Saturday 27th January 2024 • Promotional Content
Worldwide Travel Te Travel Guide 23
Did you know
Subtropical island paradise A
place free from the pressures of the modern world, instead authentically bearing that
classic ‘island’ focus on tight-knit community and nature. From deep forest greens to bril-
liant sea blues and stunningly orange sunsets, the vividness of the land- scape is pure. No large developments interrupt the natural landscape, only small homes, farms and local busi- nesses dotted along the hilltops and the valleys. Te population is fewer than 4,500.
Mobile phone service was only intro- duced in 2015; and flights from St Helena Airport were only introduced in late 2017 (decreasing travel time to the island from a five-day ship voyage to a six-hour flight). Te community — although now possessing decent internet speeds and mobile service — remains culturally not reliant on modern technology. St Helena is a breath of fresh air in
today’s modern world. It’s truly unlike anywhere else on Earth.
Jonathan the tortoise Jonathan the tortoise holds two Guin- ness World Records: he’s the oldest living land animal in the world and the oldest chelonian to have ever lived. In 2023 he celebrated his 191st birthday year. He’s been alive since around 1832, and has resided on St Helena since 1882. It’s an incredible experience simply to look into his eyes, knowing the amount of history that he’s lived through. Visit him in person at the grounds of Plantation House.
Napoleonic heritage Before Jonathan the tortoise, St Hele- na’s most famous resident was Napo- leon, who spent his final years on St Helena in exile after the Battle of Waterloo. Today, you can visit his tomb as well as his final place of residence, which is preserved as a museum nearly identical
to how it Napoleon died. looked the day
Hiking Te natural landscape gives goose- bumps to even the most well travelled. An entire world’s worth of terrains and microclimates is packed into the tiny island. Although it’s just one third of the
size of the Isle of Wight, it’s got more than one third of all the endemic biodiversity in the UK and its territo- ries. It also protects the last natural cloud forest on British soil, and cares for its surrounding Cat VI Marine Protected Area, which is nearly the size of France. Te island’s series of 21 nature
trails is incredibly diverse, sometimes ending in swimmable coastal rock pools, sometimes taking you through fern-covered misty peaks, sometimes wending gently through a valley to the foot of a heart-shaped waterfall. With a variety of difficulties and terrains,
there’s something for everyone (and it’s a feat to complete them all). Te island enjoys a lack of pollu-
tion and boasts some of the best star- gazing on the planet.
Diving High visibility, warm waters make St Helena ideal for swimming and diving. Annual sea temperatures range from 19C to 25C, and visibility is 75ft (up to 130ft on a good day). Te waters boast vibrant marine
life and accessible shipwrecks, and the possibility of swimming with whale sharks.
that until late 2017, St Helena was only
St Helena is difficult to sum up in words alone, because it really is just starkly different to anywhere else on the globe
accessible via a five-day ship voyage from South Africa? But now, you can take a short-haul flight:
flyairlink.com
St Helena Island Visit:
sthelenatourism.com T: +290 22158
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