Located in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar and about 1,600 km (994 mi) east of Kenya, the country covers an area of 455 km2 (176 mi2) with around 115 islands at an elevation of60 meters over sea level. The principal islands are Mahé (55 sq mi; 142 sq km), Praslin (15 sq mi; 38 sq km), and La Digue (4 sq mi; 10 sq km). The Aldabra, Farquhar, and Desroches groups are included in the territory of the republic.
Known as the Republic of Seychelles, the country’s capital city is Victoria with a population of over 27,000 people. The monetary unity of the country is Seychelles rupee and the languages spoken include the Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, and the unspecified 1.4%. Seychelles has different ethnic groups which include the mixed French, Africans, Indiana, Chinese and Arabs. Most of the people are roman Catholics taking 76.2%, followed by the protestants with 10.6% Pentecostals take 1.5%, Adventists 1.2% , other Protestant 1.6), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%, other non-Christian 1.1%, unspecified 4.8%, none 0.9%. Concerning literacy level, the general literacy rate in Seychelles is 91.8% meaning that most of the people have gone to schools.
Seychelles is hot and humid with an average yearly temperature of 29°C, and average sea temperature rarely dropping below 27°C. The cooler season in Seychelles is during the southeast monsoon season of May to September and the warmer season is during the northwest monsoon from November to March. Large amount of the annual rainfall is received during the months of December to February compared to other months and the weather is very hot from December to April, and the humidity is high often 80% or higher.
Seychelles was first identified by the great Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama in 1502 during his second voyage when he was crossing from India to Africa. Englishmen were the first to alight on the shores of the Seychelles in the early 1609 when the English East India Company trading vessel called the Ascension was set upon by natives near the Portuguese island of Pemba. It was in 1770 when the first French settlement was established on the island of Mahé and it consisted of 15 white colonists, seven slaves and five Indians but at present, the population has rapidly increased and many people have inhabited the island.
Concerning nature, the islands of Seychelles includes two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Aldabra Atoll and Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve. The Aldara Atoll was listed in 1982 and is an atoll made up of four large coral islands that are surrounded by a coral reef. Besides the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites are two terrestrial national parks and six marine national parks, more than 40% of the overall landmass of the Seychelles Islands has been designated as protected national parks and the conservation areas.
There are approximately 250 identified bird species found on the islands of the Seychelles twelve of which are endemic to the island nation, More than 1000 fish live in the waters around Seychelles. Parrotfish, angelfish, puffer fish and moray eels and the whale fish which is the largest fish in the whole world. Also, the Aldabra tortoise which as a giant tortoise that can live for over a century weighing 500pounds and 2 species of sea turtles nest on the islands are found in the country.
The cuisine that is uniquely Seychellois is actually a fusion of flavors from African, French, Chinese, Indian and English cooking based on seafood and chillies. Roasted, grilled, fried, curried or raw fish is served with chatini or cooked vegetables including pumpkin, green mangoes or eggplant, fish is also served with raw fruits and vegetables that may be served with vinaigrette. Coconut and breadfruit are also two traditional bases for many Seychellois dishes. The coconut milk, meat and heart of the palm tree are used in most recipes.
Conclusively, Seychelles is a very good tourism destination for all kinds of travelers, is has a lot to offer which in-turn provide memorable experiences for the travelers never to forget.