RIGHT:
Diving with a hawksbill turtle
BELOW:
A Seychelles magpie robin
44
North Island – which has just 11 villas – is also known for its conservation work, with its
“Noah’s Ark Project” involving rehabilitation and
restoration of a once ecologically devastated island. Like many in the Seychelles, North Island’s natural state was destroyed by intensive plantations more than a century ago, but the mission since has been a return to its pre-human state: many species of birds have returned, while hawksbill and green turtles nest on its beaches once again. One of the best examples of the Seychelles’ Eden-like
The eco-mission on many of the Seychelles’ islands has been to return them to their pre-human state
paradise – and one you don’t have to be a guest at a luxurious private island to experience – is Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, the only place with all six of the country’s endemic palm species. Set deep in the heart of Praslin, this UNESCO-recognised site exists almost in its prehistoric state and is famous for being the home of coco de mer, a palm tree that produces the largest seed in the plant kingdom, and
is now found only in the Seychelles. The utter beauty of Praslin’s beaches will impress even the keenest beachcombers; two of the best are Anse Georgette and Anse Lazio, fringed by takamaka trees and bordered by the large granite boulders so typical of the Seychelles. Places to stay include the highly desirable hillside villas of Raffles Praslin, or the more established Constance Lemuria, which has the country’s only 18-hole golf course and three beaches on site.
AP RIL 2 0 18
A ferry runs from Mahé to Praslin, but from May
to September it’s not so pleasant if the sea is rough; it is also possible to fly between the two. Praslin is also a handy island-hopping base, with Cousin and Curieuse islands nearby, both with strong conservation stories to tell. Curieuse is the only other island where coco de mer grows today, but in its past, the island was destroyed by fire, pillaged of its resources and tortoise population, and used as a leper colony. Its story now is a very positive one, as it’s managed as a reserve you can visit on a day trip. Cousin Island Special Reserve is another success story. This former coconut plantation is now a species- saving sanctuary, and has become the most important nesting site in the western Indian Ocean for the critically endangered hawksbill turtle. The Seychelles’ third most populated island is La
Digue, a charming place where most people use two wheels to get around. Boat tours from Praslin usually include bike hire, so you can soak up local life there and head to beaches such as Petit Anse, Grand Anse and Anse Source d’Argent, one of the Seychelles’ most famous. Félicité is a larger island where the new Six Senses Zil Pasyon took up residence last year, occupying less than a third of the island, with 30 villas and 17 private residences. The hottest new hotel opening so far in 2018 is Four
Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island, which launched on March 1, 2018 as the only resort on that island. Home to 40 suites, here days might be spent with a picnic and hike into the jungle, checking out 15km of beaches, or bumping into some of the 150 giant Aldabra tortoises.
bus ine s s tr a v el ler .c om
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