The Seychelles, A True Island Paradise

The Republic of the Seychelles is made up of a group of 115 islands situated in the western Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. Within this magnificent archipelago there are 41 mid-ocean inner granite islands and 74 low-lying reef islands and coral atolls.

The main island of Mahé, home to the international airport and the capital city of Victoria, is the main tourism center and boasts some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

Originally settled by the French, the islands were ceded to the British in 1814, after Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo, and continued under British rule until 1976 when they achieved independence and became a republic. The rich and diverse culture of the Seychelles reflects the diversity of the people—Africans, Europeans, and Asians—who have settled there over the islands’ history.

What struck me most about the Seychelles when I visited recently were not only their stunning beaches, but also their unusual and beautiful plants. The Seychelles’ Praslin Island is home to the Coco de Mer, a coconut palm with the largest seeds and leaves of any plant in the world. The palms, which can take 25 to 50 years to mature and bear fruit, are prized and cultivated in botanic gardens throughout the world. The male and female flowers grow on separate trees, and the unique two-lobed form of the coconut, suggestive of a woman’s buttocks (truly, you won’t believe your eyes!)… Continue here for my photos & and to read on! Click here for delicious Creole recipes.