Thursday, October 18th ...Opting for a touch of terra firma, we sail from the spectacular cove of Anse Lazio to Curieuse, a small island situated approximately one kilometre off the Praslin shore. A former leper colony and once a haunt for gargantuan crocodiles, it is now home to a population of giant land tortoises. Originally from the coral island of Aldabra, these prehistoric creatures set about their grazing in a slow and deliberate way, sharing the rocky outcrops and mangrove swamps with a selection of burly land crabs and seabirds. Friday, October 19th ...Back on Mahé, I head for the Morne Seychellois National Park along a tarmac switchback snaking through organic tea plantations, aromatic fields of citronella and indigenous rainforest. My intention is to summit Morne Blanc, a peak rising to approximately 700m alongside Morne Seychellois, the highest point on the Seychelles. Within the pristine mist forests the tropical vegetation runs riot - tree ferns and palms claw skywards, bearded moss and lianas trail from low branches and orchids and epiphytes cling to gigantic limbs. Step high along the calf-numbing climb until you burst forth from this realm of verdant shadow and occasional sunbeams to gaze upon a panorama that is truly breathtaking. Far below, the billowing green of forest crowns tumble down to where island beaches sparkle. Black-brown cliffs lurch vertiginously skywards, staggering away through the melee of tropical greenery to topple into the turquoise ocean shimmer. All around me, white-tailed tropicbirds swirl like delicate Oriental kites set free on the breeze and for a few moments I believe I feel like the first man to have set foot on this little sliver of paradise. FACT BLOCK 1 - Seychelles Central Islands
Main city: Victoria (the capital, situated on the island Mahé)
Visa: None required for South African citizens
Languages: Creole, but English and French is widely spoken
Currency: Seychelles rupee (Sr5.2 = US$1)
Best time of Year: Dry season stretches from April to October
Don’t Forget: Sunblock, snorkelling gear, beach hat
Remember: Explore beyond the beaches, where mountains and mist forests will enchant you
Don’t miss: Snorkelling at St Pierre Island; a climb to the top of Morne Blanc
Public Transport: Private and water taxis; a good bus service
Getting there: Return flights from SA with Air Seychelles fly once a week
Ticket Price: From R6 500 per person (Y-clas |
