of plants, grow above the quiet roads of the island.
|
|
La Digue is the fourth largest island in the Seychelles, and is part of the granitic group. The island is
protected by the coral reefs which circle it, together with masses of pink granite rocks around the coastline.
|
|
Cousin: It is about one and a half hours from
Praslin by boat. Cousin belongs to the International Council for Bird Protection
(since 1968), who operate it as a nature reserve. Amongst the species to see are the Seychelles fody,
the Seychelles turtle dove, the white-faced tropic bird, The wedge-tailed shearwater, the fairy tern,
noddies and bridled terns. The Seychelles brush warbler can be found only on Cousin, Cousine
and Aride.The best time to visit is April or May, when a
quarter of a million birds nest on the island. The island also has important nesting beaches for
turtles.
A full tour of the island takes between one and two hours and must be guided by one of
the local rangers on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
|
Curieuse:
Curieuse lies close to Praslin. Curieuse and the area which surrounds it is now a Marine National Park. This also includes the entire channel between the island and
Anse Boudin on Praslin.
Formerly Curieuse was covered almost entirely with coco de mer, and the remains of old stumps are to be seen everywhere. Now, however, the coco-de-mer is confined to
isolated areas.
The Government of Mauritius reclaimed the island in 1827 and converted it into a leper settlement. During that time, Seychelles was a dependency of Mauritius.
Curieuse has some of the more common land bird species like the sunbird the bulbul and some fairy terns. A programme has recently been set up to breed giant tortoise from Aldabra for the purpose of re-introduction to the granitic islands.
|
|
Aride:
Aride is the most northerly of the granitic islands, a small surf-fringed island 45 minutes
off Praslin. It rises about 150 metres from brilliantly clear water partly surrounded by coral
reef. The views from the sheer escarpments are really breathtaking and the bird colonies
are spectacular.In 1973 it was bought by the British chocolate magnate, Christopher Cadbury, President
of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation.
This island is the home of the greatest concentration of seabirds in the entire region and
boasts the world's largest colonies of both the lesser noddy and the roseate terns. Frigate
birds roost on Aride and the red-tailed tropic bird can also be seen. Take your camera to
photograph baby tropic-birds in their nests and the rare Wright’s Gardenia, found nowhere
else on earth.
Shell collecting and picnics are forbidden. The island is open all year round, but it is
necessary to enquire in advance to ensure that landing conditions are good.
Good shoes are essential for this tour.
|
|
Les Soeurs:
On Grande Sœur’s beautiful beaches turtles come to lay eggs in season while huge granite
boulders rise through the forest of coconut palms. The two sister
islands, Petite Soeur and Grande Soeur offer a great experience of
isolation and beauty underwater and topside.
|
|
St Pierre:
A minuscule islet between Aride and La Digue, with rounded rocks and perfect coconut palms.
A very nice beach, ample snorkel sites and diving opportunities, make this the ideal day-visit.
The rocks continue under water providing many gullies and holes sheltering small reef shark,
turtles, eagle-rays and spiny lobster. Ther myriad of colourful reeffish complete a perfect picture.
experience on this trip will compare to my first kaleidoscopic entree in barely 20 feet of water.
|
|
Coco Island:
Coco island is a rocky islet crowned by palms and offers some of the best snorkelling in
Seychelles. Schools of tropical fish dart in and out of the coral just below the surface of the
warm blue waters.
|
......
Seychelles, Seychelles vacation, Seychelles holiday, Seychelles boats, Seychelles yachts, Seychelles accommodation, Seychelles bookings, Seychelles reservations, Seychelles liveaboards, Seychelles islands, Indian Ocean Islands, Seychellen,
Inner islands, Coco de Mer, La Digue, Mahé, Praslin, Desroches, Amirantes, MV
Illusions, Aldabra, Farquhar, SCUBA in Seychelles, Seychelles diving, dive
in Seychelles.
|
