Seychelles Island

Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of East Africa. It has a population of about 98,000 people, mostly of mixed French and African descent. The official languages are Seychellois Creole, English and French. Seychelles has a high standard of living, with a GDP per capita of $17,448 in 2020. The main economic sectors are tourism, fishing and offshore financial services. Seychelles is known for its natural beauty, biodiversity and conservation efforts. It has the highest percentage of land under natural conservation in the world, and is home to many endemic species of flora and fauna. Seychelles also has a rich culture, influenced by its diverse ethnic and religious groups. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic, but there are also Anglicans, Muslims, Hindus and other faiths. The main festivals are the Creole Festival, the Festival of the Assumption and the Independence Day. Seychelles is a peaceful and stable country, with a multi-party democracy and a low crime rate. It is a member of the African Union, the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations.    

Personal memories

I have visited Seychelles several times, in 1986, 1995 and 2017. I enjoyed the islands on my earlier visits, but liked the third visit less: there were more tourists, particularly on Mahé, and it no longer felt quite the same.

Nevertheless, it was interesting to see how the country had changed over thirty years. We visited Mahé, La Digue, Aride, Cousin, Curieuse, Praslin and Sainte Anne. Curieuse is known for its giant tortoises, among the oldest and largest in the world, while Praslin is associated with the distinctive coco de mer, also known as coco-fesse.