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THE SEYCHELLES
Close your eyes and picture the perfect powder white beach, lapped by crystal clear water, backed by swaying palm trees and forest clad mountains and throw in some granite boulders……well that is the Seychelles. The picture postcard islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Made up of 115 islands, some inhabited and some not. The main island is Mahe and is where you will arrive into for the start of your holiday in the Seychelles. Mahe has some stunning beaches and resorts to choose from, but for us here at Stanley Safaris we have our favourite islands that lie further away.
Depending on your arrival into Mahe, you may need to overnight before flying off to your perfect island resort.
Praslin and La Digue Islands are easily reached from Mahe and offer some of the best beaches in the world with crystal blue waters teeming with sea-life. Both offer a slow pace of life, making these the perfect beach locations for the end of your safari in Africa. From both Praslin and La Digue you can visit nearby islands on boat excursions. This gives you the chance to see some of the uninhabited islands that are reserved for breeding birds and turtles.
La Digue is the smallest of the 3 main islands and does not have an airstrip, thus retaining its slightly more off the beaten track feel which therefore comes with a much slower pace of life. With very few cars on the island, the best way to explore is by bicycle.
For us, what makes the Seychelles special are the various private islands offering some of the most exclusive beach holidays in the world. Miles of white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and turquoise waters to explore and some of the most luxurious accommodations around. If you are looking for something special at the end of your African Safari, then let us add one of these private islands onto your holiday.
North Island is one of our top private island getaways. With its towering forested peaks, bright blue sea and palm fringed beaches, North Island is the stuff dreams are made of. With just 11 private villas where guests can step out of straight onto the beach, this is the ideal barefoot luxury resort. Over the years, the team have reintroduced native plants and animals back to the island, making this one of the best conservation success stories in the Seychelles. Large tortoises walk through the tropical gardens, birds nest in the forests and turtles nest on the beaches. Offshore the reefs are teeming with tropical fish and other sea creatures. With over 100 staff to look after the 25 guests, the service is incredible.
It is the Outer Islands of the Seychelles that make us excited, as these are truly tropical, completely off the beaten track islands where guests feel like they are the first to leave footprints on the white sandy beaches. Some of the Outer Islands are over 1,000km from Mahe, out in the middle of the deep blue Indian Ocean with 22,000 hectares of Outer Islands in 22 million hectares of ocean. The diving and snorkeling here is second to none as the reefs are completely untouched and often drop off into the abyss beyond. Dive and snorkel with manta rays, dolphins, sailfish, hammerhead sharks.
Alphonse Island is an hour flight from Mahe and with just a few beach bungalows for guests, you will have miles of deserted beaches to explore and to find your piece of heaven. This is the perfect location for families as they accept kids of all ages.
Astove Coral House is a rustic beach house with just 6 rooms offering just a few luxury guests an exclusive beach experience with attentive service. For our diving enthusiasts, this is the location of “The Wall”. The shallow coral reefs just disappear into what is described as the Grand Canyon that drops over 1,000 meters into deep blue ocean. This is known as one of the best dive sites in the world.
Even further away and a good 1 hour by boat (the only way to get to the island) from Astove, Wizard Island is a nature lovers paradise. The island and those around it are home to a vast array of endemic birds and the shallow sandy lagoon attracts nesting turtles and tropical fish. The eco-camp is a completely different design for the Seychelles, Cosmoledo Eco camp has just 8 eco-pods situated literally on the beach.
Made up of 115 islands, some inhabited and some not. The main island is Mahe and is where you will arrive into for the start of your holiday in the Seychelles. Mahe has some stunning beaches and resorts to choose from, but for us here at Stanley Safaris we have our favourite islands that lie further away.
Depending on your arrival into Mahe, you may need to overnight before flying off to your perfect island resort.
Praslin and La Digue Islands are easily reached from Mahe and offer some of the best beaches in the world with crystal blue waters teeming with sea-life. Both offer a slow pace of life, making these the perfect beach locations for the end of your safari in Africa. From both Praslin and La Digue you can visit nearby islands on boat excursions. This gives you the chance to see some of the uninhabited islands that are reserved for breeding birds and turtles.
La Digue is the smallest of the 3 main islands and does not have an airstrip, thus retaining its slightly more off the beaten track feel which therefore comes with a much slower pace of life. With very few cars on the island, the best way to explore is by bicycle.
For us, what makes the Seychelles special are the various private islands offering some of the most exclusive beach holidays in the world. Miles of white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and turquoise waters to explore and some of the most luxurious accommodations around. If you are looking for something special at the end of your African Safari, then let us add one of these private islands onto your holiday.
North Island is one of our top private island getaways. With its towering forested peaks, bright blue sea and palm fringed beaches, North Island is the stuff dreams are made of. With just 11 private villas where guests can step out of straight onto the beach, this is the ideal barefoot luxury resort. Over the years, the team have reintroduced native plants and animals back to the island, making this one of the best conservation success stories in the Seychelles. Large tortoises walk through the tropical gardens, birds nest in the forests and turtles nest on the beaches. Offshore the reefs are teeming with tropical fish and other sea creatures. With over 100 staff to look after the 25 guests, the service is incredible.
It is the Outer Islands of the Seychelles that make us excited, as these are truly tropical, completely off the beaten track islands where guests feel like they are the first to leave footprints on the white sandy beaches. Some of the Outer Islands are over 1,000km from Mahe, out in the middle of the deep blue Indian Ocean with 22,000 hectares of Outer Islands in 22 million hectares of ocean. The diving and snorkeling here is second to none as the reefs are completely untouched and often drop off into the abyss beyond. Dive and snorkel with manta rays, dolphins, sailfish, hammerhead sharks.
Alphonse Island is an hour flight from Mahe and with just a few beach bungalows for guests, you will have miles of deserted beaches to explore and to find your piece of heaven. This is the perfect location for families as they accept kids of all ages.
Astove Coral House is a rustic beach house with just 6 rooms offering just a few luxury guests an exclusive beach experience with attentive service. For our diving enthusiasts, this is the location of “The Wall”. The shallow coral reefs just disappear into what is described as the Grand Canyon that drops over 1,000 meters into deep blue ocean. This is known as one of the best dive sites in the world.
Even further away and a good 1 hour by boat (the only way to get to the island) from Astove, Wizard Island is a nature lovers paradise. The island and those around it are home to a vast array of endemic birds and the shallow sandy lagoon attracts nesting turtles and tropical fish. The eco-camp is a completely different design for the Seychelles, Cosmoledo Eco camp has just 8 eco-pods situated literally on the beach.
