Silhouette 24no3

SILHOUETTE THE IN-FLIGHT MAGAZINE OF AIR SEYCHELLES VOLUME 24 NUMBER 3

Dear Guest, Welcome on board!

I am thrilled to announce that Air Seychelles soared in the recent Skytrax rankings. We are now ranked the number two airline in Africa, up eight places from our previous ranking of 10 last year, and we hold the number three spot for Best Airline Staff in Africa, a category in which we held no ranking last year.

This is a significant achievement for us – to climb so quickly in such a short time – and is evidence of our team’s determination to be the best airline in the region.

And part of being the best means providing new travel opportunities. To that end, I’m very pleased to welcome South African Airways and Czech Airlines as our new codeshare partners. With South African Airways, we have expanded our access to Africa, and North and South America via our three-per-week services to Johannesburg. Our partnership with Czech Airlines adds the beautiful city of Prague to our codeshare network, deepening our presence in Europe.

We have also created more travel options to Europe by extending our codeshare agreement with airberlin. Our agreement now includes services to two Scandinavian cities – Copenhagen and Stockholm – in addition to existing services to Düsseldorf and Berlin.

With our equity partner Etihad Airways, we have expanded our codeshare agreement to include Dublin, Kuwait, Melbourne and Sydney, bringing the total number of destinations we share to 20.

Air Seychelles now flies to four continents, seamlessly connecting Seychelles to 13 cities in Europe, 24 cities in Asia, 26 cities in Africa, and three cities in Australia.

We will continue to expand our network in cooperation with our partners, bringing more opportunities for travellers around the world to experience the beauty and culture of our home, the Seychelles, and for our local residents to visit the world.

Our thrice-weekly service to Hong Kong has been a success, and the unique Creole warmth of our famous inflight service has made us the carrier of choice for several Asian celebrities, including Miss Hong Kong, Alan Tam and Miss China, who spent her honeymoon in Seychelles.

I’m also delighted to announce that we have enhanced our inflight menu on each route: you can now savour pain au chocolat and Danish pastries on the inbound route, while the Seychelles’ famous octopus curry has been introduced in Business Class on our outbound route. Carolina Herrera’s Eau de Parfum Sublime is the new fragrance on board. In addition, our on-demand inflight entertainment has been expanded to include 40 movies, 60 television programmes, 7 radio channels, 50 CDs, and 20 games. New blockbuster movies such as Les Miserables, A Good Day To Die Hard and Snitch are now available, and on the audio channel, DJ Owen introduces a new Creole mix featuring veteran artist Francois Havelock. Local products, such as Seychelles’ famous Takamaka Rum, are also now available for purchase inflight.

We continue to energise our product to ensure you have the most comfortable flight to your destination of choice.

Thank you for flying with Air Seychelles. We hope you enjoy your flight today and we look forward to welcoming you on board again soon.

Cher client, Bienvenue à bord!

Je suis ravi de vous annoncer qu’Air Seychelles a pris un formidable envol lors des derniers classements de Skytrax. Actuellement, nous sommes devenus la deuxième meilleure compagnie aérienne en Afrique, en faisant ainsi un bond de huit places au niveau de notre classement durant ces dix dernières années. Nous occupons également la troisième place dans le classement du meilleur équipage en Afrique – catégorie dans laquelle nous n’étions pas classés l’année dernière.

Cela représente évidemment un grand succès pour notre compagnie – le fait de monter si vite en si peu de temps témoigne de la détermination de notre équipe à devenir la meilleure compagnie aérienne dans la région.

Et nous visons aussi l’excellence afin d’être en mesure d’offrir de nouvelles possibilités de voyage. Avec cet objectif dans notre ligne de mire, je suis très heureux d’accueillir le South African Airways et le Czech Airlines comme nos nouveaux partenaires en partage de code.

En collaboration avec South African Airways, nous avons étendu notre accès vers l’Afrique du Nord et l’Amérique du Sud grâce à nos trois services hebdomadaires sur Johannesburg. Notre partenariat avec Czech Airlines nous permet d’ajouter la belle ville de Prague à notre réseau de partage de code tout en affirmant davantage notre présence en Europe.

Nous avons également créé plus d’options de voyages vers l’Europe avec l’extension de notre accord de partage de code avec airberlin. Notre accord inclut maintenant des services vers deux villes scandinaves – Copenhague et Stockholm – en plus des services existants sur Düsseldorf et Berlin.

Avec notre partenaire Etihad Airways, nous avons élargi notre partage de code pour inclure Dublin, le Koweït, Melbourne et Sydney, ce qui porte à 20 le nombre total de destinations que nous partageons désormais.

Air Seychelles dessert aujourd’hui quatre continents et relie les Seychelles à 13 villes en Europe, 24 villes en Asie, 26 villes en Afrique, et trois villes en Australie en voyage continu.

Nous allons continuer à étendre notre réseau en collaboration avec nos partenaires afin d’offrir davantage de possibilités aux voyageurs du monde entier pour qu’ils puissent venir découvrir la beauté et la culture de notre pays – les Seychelles – et de permettre à nos résidents locaux de visiter le monde entier.

Nos trois vols hebdomadaires sur Hong Kong ont connu un vif succès, et l’unique et chaleureux accueil créole de notre service à bord a fait de nous le transporteur préféré de plusieurs célébrités asiatiques, y compris Miss Hong Kong, Alan Tam et Miss Chine. Cette dernière a récemment passé sa lune de miel aux Seychelles.

Je suis également ravi d’annoncer que nous avons amélioré nos menus à bord sur chaque desserte: maintenant vous pouvez aussi savourer du pain au chocolat et des pâtisseries danoises lors des trajets vers les Seychelles, tandis que le célèbre curry de poulpe des Seychelles a été introduit en classe affaires sur tous nos vols au départ des Seychelles. L’Eau de Parfum Sublime de Carolina Herrera est le nouvel arome utilisé à bord. En outre, notre palette de divertissements à la demande à bord a été élargie pour inclure 40 films, 60 programmes de télévision, 7 stations de radio, 50 CDs et 20 jeux. De nouveaux films à succès tels que «Les Misérables», «A Good Day To Die Hard» et «Snitch» sont maintenant disponibles et sur le canal audio, DJ Owen a introduit une nouvelle gamme de musiques créoles avec le chanteur vétéran François Havelock. Des produits locaux, tels que le célèbre Rhum Takamaka des Seychelles, sont maintenant disponibles pour vos achats à bord.

Nous continuons de dynamiser notre produit afin de vous assurer un vol plus confortable vers la destination de votre choix.

Merci de voyager avec Air Seychelles. Nous espérons que vous apprécierez ce vol aujourd’hui et nous serons très heureux de vous accueillir à bord pour un autre voyage avec nous.

Bon Voyage

Cramer Ball Chief Executive Officer Directeur Général

SILHOUETTE THE IN-FLIGHT MAGAZINE OF AIR SEYCHELLES

Co v e r Golf Pro at the Constance Lémuria Seychelles.

VOLUME 24 NUMBER 3

Photo © Constance Lémuria Seychelles, 18-hole championship golf course.

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Contents

Seychelles Tourism: a 20-years Retrospective Today, the tourism landscape is different indeed from what it was 20 years ago and is evolving still.

Golf in the Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the world’s best destinations for golfers. And why not?

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Adventure in the Desert: Dubai’s Spectacular Theme Parks

Amid the man-made islands and ever more monumental architecture of Dubai, this remarkable city is set to become the theme park capital of the world.

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Founding Publisher: Mohamed Amin Editorial Director: Rukhsana Haq Editor: Roger Barnard Editorial Assistant: Cecilia Wanjiku Creative Designer: Charles Kamau Production Manager: Azra Chaudhry, London Production Assistants: Rachel Musyimi, Rose Judha

Editorial Board: Rukhsana Haq

Adrian Skerrett

The Oldest Building in the Seychelles For over a century the building has asserted its cold and venerable – and perhaps also foreboding – presence, here in its corner of Victoria.

Silhouette is published three times a year for Air Seychelles PO Box 386, Mahé, Seychelles Telephone: (248) 4391000 Fax: (248) 4224305 E-mail: pro@airseychelles.com

By Camerapix Magazines Limited, PO Box 45048, 00100, GPO Nairobi, Kenya Telephone: +254 (20) 4448923/4/5 Fax: +254 (20) 4448818 E-mail: creative@camerapix.co.ke

Editorial and Advertising Office: Camerapix Magazines (UK) Limited, 32 Friars Walk, Southgate, London N14 5LP Telephone: +44 (20) 8361 2942 Mobile: +44 79411 21458 E-mail: camerapixuk@btinternet.com Correspondence on editorial and advertising matters may be sent to either of the above addresses.

Printed in: Dubai

© 2013 CAMERAPIX MAGAZINES LTD. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the publisher.

Regulars • 1 • 14 • 72 • 78

CEO Message Discover Seychelles Worldwide Offices English - Creole

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• • • •

• 8 Map of Mahé • 70 Travel Facts • 76 Children’s Page • 80

4 Welcome Aboard

News

69

International Route Map

74 79

Dining Out Crossword

The Amirantes

Why not discover one of the Indian Ocean’s hidden secrets and chart a course

for the glorious Amirantes, where nature still reigns supreme?

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Seychelles’ Coconut Oil Industry: The Gold of the Indian Ocean It was as long ago as 1786 that the commercial importance of coconuts began to be exploited and its legacy will remain for many years to come.

Earthenware Jars of History Produced using traditional techniques, Shaoxing rice wine has remained very close to its roots in China’s dynastic times.

Seychelles Green Corner Can we maintain the natural splendour of the islands of Seychelles?

We l c o m e A b o a r d Air Seychelles is pleased to welcome you aboard this flight and hopes that you will enjoy our services. Your cabin crew will do everything possible to make your journey pleasant. Should you need any assistance or information, please do not hesitate to call the cabin crew by pressing the call button located on the armrest of your seat.

Important For your information, use of the following equipment on board is strictly prohibited under any circumstances: • FM/AM/TV transmitters or receivers • Citizens Band Transceivers • Full size Computer Printers • Portable Telephones, (not part of the approved aircraft installation) • Remote Control Toys • Satellite Receivers • Scanners • Walkie Talkies • Wireless Microphones

UNRULY/DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOUR ONBOARD AIR SEYCHELLES’ OWNED/OPERATED AIRCRAFT In terms of International Civil Aviation legislation and regulations, it is an offence for any person to: • Constitute any action that jeopardises or may jeopardise the safety of an aircraft, passenger and/ or crew • Disobey valid instruction from a crew member (safety officer)* • Interfere with the normal operation of the aircraft

There is growing evidence that the above devices generate interference that could directly affect aircraft navigation and control systems.

Hand Baggage Please note that one piece of hand baggage, in addition to a handbag and small camera, may be taken on board. For your own safety, you must place your hand baggage either in the overhead storage compartment or under the seat in front of you. The Cabin Crew will remove hand baggage from passengers seated in exit row areas and this will be returned after take-off should it be required in-flight. Please ensure that the contents do not include any prohibited goods and also ensure contents do not spill out, to avoid injuries to you and your fellow passengers.

Infants and Children Cabin Crew will assist in preparing baby foods.

When possible, baby cots are available for infants.

Special Meals Air Seychelles offers a selection of special meals to suit the dietary and religious needs of passengers provided they are requested prior to the flight, preferably at the time of booking. If you wish to order a special meal for your return flight, please make your request when you re-confirm your flight. Special meals are also available for children, if requested in the same way.

Smoking Smoking is not permitted on all Air Seychelles flights.

Safety Safety is our first priority. Please watch attentively the safety video or safety demonstration given by the flight attendants and read the Safety Instruction Card located in the seat pocket in front of you. Seat belts must be fastened for takeoff and landing and when the seat belt sign is illuminated during the flight.

• Assault or wilfully interfere with any member of the crew of the aircraft in the performance of his/ her duties • Ignore warning signs and/or safety signs within the cabin of the aircraft • Wilfully cause damage to an aircraft which renders it incapable of flight or which is likely to endanger its safety in flight • Communicate any information which he/she knows to be false, thereby endangering the safety of an aircraft in service • Commit any nuisance or any disorderly or indecent act or to be in a state of intoxication or behave in a violent or offensive manner to the annoyance of any other person on the aircraft, or use abusive, indecent or offensive language.

In terms of Seychelles legislation it is an offence to smoke on any Seychelles registered aircraft.

Smoking in the toilet compartments of an aircraft is deemed a safety risk and is lawfully punishable.

Any person committing any of these offences while on board an Air Seychelles flight may be arrested at his/her point of arrival and prosecuted in accordance with the applicable Civil Aviation legislation. Such prosecution may result in the imposition of a fine and/or imprisonment.

It is the policy of Air Seychelles, in the interest of the safety of the travelling public and our employees, to lay the necessary criminal charges against unruly passengers and to aggressively pursue the successful prosecution of such persons.

Seating Whilst your seat is adjustable, it has to be in the upright position, with the foot-rest and tray table stowed, for take-off and landing. Each seat has an individual reading light, enabling you to read at night without disturbing your neighbour.

Comfort For your comfort, blankets, pillows, socks and eyeshades are available on all overnight flights.

Personal Belongings Before leaving the aircraft, please ensure that you have all your personal belongings with you, remembering to check the overhead lockers as well as the seating areas.

Laboutik Duty Free Sales: Sales of duty free goods are conducted on all international flights, time permitting. Please consult the Laboutik Duty Free Brochure in the seat pocket in front of you. This brochure details the range available and the currencies and credit cards that are accepted.

Electronic Equipment Passengers are requested not to make use of any electronic equipment that could interfere with the navigational equipment on board the aircraft. Please ask the Cabin Crew for assistance.

Spraying Health regulations at Seychelles International Airport require that the aircraft must be sprayed.

The spray used conforms to international regulations and presents no danger to your health.

However, we suggest you cover your nose and mouth should you feel you may be inconvenienced by the spray.

In-flight Service Our menus are designed to include the wide range of flavours from the Seychelles. Depending on the duration of your flight, one or two meals are served.

We offer free drinks on all our flights.

Please note: In terms of International Civil Aviation legislation, the Commander (Captain) of the aircraft is authorised/ empowered to take any action deemed necessary, including restraint, of any person who jeopardises the safety of the aircraft or of persons or property on board. In terms of this authority the commander may request and/or authorise any member of the crew to render assistance in terms of restraint or action against such offenders.

In terms of Air Seychelles’ right of refusal of carriage, Air Seychelles reserves the right to refuse boarding to any person who is intoxicated or who, under reasonable grounds, is believed to pose a potential danger to the safety and/or good order and discipline on board its aircraft.

The primary function of a crew member is to act as a safety officer on board an aircraft. All Air Seychelles crew members are trained and licensed as safety officers in terms of International Civil Aviation regulations.

We now invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy the Air Seychelles in-flight service.

Bienvenue á bord Air Seychelles est heureuse de vous accueillir à bord et espère que vous serez satisfaits de nos services. Notre équipage de bord fera son possible pour rendre votre voyage agréable. Pour tout renseignement ou aide, n’hésitez pas à appeler les membres de l’équipage en pressant le bouton situé sur l’accoudoir de votre siège.

Confort

Important PRÉVENTION DES COMPORTEMENT S PERTURBATEURS ET DES INDISCIPLINES À BORD DES AÉRONEFS APPARTENANT À AIR SEYCHELLES OU EXPLOITÉS PAR AIR SEYCHELLES.

Pour votre information, l’usage des équipements suivants est formellement interdit à bord sous aucun prétexte: • Emetteurs ou récepteurs FM/AM/TV • Emetteur-récepteur de la citizen band • Imprimantes • Téléphone mobile • Jouets télécommandés • Récepteurs satellitaires • Scanneurs • Talkies-walkies • Micro sans fil

D’après les règlements de l’Aviation Civile Internationale (OACI), toute personne qui:

Il devient de plus en plus évident que ces appareils créent des interférences qui peuvent atteindre les réseaux de navigation et de contrôle de l’avion.

• Perturbe le déroulement normal du vol

• Entreprend une action qui met ou est susceptible de mettre en danger les passagers, l’équipage et/ ou l’appareil • Refuse de se conformer à une injonction d’un membre de l’équipage (officier de sécurité)

• Agresse un membre d’équipage

Bagage en cabine

• Perturbe sciemment le travail de l’équipage

Un seul bagage à main, en plus d’un sac à main et un petit appareil photo, est autorisé à bord. Pour votre confort et votre sécurité, il doit être placé soit dans le compartiment à bagages soit sous le siège juste en face de vous. Les membres de l’équipage s’occuperont des bagages des passagers assis près des portes de sorties. Ils leur seront restitués après le décollage ou pendant le vol en cas de besoin. Veuillez vous assurer que votre bagage à main ne contient pas de marchandises interdites susceptibles de présenter un danger pour vous ou les autres passagers.

• Ne tient pas compte des consignes de sécurité, des signaux lumineux en cabine ou des instructions verbales de l’équipage

Bébés et enfants en bas âge Une hôtesse vous assiste pour la préparation des repas pour bébé et installe un berceau selon la disponibilité à bord.

Repas Air Seychelles vous propose une sélection de menus convenant à votre régime alimentaire (ex. régime végétarien) à condition que vous en fassiez la demande lors de la réservation de votre billet. Si vous désirez un menu spécial ou un menu enfant, veuillez informer votre compagnie aérienne ou votre agent de voyage lorsque vous confirmez votre voyage.

Interdiction de fumer Tous les vols Air Seychelles sont non-fumeurs.

Mesures de sûreté Votre sûreté est notre priorité. Nous vous conseillons de suivre bien attentivement la vidéo sur nos écrans ainsi la démonstration de sécurité effectuée par notre personnel de bord avant le décollage. Il vous est également conseillé de lire les consignes de sécurité sur la fiche rangée dans la poche du siège situé en face de vous. Votre ceinture de sécurité doit être obligatoirement bouclée lors du décollage et de l’atterrissage ou pendant le vol, lorsque le petit voyant, situé au-dessus de votre siège, est allumé.

• Cause volontairement des dommages à l’appareil qui le rendent inexploitable ou qui mettent à risque la sécurité du vol • Communique sciemment des informations fausses, mettant ainsi en danger un vol, son équipage et ses passagers.

• A un comportement gênant, perturbateur, indécent, fait preuve de violence à l’égard d’autres personnes, profère des insultes ou des obscénités.

Commet une infraction passible de poursuites.

Le règlement de l’Aviation Civile Seychelloise stipule qu’il est interdit de fumer à bord de tout avion immatriculé aux Seychelles. Fumer dans les toilettes constitue un risque pour la sécurité et est puni par la loi.

Quiconque commettra l’une ou plusieurs de ces infractions sera arrêté à destination et poursuivi en vertu des règles de l’aviation civile concernée et du règlement du transporteur. Ces poursuites peuvent conduire à une amende ou une peine de prison, voire les deux.

La politique d’Air Seychelles, dans l’intérêt de ses passagers et de ses employés est de porter systématiquement devant la justice les cas de passagers perturbateurs et d’obtenir leur condamnation.

Sièges Vous pouvez ajuster la position de votre siège en appuyant sur le bouton situé sur l’accoudoir.

Cependant, lors du décollage et de l’atterrissage, votre siège doit être obligatoirement redressé, le repose-pieds et la tablette en face de vous, relevés.

Chaque siège est pourvu d’un éclairage individuel qui vous permet de lire la nuit sans déranger votre voisin.

Pour votre confort, une couverture, un oreiller, des chaussettes et un masque sont mis à votre disposition.

Effets personnels Avant de débarquer, assurez-vous que vous êtes bien en possession de tous vos effets personnels en vérifiant notamment le compartiment à bagages et votre siège.

Les boutiques de vente hors taxes : Les marchandises exemptes de droits existent sur tous les vols internationaux, si le temps le permet. Consultez, s’il vous plait, la brochure concernée qui se trouve dans la pochette du siège qui vous fait face. Cette brochure donne des détails sur le choix des produits disponibles, les devises et les cartes de crédit qui sont acceptées.

Utilisation d’appareils électroniques Les passagers sont priés de ne pas utiliser d’appareils électroniques susceptibles d’interférer avec les appareils de navigation aérienne à bord. Pour tout renseignement, veuillez vous adresser au personnel de cabine.

Désinsectisation Le règlement sanitaire de l’Aéroport de Mahé exige que l’appareil soit désinsectisé. Le produit utilisé est conforme aux normes internationales et ne présente aucun danger pour la santé ; cependant, si vous pensez qu’il peut vous incommoder, nous vous prions de bien vouloir vous couvrir la bouche et le nez avec un mouchoir.

A bord Nos menus vous feront découvrir en avant-garde les saveurs uniques des îles Seychelles. Selon la durée de vol, un ou deux repas seront servis à bord. Pendant toute la durée du vol, le service bar vous propose gratuitement des boissons fraîches.

Veuillez également noter que: D’après les règles de l’Aviation Civile Internationale (OACI), le Commandant de Bord est habilité et a le pouvoir de prendre toutes les mesures nécessaires pour assurer la sécurité des personnes et de leurs biens ainsi que celle de l’appareil, y compris la privation de mouvement pour quiconque pourrait menacer cette sécurité. Dans le cadre de ses fonctions, le Commandant de Bord peut demander à un ou plusieurs membres d’équipage de l’assister dans cette tâche, voire la déléguer pour neutraliser ceux qui commettraient des infractions.

Air Seychelles s’octroie également le droit, conformément à ses conditions générales de transport de refuser l’embarquement à toute personne qui serait sous l’emprise de la drogue et/ou de l’alcool, ou qui représente un danger pour la sécurité, l’ordre et la discipline à bord.

La première fonction des navigants est d’agir comme «officier de sécurité» à bord. Tous les membres d’ équipages d’Air Seychelles sont formés et certifiés «officier de sécurité» au sens des règlements de l’Organisation Internationale e l’Aviation Civile.

Nous vous invitons à vous installer confortablement, Vous détendre et profiter du service à bord d’Air Seychelles.

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News

Air Seychelles Soars High in Skytrax Ranking In the recent Skytrax rankings, which were released at the Skytrax World Airline Awards at the Paris Air Show, Air Seychelles is now ranked the number two airline in Africa, up eight places from its previous ranking of 10 last year, and now holds the number three spot for Best Airline Staff in Africa, a category in which the airline held no ranking last year.

Air Seychelles is also ranked fourth globally in the Most Improved Airline category. Our overall ranking this year is 56, up from 133 last year and the highest in its history.

“This is a significant achievement for our airline”, said Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, Cramer Ball, “and it further confirms that we are moving in the right direction. This result demonstrates not only our hard work and dedication as a workforce, but also our commitment to training, our investment in people and our product. It further demonstrates the value of our partnership with Etihad Airways, our equity alliance partner. The whole Seychellois community should be proud of our national airline for this achievement,” added Mr. Ball.

Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer shake hands with Philippe Moreels, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Czech Airlines.

Partnership with Czech Airlines Air Seychelles and Czech Airlines, the flag carrier of the Czech Republic, have recently signed a codeshare agreement to link Prague and the Seychelles, allowing passengers of both airlines to book and travel between Prague and the Seychelles on one ticket, connecting in Abu Dhabi.

With this agreement, Air Seychelles places its ‘HM’ code on three of Czech Airlines’ flights per week between Prague and Abu Dhabi. Czech Airlines similarly places its ‘OK’ code on three of Air Seychelles’ flights per week between the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi.

Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer and Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, Chief Executive Officer of airberlin at the original signing ceremony, flanked by cabin crew from both airlines.

airberlin Codeshare Expansion Air Seychelles has recently expanded its codeshare network with airberlin, Europe’s seventh largest carrier, to cover Praslin and two new destinations in Europe: Stockholm and Copenhagen.

With this agreement, Air Seychelles places its ‘HM’ code on six airberlin flights per week between Berlin and Stockholm, and seven airberlin flights per week between Berlin and Copenhagen. airberlin places its ‘AB’ code on eight Air Seychelles flights per week between Mahé and Praslin.

Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our codeshare partnership with airberlin has been a commercial success, with a record surge in arrivals from Germany contributing to our bottom line. With the addition of Stockholm and Copenhagen, we will bolster our position in Scandinavia, one of the fastest growing source markets to Seychelles.”

The new codeshare flights can be booked online at www.airseychelles.com, through the airline’s Call Centre on +248 4 38 10 13 (local rates apply), the airline’s sales offices, or a travel agency.

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• Silhouette • Vol 24 No 3 •

Tickets can be purchased online via www.airseychelles.com or www.czechairlines.com. Alternatively, tickets can be booked through the Czech Airlines Contact Center at 800 31 310 (within Czech Republic) or +420 239 007 007, the Air Seychelles Call Center at +248 4 38 10 13, by visiting the airlines’ sales offices, or through a travel agent.

Air Seychelles Partners with South African Airways Air Seychelles and South African Airways (SAA), the national airline of the Republic of South Africa, have entered into a codeshare agreement allowing South African Airways to place its ‘SA’ code on Air Seychelles’ non-stop flights between Johannesburg and Seychelles and between the two largest islands of Seychelles, Mahé and Praslin.

With this codeshare agreement, guests are now able to purchase flights from South African Airways destinations onwards to the Seychelles on one ticket, making for a simpler and seamless journey.

In March 2013, Air Seychelles introduced an enhanced schedule and additional weekly service on its Johannesburg route, bringing the flights to three return services per week with daytime departures and arrivals. The new schedule greatly enhances leisure and business travellers’ ability to connect seamlessly on both airlines across Africa and South Africa, particularly to Cape Town and Durban.

Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer and Elvis Chetty, Chairman of the Seychelles Football Federation thank Patrick Vieira and the MCFC team.

Air Seychelles Hosts Manchester City Seychelles Soccer School Air Seychelles was honoured to host Patrick Vieira, legendary player and Manchester City Football Club (MCFC) Football Development Executive, to the Seychelles this year.

Patrick, accompanied by a team of City coaches, arrived on May 3 for the Manchester City Seychelles Soccer School 2013, hosted by Air Seychelles and Etihad Airways.

A series of football clinics for Seychellois youths was organised in collaboration with the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF).

The clinics targeted children aged seven to 16 years old on Mahé and Praslin. More than 500 school children participated in the programme which was deemed a great success.

Etihad Airways, Air Seychelles’ equity alliance partner, signed a 10-year partnership deal with MCFC in July 2011, which included naming rights for the club’s stadium and expansive surrounding grounds, known as Etihad Stadium and Etihad Campus, respectively, as well as an extension of the existing shirt sponsorship.

Group photo of the Manchester City Seychelles Soccer School participants and the MCFC team.

Air Seychelles and Etihad Airways Expand Codeshare Agreement to Kuwait Air Seychelles has expanded its codeshare agreement with its equity partner Etihad Airways for travel to Kuwait over Abu Dhabi.

Air Seychelles and Etihad Airways now offer 10 seamless return flights per week from Kuwait to the Seychelles, including a daily service. Through this agreement, Air Seychelles places its ‘HM’ code on Etihad Airways flights between Kuwait and Abu Dhabi.

Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, said: ‘Visitor arrivals from the Gulf are up 23 per cent from last year, so it is natural we should target the region for expansion. We are confident these new flights, with sub-two hour connectivity over Abu Dhabi, will stimulate further growth from the region, providing a new source of revenue for the airline as well as the local tourist economy.’

Etihad Airways Connects Seychelles with Australia Air Seychelles, has extended its codeshare agreement with equity alliance partner Etihad Airways, offering seamless connections to Seychelles from Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, operated via Abu Dhabi.

Flights from Melbourne offer daily connections. Ten flights per week from Sydney offer daily connections to Seychelles. Guests can now enjoy three weekly return connections from Seychelles to Melbourne and Sydney.

This agreement offers more opportunities for Australian business and leisure travellers to come to Seychelles, but it also introduces a simple and appealing travel option for Seychellois travelling to Sydney and Melbourne.

Australia hosts the largest Seychellois diaspora in the world.

The flights can be booked online at www.airseychelles.com, through the Air Seychelles’ sales office in Victoria, by calling the airline’s Call Centre on +248 4 38 10 13 (local rates apply), or through a travel agent.

New Etihad Travel Mall Opens in Dubai The recently opened Etihad Travel Mall, located on Sheikh Zayed Road, is our premier airport check-in terminal in Dubai. Check in, collect your boarding pass and drop off your luggage up to 24 hours in advance of your flight.

Jump onboard one of the 20 free daily coach services to and from Abu Dhabi Airport. You can even book your flights, holidays, sort out a visa, hire a car and buy tickets for tours and attractions in Abu Dhabi.

So, before you travel for either business or pleasure, be our guest in our new home on Sheikh Zayed Road opposite the Noor Islamic Bank Metro Station.

• Silhouette • Vol 24 No 3 • 9

by Glynn Burridge.

S Photos courtesy of Seychelles Tourism Board

eychelles’ tourism industry has evolved much over the last 20 years. Two decades ago, tourism was in the hands of the government’s Ministry of Tourism and the landscape, both internal and external, was very different from what it is today.

Up to that point (and for some time still to come), promotion of the industry was very much undertaken in traditional ways and there was little individual marketing at a time when personal websites, individual marketing aids and social media campaigns were still unheard of.

After a decline to 90,050 visitors in 1991 because of the Persian Gulf War, the number of visitors rose to more than 116,000 in 1993 as growth was restored through the introduction of casinos, vigorous advertising campaigns, and more competitive pricing. In 1991, France was the leading source of tourists, followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and South Africa.

Europe provided 80 per cent of the total tourists and

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Africa, mostly South Africa and Réunion, most of the remainder with European tourists being considered the most lucrative in terms of length of stay and per capita spending.

The highly popular early tourism slogan was Seychelles: Unique by 1,000 miles. The steady growth of the national carrier, Air Seychelles, throughout the 1980s saw the advent of a new tool with which to bring a greater number of tourists to the islands.

Gradually, during the watershed in the 90s the pace began to quicken as government began encouraging foreign investment to upgrade hotels and other services with the incentives offered giving rise to an enormous amount of investment in real estate projects and, over time, to new resort properties and enhanced infrastructure.

One of the significant catalysts of change came in 1999 with the formation of Seychelles’ most concerted effort yet to market Seychelles on the international scene: the Seychelles Tourism Marketing Authority. Under its auspices

came the construction of a powerful, dedicated tourism website to market Seychelles products and a new suite of collateral materials and destination videos with which to aggressively push the name of Seychelles to the forefront of consumer conscience.

The highly-structured drive that followed featured the targeted marketing of Seychelles, its attributes and niche markets and was crowned by a brave campaign featuring black and white imagery under the tagline ‘Seychelles ... as pure as it gets’. Seychelles was slowly but surely beginning to breach the knowledge gap about the islands and place itself squarely on the global tourism map for all to see.

Compounding this dynamic, the intervening years have witnessed the gradual appearance of new, internationally recognised brands such as Banyan Tree, Berjaya, Constance Hotels, Le Méridien and Hilton and, more recently, Four Seasons, Maia, Raffles and the residential project on Eden Island. Together, these have signalled the birth of a new era in Seychelles’ tourism and the arrival of a new demographic of tourist while the individual and collective international marketing clout of these establishments and similar entities was always destined to slingshot the name of the Seychelles Islands across the globe as never before.

leadership of the private sector which now took a more prominent role in directing the industry.

In mid-2010, President James Michel re-qualified Seychelles’ brand of tourism as being more than just ‘sun, sea & sand’, urging the industry to make fuller use of the country’s many attributes to attract tourists. This has launched Seychelles’ tourism into a new phase in which a greater focus is being placed on events such as the Carnaval International de Victoria, SUBIOS, Miss Seychelles …another world, Festival Kreol, Fet Afrik, La Fet La Digue, Seychelles Eco-healing Marathon and the Seychelles Ball which have all helped to raise Seychelles’ profile, as has the islands’ highly successful hosting of the RETOSA, CAF and ROUTES conferences.

Today, the tourism landscape is different indeed from what it was 20 years ago and is evolving still. Seychelles has been made accessible as never before by the arrival of such major global airlines as Etihad, Emirates, Ethiopian, Kenya (and soon Sri Lanka), joining our very own Air Seychelles, now in a vital new equity partnership with Etihad Airways which has already seen the national airline post its first profit of U.S. $1 million and play a key role in the current surge in tourism arrivals to the islands as 2013 figures to date show a 13% increase on the just over 200,000 who visited the islands in 2012.

Today, the tourism landscape is different indeed from what it was 20 years ago and is evolving still.

In 2006, a year after the formation of the Seychelles Tourism Board as successor to the Seychelles Tourism Marketing Authority, Seychelles rebranded again as the ‘Seychelles Islands ... another world’, reverting to colour in its imagery and stressing the ‘grand diversity’ of its tourism products - a phrase which has since become one of the main pillars and highly effective ingredients of Seychelles’ many tourism marketing initiatives.

In 2009, to further consolidate the industry, the Seychelles Tourism Board was restructured under the

Along with its suite of activities and new amenities that includes marinas and a plush, new shopping mall, Seychelles is also diversifying its tourism beyond its valued, core European markets into the Middle-East, Africa, the Americas and Far East, all of which are experiencing promising growth as the islands continue to maximise their enormous tourism potential - but always with a weather eye on sustainability.

• Silhouette • Vol 24 No 3 • 11

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Discover Seychelles The Islands

Discover Seychelles

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ar from any continental land mass, the islands of Seychelles have long been likened to a string of pearls set in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. No wonder that the slogan of this proud nation, one of the world’s prime holiday destinations, is ‘Not just another place, another world ‘. And it is delivered with an invitation that no normal person can resist, an invitation to ‘Discover the Islands’, which lie just four degrees south of the Equator and are literally 1,000 miles from anywhere.

As the world becomes ever smaller, Seychelles is becoming increasingly accessible to holiday-makers from around the globe.

With the greatest of ease, Air Seychelles whisks an ever increasing number of visitors from Europe, Africa, the Far East and the Middle East to sample the many and varied delights of the islands. Within these few square kilometres is a land of colourful contrasts; the bleached granite rocks, thrusting up from the sea like the peaks of a sunken mountain range lie in the shadow of lush tropical vegetation clinging to steep mountain sides. In the middle of a beach of white coral sand, a sudden upthrust of granite resembles a scene from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The people of the islands reflect these same dramatic contrasts. A description of a typical Seychellois is impossible; their ancestors include British and French seamen, freed African slaves, and Indian and Chinese merchants. Their skin tone can be fair or dark, their hair blonde or black, their eyes blue or brown. But they all share a gentle and cheerful character, combined with a nature as warm and welcoming as their island home.

Discover Seychelles Les Îles

A la Découverte des les

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loignées de toute masse continentale, les îles Seychelles ont longtemps été comparées à un chapelet de perles dans les eaux bleues de l’océan indien. Pas étonnant que le slogan de cette fière nation, dont le pays est l’une des destinations de vacances les plus prisées dans le monde, soit ‘Pas juste un autre endroit, un autre monde’. Et celui-ci s’accompagne d’une invitation à laquelle aucune personne normalement constituée ne peut résister, une invitation ‘à la découverte des îles’, situées à seulement quatre degrés de latitude en dessous de l’équateur et littéralement à mille lieues de tout autre endroit.

Au fur et à mesure que le monde rétrécit, les Seychelles deviennent de plus en plus accessibles aux agences de voyage et aux tours opérateurs du monde entier. Air Seychelles emmène ainsi chaque année avec la plus grande facilité un nombre croissant de visiteurs d’Europe, d’Afrique, du Proche Orient et de l’extrême Orient pour goûter aux délices nombreux et variés de ces îles. Parmi ces quelques kilomètres carrés de terres se trouve un pays de contrastes colorés: les rochers de granite , surgissant de la mer comme les pics d’une chaîne de montagnes engloutie, gisent dans l’ombre d’une végétation tropicale luxuriante s’accrochant jusqu’aux versants abrupts des montagnes. Au milieu d’une plage de sable corallien blanc, la présence d’un monolithe de granite fait penser à une scène du célèbre film: 2001, Odyssée de l’Espace.

Les gens qui peuplent ces îles montrent un contraste tout aussi saisissant. Décrire un Seychellois typique est ainsi impossible, car leurs ancêtres sont des marins français et britanniques, des esclaves africains affranchis, des marchands indiens et chinois. Le teint de peau des Seychellois peut être aussi bien clair que foncé, leurs cheveux blonds ou bruns, leurs yeux bleus ou marrons. Mais ils partagent tous un même caractère doux et gai, ainsi qu’une façon d’être aussi chaleureuse et accueillante que leurs îles natales.

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Discover Seychelles The Islands

History of Seychelles

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he history of Seychelles could have come straight out of a story book: a tale of intrepid explorers, fearsome pirates and brutal battles for the islands’ bountiful treasures. The first serious exploration took place only in 1742, but early navigators, such as the Indonesians and Arabs, probably arrived before this time in search of fresh water and food. These visitors did not leave physical evidence of their passing, unless it was they who introduced the casuarina tree and coconut palm. It is possible that Arab merchants knew Seychelles as the source of the rare and valuable coco de mer nuts and came here to collect them, keeping the location secret so that they could sell them at inflated prices.

Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, sailed through the Amirantes group in 1503, en route from India, and might also have sighted the granitic islands. In 1506 another Portuguese navigator, Fernao Soares, recorded the islands, which appear regularly on charts after this date as the ‘Seven Sisters’.

The British made their first appearance on Seychelles in 1609 when the ships Ascension and Good Hope arrived at Mahé during an expedition for the British East India Company. They made no claim to the islands, which remained uninhabited, although they might have been used as a secret refuge by pirates, who add a touch of drama and mystery to their story.

In 1742 the Frenchman, Lazare Picault, landed on Mahé at Anse Boileau (not Baie Lazare, which now bears his name). He named the islands after Mahé de Labourdonnais, the governor of Mauritius, who had sent him.

Fourteen years later, Mahé and the inner islands were formally claimed in the name of the King of France. Mahé was named Isle Séchelles, which later became the name of the group. The origin of the name is unclear; it might have been in honour of Moreau de Séchelles, a former controller-general of finance in France, but, as he was disgraced at the time, it seems more likely to have been a tribute to members of his family who were related through marriage to the governor of Mauritius. The Stone of Possession, which was set above the entrance to the port, is now in the National Museum.

In 1768, the French also claimed Praslin, named after their marine minister, the Duke of Praslin. La Digue and Curieuse were named after the ships which visited the islands at this time. In 1770 settlers arrived on St Anne from Mauritius. They later abandoned this settlement and moved across to Mahé.

In 1772, Pierre Poivre sent spice plants to Seychelles, hoping to establish them there and allow France to compete with the Dutch in the valuable spice trade. Chevalier Quéau de Quincy was appointed administrator of Seychelles

in 1794. During the long revolutionary wars between Britain and France, several British men-of-war called at Seychelles. Having no means of defence, Quincy was forced to capitulate to the British seven times. These capitulations were a form of ‘temporary surrender with honour’, with favourable terms for Seychelles skillfully negotiated by Quincy.

At the end of the war Mauritius and Seychelles were ceded to the British under the Treaty of Paris. The British recognised Quincy’s abilities and kept him on as juge de paix of the colony until his death in 1827. He is buried in the grounds of State House.

In 1903 Seychelles became a crown colony in its own right, detached from Mauritius. From 1861, slaves liberated from Arab dhows off East Africa were brought to Seychelles to begin new lives, swelling the population by nearly 3,000.

Two world wars during the 20th century touched Seychelles only lightly, but times were changing fast. The embryo of the first political party, the Taxpayers’ Association, was formed in 1939.

In March 1975, a new constitution was drawn up and a coalition government established ready for independence in June 1976, when James Mancham became President and Albert René Prime Minister. Following a coup d’état in 1977, Seychelles became a one-party state, with Albert René as president and the Seychelles’ People’s Progressive Front as the ruling party. Multi-party elections were restored in 1993, when René was again returned as President, with Mancham (Democratic Party) leader of the opposition. René was re-elected in 1998, and also at the early elections called in 2001, where the opposition, led by Wavel Ramkalawan (Seychelles National Party), obtained a high percentage. René retired in April 2004 and handed over the presidency to his Vice President, James Michel, who was re-elected in July 2006.

Seychelles has a population of about 85,000. Its people are descended from the original French settlers, their African slaves, the liberated slaves rescued from slavers in the 19th century, and some British settlers. This melting pot has been enriched by traders from India and China, intermingling to produce an almost unparalleled and multifaceted community, yet one that is completely integrated.

The Seychelles’ rich racial blend is reflected in its varied culture and food.

Music brought to the islands by the European settlers and played on violins or accordions has blended with the beat of the tomtom, the makalapo (a stringed instrument with a tin for a sound box), the bom (a bowed instrument), and the sez (a monochord sitar). A typical Seychelles dance is the moutias which blends African and Malagasy rhythms in a popular communal dance usually staged at night around a fire. European influences can be seen in the contredanse, which has its roots in the court of Louis XIV of France, the Sun King, and the mazok and kosez, which are reminiscent of the waltz and the quadrille.

The main language of the islands is Creole, but most people speak English and some French. Creole is a phonetic language, similar to that found in other territories where there has been French influence, such as Mauritius and New Orleans.

French words were given a harder pronunciation and syllables which were not pronounced were dropped altogether. Thus Bonjour (Good morning) becomes Bonzour and s’il vous plait (please) becomes sivouple.

The spiritual life of the Seychellois ranges from the centuries-old local magic, called gris-gris, to the far reaching influence of the Roman Catholic Church. Often these beliefs run alongside each other. Many local people still consult their bonnomn dibwa, or medicine man, seeking spells or potions for love, luck or revenge. However, the Seychellois are also avid church-goers and consider church a particularly social occasion.

The Seychellois are never in a hurry. There is always time for a chat or a smile. Their lifestyle is characterised by a warm, happy-go-lucky attitude that foreign influences have been unable to dampen or disturb.

Panoramic Perspective by Sunseeker The Sunseeker 28 Metre Yacht

Sunseeker Seychelles Ltd: Eden Island Marina, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles.

Tel. +248 252 34 34 Fax. +248 434 61 66 E-mail: info@sunseeker-seychelles.com Website: www.sunseeker-seychelles.net Sunseeker Africa Ltd – JOHANNESBURG: 126 Sandton Isle, CNR Rivonia & Linden, Sandton - Johannesburg 2196, South Africa.

Tel. +27 (0) 11 301 7100 Fax. +27 (0) 11 301 7029 E-mail: info@sunseeker-africa.com Website: www.sunseeker-africa.net Sunseeker Africa Ltd – CAPE TOWN: Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, CNR Dock Road & Breakwater Blvd, Cape Town 8002, South Africa.

Tel. +27 (0) 21 425 2016 Fax. +27 (0) 21 425 2008 E-mail: info@sunseeker-africa.com Website: www.sunseeker-africa.net

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Discover Seychelles The Islands

L’histoire des Seychelles

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’histoire des Seychelles pourrait sortir tout droit d’un livre de contes: un récit d’explorateurs intrépides, de pirates n’ayant peur de rien, et de brutales batailles pour les nombreux trésors de ces îles. La première exploration sérieuse prit place en 1742, mais des navigateurs anciens tels que les Indonésiens ou les Arabes visitèrent probablement les Seychelles bien avant en quête de nourriture et d’eau douce. Ces visiteurs ne laissèrent pas de traces de leur passage, bien qu’on leur attribue l’introduction du Casuarina et du Cocotier. Il est possible que les marchands arabes aient visité régulièrement ces îles pour y récolter les rares et précieux Coco-de -mer, et qu’ils aient tenu leur emplacement secret afin de pouvoir vendre ces noix encore plus cher.

Vasco de Gama, l’explorateur portugais qui navigua à travers l’archipel des Amirantes en 1503 sur sa route vers l’Inde, a peut-être lui-aussi pu voir les îles granitiques. En 1506, un autre navigateur portugais, Fernao Soares, nota la présence de ces îles qui, après son passage, figurèrent régulièrement sur les cartes comme ‘Les Sept Sœurs’.

Les Britanniques firent leur première apparition aux Seychelles en 1609, lorsque les bateaux Ascension et Good Hope (Bonne Espérance) arrivèrent à Mahé au cours d’une expédition de la British East India Company (Compagnie britannique des Indes orientales). Ils ne revendiquèrent pas la propriété de ces îles, qui restèrent inhabitées, bien qu’elles aient pu être utilisées comme refuge secret par certains pirates, ce qui rajoute une touche de drame et de mystère à leur histoire.

En 1742, le Français Lazare Picault débarqua à Mahé à Anse Boileau (et non pas Baie Lazare, qui aujourd’hui porte son nom). Il nomma l’île d’après Mahé de Labourdonnais, gouverneur de l’Ile Maurice, qui l’avait envoyé. Quatorze années plus tard, Mahé et les îles proches furent officiellement revendiquées par le roi de France. Mahé fut nommée Isle Séchelles, nom qui par la suite fut donné à l’archipel en entier. L’origine de ce nom n’est pas claire. Il est possible qu’il ait été donné en honneur de Moreau de Séchelles, un ancien contrôleur général des Finances en France, mais vu que celui-ci était déjà tombé en disgrâce à cette époque, il semble plus probable qu’il s’agisse d’un hommage à des membres de sa famille devenus parents par mariage avec le gouverneur de Maurice.

La Pierre de Possession, qui fut érigée à l’entrée du port, est maintenant exposée au Musée d’Histoire. En 1768, les Français revendiquèrent aussi Praslin, nommée d’après le ministre de la marine de l’époque, le Duc de Praslin. La Digue et Curieuse furent nommées d’après des navires de l’époque qui visitèrent les îles. En 1770, les premiers colons en provenance de l’Ile de France (aujourd’hui Maurice) débarquèrent à Sainte Anne. Ils abandonnèrent ensuite ce premier établissement et s’installèrent en face sur Mahé.

En 1772, Pierre Poivre envoya des plants d’épices aux Seychelles, avec l’espoir de pouvoir les y faire pousser et faire ainsi la concurrence aux Hollandais dans le commerce lucratif des épices. Le Chevalier Quéau de Quincy fut nommé Administrateur des Seychelles en 1794.

Pendant les longues années de guerre de la période révolutionnaire entre la Grande Bretagne et la France, plusieurs hommes de guerre britanniques se présentèrent aux Seychelles. N’ayant aucun moyen de défense, Quincy fut forcé de capituler devant les Anglais plusieurs fois. Ces capitulations étaient une forme de ‘reddition temporaire avec honneur’, et s’accompagnaient de conditions favorables aux Seychelles habilement négociées par Quincy. A la fin de la guerre, les Seychelles et Maurice furent cédées aux Britanniques par le Traité de Paris. Ces derniers reconnurent les capacités de Quincy et le gardèrent comme

juge de paix de la colonie, jusqu’à sa mort en 1827. A partir de 1861, des esclaves libérés des marchands arabes au large des côtes d’Afrique de l’Est furent amenés aux Seychelles pour y commencer de nouvelles vies, grossissant la population d’environ 3,000 personnes. Les deux guerres mondiales du 20ème siècle n’affectèrent que peu les Seychelles, mais les temps changeaient rapidement. Ainsi l’embryon du premier parti politique, l’Association des Contribuables’, fut formé en 1939.

En mars 1975, une nouvelle constitution fut établie et un gouvernement de coalition constitué afin de préparer l’indépendance en 1976; James Mancham devint Président de la République et France Albert René le Premier ministre. A la suite d’un coup d’Etat en 1977, les Seychelles adoptèrent un système à parti unique avec Albert René comme Président et le Front Progressiste du Peuple Seychellois comme parti dirigeant. Le multipartisme fut ré-introduit avec les élections de 1993, où René fut élu président et Mancham devint chef de l’opposition.

René fut à nouveau réélu en 1998 ainsi qu’aux élections anticipées de 2001, où l’opposition conduite par Wavel Ramkalawan (Parti National Seychellois) obtint un score élevé. René se retira en Avril 2004 et passa le pouvoir à son vice-Président, James Michel, qui fut ensuite réélu en Juillet 2006.

Les Seychelles ont une population d’environ 85,000 habitants, qui sont les descendants des premiers colons français, de leurs esclaves africains, des esclaves libérés des trafiquants au cours du 19ème siècle, et de quelques colons britanniques. Ce creuset racial et culturel s’est ensuite enrichi avec les apports de marchands venus d’Inde et de Chine, le tout se mélangeant pour produire une communauté à multiples facettes quasiment inégalée et complètement harmonieuse. Le riche mélange racial des Seychelles est reflété par sa culture et sa cuisine diversifiée.

La musique amenée par les colons européens, jouée sur des violons ou des accordéons s’est mêlée aux sons des tam-tams, du ‘makalapo’ (un instrument à cordes utilisant une boite de conserve comme caisse de résonance), le ‘bom’ (un instrument arqué), et le ‘sez’ (une cithare monocorde). La ‘Moutia’ est une danse typique des Seychelles, qui mêle les rythmes africains et malgaches en une danse populaire de groupe normalement pratiquée la nuit autour d’un feu. On ressent les influences européennes dans la contredanse, qui puise ses racines à la cour du roi français Louis XIV, le Roi Soleil, et dans le ‘mazok’ et la ‘kosez’, qui rappellent la valse et le quadrille.

Le principal langage parlé dans les îles est le Créole, mais la plupart des gens parlent aussi l’anglais et le français. Le Créole est une langue phonétique, similaire à celle rencontré dans les autres territoires jadis sous influence française, comme Maurice ou la Nouvelle-Orléans.

On a donné aux mots français une prononciation plus simplifiée et on a laissé tomber les syllabes qui ne se prononçaient pas.

Ainsi Bonjour devient ‘Bonzour’ en Créole, et s’il vous plait ‘sivouple’.

La vie spirituelle des Seychellois s’étend de la magie locale séculaire, appelée ‘gris-gris’, à l’influence dominante de l’Eglise Catholique.

Souvent ces croyances se côtoient. Beaucoup de personnes consultent encore leur ‘Bonnonm dibwa’, ou sorcier, à la recherche de potions ou de sorts pour l’amour, la chance ou la revanche. Cependant, les Seychellois fréquentent assidûment les églises et considèrent le fait d’y aller comme un évènement social important.

Les Seychellois ne sont jamais pressés. Il y a toujours du temps pour parler ou pour un sourire. Leur style de vie est caractérisé par une attitude insouciante et chaleureuse que les influences extérieures ont été incapables d’abattre ou d’altérer.

Takamakarized* *taka - maka - rized vt. hypnotise: (loosely) fascination. Capture interest A: Common occurrence when drinking Takamaka Bay Rum. B: An influence or process producing this. C: Feeling or showing of pleasure & contentment.

3 colloq characterized by happiness evoked by place of pleasure, beauty i.e. the Seychelles

www. t a k a ma k a ba y.co m

Discover Seychelles The Islands

Mahé The main island of Seychelles is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and impressive in the world. Each of its 70 beaches has a different character; the rock formations behind them are a dramatic contrast and a beautiful backdrop for the architectural elegance of the hotels.

Mahé covers roughly 150 square kilometres and is 27 kilometres long and seven kilometres wide. Considering its mountainous interior, covered with lush vegetation, it is small wonder that the island’s original name was Ile d’Abondance.

The highest point, Morne Seychellois, is 930 metres above sea level. Even high up in the interior the roads are good. There are plenty of opportunities for walks through winding paths to appreciate the lush flora and fauna at close quarters, especially in the Morne Seychellois National Park.

The airport, south of Victoria, is built on reclaimed land. Landing there is an interesting experience – offering stunning views of the verdant island and its coastline.

Victoria, the national capital with a population of some 20,000, is spread around a large bay at the foot of Morne Seychellois and the Trois Frères. This small town is the islands’ economic and administrative hub, as well as their only international port.

The clock tower in the city centre is a replica of the clock that stands at the junction of Victoria street and Vauxhall Bridge Road in central London.

Erected as a memorial to Queen Victoria in 1903, the Seychelles clock tower is today more readily associated with the declaration that year of Seychelles as a Crown colony.

A more modern structure, just outside the old town centre, is a huge sculpture by Lorenzo Appiani – the Bicentennial Monument – representing the three continents from which the Seychelles people originate. If you want to arrange a meeting place, however, the locals tend to use the Pirate’s Arms on Independence Avenue, where one can have a drink or a meal. The first hotel in Seychelles was built not far away, at the intersection of Poudrière street and Francis Rachel street. While no one street is best

for souvenir shopping, there are clusters of shops and boutiques near the traffic lights and the taxi rank, and in the arcade on Francis Rachel street.

There are also boutiques in the Temooljee building in the same street, near the Pirate’s Arms and at the foot of Independence Avenue. Local crafts can also be purchased at the kiosks on Francis Rachel street and on Market street. The new Sir Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market, which was opened in 1999, is noted for its noisy and colourful atmosphere, especially on Saturday mornings. Red chillies, flavoured with garlic and ginger (mazavarou) will give a special ‘Creole touch’ to your dishes. There are two national museums in Victoria – the Natural History Museum, ‘guarded’ by a large cement crocodile and a dugong, on Independence Avenue, and the National History Museum, together with the National Library and Archives are located near Le Chantier roundabout while the Botanical Gardens are on the Mont Fleuri Road, next to the Hospital. Departure point for many of the island excursions is the Marine Charter Association wharf, next to the Yacht Club. There are two cathedrals (one Roman Catholic and one Anglican), one Hindu temple and a Mosque in Victoria.

Then there are the beaches, the glory of Seychelles. The east coast, on which the airport is situated, has long beaches such as Anse Marie-Louise, but there are also many small beaches, some of which you can call your own at times.

Those wishing to avoid crowds will also like Anse Intendance on the south coast, but caution should be observed here and at several other beaches because of strong currents. It is advisable to check on local conditions before swimming or snorkelling. Most beaches, however, are perfectly safe, such as Anse à la Mouche, a large palm-fringed bay with shallow waters, ideal for swimming and snorkelling. There are more interesting beaches, such as Barbarons and Port Glaud, Ile Thérèse, Port Launay Marine National Park or Anse Major (in the National Park near Bel Ombre). Care should be taken with strong currents when snorkelling off nearby Anse Takamaka. Slightly north is Baie Lazare, with its dramatic granite backdrop.

To many, the king of beaches is Beau Vallon, in the north of the island – a huge three kilometres (two miles) long curve of white sand with crystal-clear water that is especially calm and welcoming. Several hotels on Beau Vallon offer excellent watersports and diving facilities.

Photo © Seychelles Tourism Board

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Discover Seychelles The Islands

Mahé L’île principale des Seychelles est, sans aucun doute, l’une des plus belles îles du monde avec ses 70 plages au caractère particulier. Les magnifiques formations rocheuses, qui séparent les plages de l’intérieur de l’île, resemblent à un décor de théâtre dans lequel se fond l’élégante architecture des hôtels.

Mahé couvre environ 150 kilomètres carrés, mesurant 27 kilomètres de long et 7 kilomètres de large. L’abondante végétation qui recouvre son relief montagneux lui a valu autrefois le nom d’Ile d’Abondance. Le point culminant de cette île s’élève à 930 mètres au-dessus du niveau de la mer. Le réseau routier est carrossable jusque dans les coins les plus reculés de l’intérieur. De nombreux chemins de promenades à pied permettent d’admirer de près la flore et la faune de l’île, en particulier dans le Parc National du Morne Seychellois.

Au sud de Victoria, la capitale, se trouve l’aéroport de Mahé. Le seul fait d’y atterrir est une expérience inoubliable à cause de la vue magnifique que l’on a de l’île verdoyante et de sa côte.

Victoria, avec sa population d’environ 20,000 habitants, s’étend le long d’une baie au pied du Morne Seychellois et des Trois Frères. Cette ville minuscule est le centre administratif et financier des Seychelles ainsi que le seul port de l’île.

La tour de l’horloge est une copie miniature de celle située à l’intersection de Victoria Street et Vauxhall Bridge Road près de la gare Victoria à Londres. Elle fût édifiée en 1903 en hommage à la reine Victoria. Mais aujourd’hui, elle est plutôt considérée comme un symbole de l’élévation des Seychelles au rang de colonie de la Couronne, indépendante de l’Ile Maurice.

La monumentale sculpture du bicentenaire de Lorenzo Appiani au centre de la ville, représente les trois continents dont le peuple Seychellois est originaire: l’Europe, l’Afrique et l’Asie. Le Pirates Arms, sur la place de l’Indépendance, est un lieu de rencontre populaire où l’on peut boire et se restaurer. Bien qu’aucune rue en particulier ne soit la meilleure pour l’achat de souvenirs il y a bon nombre de boutiques au voisinage des uniques feux de circulation de l’île, près de la station de taxis, et dans la rue Francis Rachel. Il y a aussi des boutiques intéressantes dans l’édifice Temooljee situé dans la même rue, près du Pirates Arms, et au début de l’avenue de l’Indépendance.

Le site du premier hôtel qui fut construit aux Seychelles se trouve à l’intersection de la rue de la Poudrière et de la rue Francis Rachel.

Le “Marine Charter Association”, proche du cercle nautique, est le point de départ de nombreuses excursions. La rue du Marché est fascinante avec ses étalages de produits locaux et de souvenirs, son ambiance bruyante et colorée, en particulier les samedis matins. Les piments rouges, assaisonnés d’ail et de gingembre (mazavarou), en vente au marché (entièrement rénové en 1999), ne manqueront pas de relever votre cuisine d’une touche créole. On trouve à Victoria deux cathédrales (une catholique et une anglicane), un temple hindou et une mosquée.

Le Musée d’Histoire Naturelle, gardé par son crocodile et son Dugong en ciment, se trouve dans l’avenue de l’Indépendance, tandis que le Musée National d’Histoire, où est exposée la Pierre de Possession française, la Bibliothèque et les Archives Nationales se situent dans la rue Francis Rachel, et le Jardin Botanique sur la route de Mont-Fleuri, près de l’Hôpital.

Et puis, bien sûr, il y a les plages, la fierté de l’île. Sur la côte est, au Sud de l’aéroport, s’étendent de grandes plages telle que l’Anse Marie Louise ainsi que de plus petites plages souvent désertes. L’Anse Intendance, sur la côte sud, fait parfaitement l’affaire de ceux qui préfèrent se tenir à l’écart des foules, quoique les baignades y soient quelque peu dangereuses de mai à septembre. De même, il faut être prudent lorsque l’on fait de la plongée ou du P.M.T. (Palme-Masque-Tuba) au large de l’Anse Takamaka et plus généralement tout le long de la côte sud et ouest de l’île, en raison des courants qui peuvent y être dangereux. Un peu plus au Nord, se trouve Baie Lazare, avec son arrière-plan de granite tout à fait spectaculaire.

En remontant la côte ouest, il est conseillé d’accéder à la plage suivante, la merveilleuse Anse Soleil, par un chemin pédestre, avant de se diriger vers Anse à la Mouche, une grande plage bordée de palmiers dont l’eau peu profonde en fait un lieu idéal pour la baignade ou le P.M.T. Il y a bien d’autres magnifiques plages, dont Barbarons, Port Glaud, et l’Ile Thérèse, Port Launay ou Anse Major (à laquelle on accède via Bel Ombre) qui sont des Parcs nationaux. La reine des plages, pour beaucoup de personnes, c’est celle de Beau Vallon, au Nord de l’île. Celle-ci se présente comme une longue promenade de trois kilomètres de sable blanc, caressée par une eau claire particulièrement accueillante et calme. On trouvera là plusieurs hôtels offrant tout l’équipement nécessaire aux sports nautiques.

hotel experience in Seychelles AN EXTRAORDINARY LOCATION, UNIQUE IN ITS BEAUTY Nestled on the northwest shore of the idyllic island of Praslin with the Indian Ocean lapping gently at the shores of its 3 perfect white sand beaches, the 5* deluxe Constance LĂŠmuria is at the heart of a luxury Seychelles experience.

Begin the U-experience: call (230) 402 2772/73 or visit us at www.constancehotels.com

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Discover Seychelles Les Îles

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Cerf

L’île aux Cerfs

This lush island is 15 minutes by boat from Mahé. Its north coast, which lies at the edge of the marine park, has a superb coral reef, ideal for snorkelling or scuba-diving.

The interior is home to giant tortoises and flying foxes. Restaurants serve excellent Créole food.

Cette île luxuriante se situe à 15 minutes de Mahé par bateau. Sa côte nord s’étend le long du Parc Marin National de Ste Anne; elle est bordée d’un superbe récif de corail, et est donc un endroit idéal pour la plongée sous-marine. L’intérieur de l’île est le domicile de tortues et de roussettes (chauve-souris) géantes. Les restaurants y servent une excellente cuisine créole.

Moyenne Island National Park At just nine hectares, Moyenne Island may be the world’s smallest National Park.

Owned by Moyenne Foundation, a private NGO, it lies within the St Anne Marine National Park and is the only island of the group open to day visitors. Despite its diminutive size, it is an environmental treasure trove. Some 40 endemic plants are represented, more than half of those unique to the granitic islands. Moyenne is the only place on earth other than Vallée de Mai where all six of the palms unique to Seychelles can be seen.

Moyenne also has a population of more than 2,000 birds, 100 giant tortoises and about 20 hawksbill turtles haul themselves ashore at Pirate Cove each year. Perhaps pirates were the earliest human inhabitants and graves of mysterious origin may date from this era. There are also tales of ghosts that bang on windows and doors or trudge from the cemetery around midnight, eloquently told in the book A Grain of Sand.

Eden Island Eden Island is a private residential marina development situated just off the coast of Mahé. Featuring a range of 580 freehold title luxury apartments, spacious maisons and private villas, each with its own mooring, it also offers owners the opportunity to qualify for residency of the Seychelles.

The over 56 hectares of land and private waterways will host a myriad of upmarket facilities. These include an international marina capable of handling super-yachts up to 100 metres in size, a commercial precinct as well as a clubhouse hosting a gym and a tennis court.

The overall style of the island is distinctly rooted in the Seychelles vernacular, drawing inspiration from the islands’ French, Victorian and Indian ancestry. For more information, contact Christopher Nel on +248 43 46 000, visit the island yourself or visit www.edenisland.sc

Moyenne Island Parc National Grande de seulement 9 hectares, l’île Moyenne est un des plus petits parcs nationaux. C’est une île privée, dans le parc national de St Anne, mais elle demeure facilement accessible au public. Malgré sa petite taille, c’est un véritable trésor. Plus de la moitie des plantes endémiques et uniques aux îles granitiques y est présente. Moyenne est le seul endroit au monde en dehors de la Vallée de Mai où poussent les six palmes uniques aux Seychelles.

Moyenne a une population de plus de 100 tortues géantes et environ une vingtaine de tortues marines imbriquées qui viennent pondre sur ses plages .Les premiers habitants de l’île étaient sans doute des pirates, ce qui expliquerait les tombeaux qui s’y trouvent. Et aussi, il y a les fameuses histoires de fantômes qui s’aventurent depuis lecimetière a minuit, frappant aux portes et fenêtres, comme si bien raconté dans le livre ‘Un Grain de Sable’!

Eden Island Eden Island est une marina résidentielle située proche de Mahé. Elle propose, en pleine propriété, 580 appartements luxueux, maisons spacieuses et villas de rêve indépendantes.

Chaque unité dispose de son propre point de mouillage et les propriétaires.

Eden Island développe 56 hectares de terrain et de voies navigables. Elle abrite une marina internationale capable d’accueillir les Yachts jusqu’à 100 mètres et bientôt un centre commercial ainsi qu’un club house avec salle de fitness et cours de tennis.

L’architecture et le design de l’île s’inspirent des influences historiques françaises, anglaises et indiennes dans le plus pur style seychellois. Pour plus d’informations, contactez aux Seychelles Sandra Colas au +248 43 46 000 et en France la société Ter Cognita Jean-Philippe Aubert au +33 (0)1 48 25 93 33 ou visitez notre site internet www.edenisland.sc

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Discover Seychelles The Islands

Cousin

Cousin

Cousin Island, has been a nature reserve since 1968, when it was bought by the Royal Society for Nature Conservation and held in trust for the International Council for Bird Preservation as a haven for all types of birds including endangered species. It is a place of pilgrimage for dedicated ornithologists: there they can find the Seychelles warbler, Seychelles magpie-robin and Seychelles fody, which are found elsewhere only on a handful of rat-free islands. Madagascar turtle doves (possibly including the endemic form with the red head) and Seychelles sunbirds are also present. Seabirds abound on Cousin, with more than 250,000 birds coming to nest every year. These are brown noddies, lesser noddies, wedgetailed shearwaters, Audubon’s shearwaters, bridled terns, as well as fairy terns, one of the symbols of Seychelles, seen on the livery of Air Seychelles. There are also interesting geckos, giant tortoises introduced from Aldabra, and hawksbill turtles which lay their eggs above the tideline of the beach. The reserve is open on certain days. Check with your hotel or tour operator.

The Seychelles government declared Cousin a Special Reserve in 1975. It is managed by Nature Seychelles. Visitors may not have picnics or collect shells. Even smoking is forbidden. A popular day trip leaves Praslin around 0900 hours from Maison des Palmes, taking in Curieuse as well, with time for a barbecue there, and later some snorkelling at St Pierre, arriving back at Praslin at around 1600 hours.

Cousin est une réserve naturelle depuis 1968, date à laquelle cette île fut achetée par la Royal Society for Nature Conservation pour le compte du et le Conseil International pour la Protection des Oiseaux qui en fît un refuge pour oiseaux de toutes espèces mais particulièrement pour les espèces menacées d’extinction. Ces dernières étant particulièrement rares, Cousin est devenu un lieu de pèlerinage pour ornithologues. Ils trouvent là la Rousserole des Seychelles, le Fody (Tok-Tok en Créole) des Seychelles et la Pie chanteuse des Seychelles, espèces survivant seulement sur quelques îles sans rats. Des Tourterelles de Madagascar (dont la forme endémique des Seychelles à tête rouge) et des Souimangas des Seychelles s’y trouvent également. Les oiseaux marins y sont quant-à-eux très nombreux, avec plus de 250,000 d’entre eux qui viennent y nicher chaque année. Il y a là des Noddis bruns, des Noddis à bec grêle, des Puffins du Pacifique et des Puffins d’Audubon, des Sternes bridées, ainsi que des Sternes Blanches, un des symboles des Seychelles qui fut incorporé dans le logotype d’Air Seychelles.

On y trouve également beaucoup de reptiles intéressants, tels que des geckos, des tortues géantes qui furent importées de l’île d’Aldabra, et des tortues marines qui viennent pondre sur les plages, au-dessus de la ligne de marée haute. La réserve n’est pas ouverte au public tous les jours; il est donc prudent de s’informer auprès de votre hôtel ou tour opérateur avant d’y projeter une visite. En 1975, le gouvernement Seychellois classa Cousin «Réserve Spéciale».

L’île éstt aujourd’hui gérée par Nature Seychelles, représentant local de BirdLife International. Le ramassage des coquillages et les pique-niques sont interdits à Cousin et les visiteurs ne sont pas non plus autorisés à fumer. Une excursion intéressante part le matin de Praslin vers 09h00, visite ensuite Curieuse, où est organisé un barbecue sur la plage, avant de reprendre la mer pour St Pierre pour un P.M.T. et de rentrer ensuite à Praslin vers 16h00.

The smaller islands that are most accessible from Mahé for half-day or fullday trips are Cerf, Moyenne, Round and Ste Anne. The best way to appreciate the wonders of the ocean is to make the trip by glass-bottomed boat, through which you can see shoals of colourful fish. Unfortunately large sections of coral have suffered from a rise in sea temperatures (attributed to climate change), although some are showing signs of recovery.

Constituted in 1973, the Ste Anne Marine National Park was one of the first Marine National Parks in the Indian Ocean. It now protects over 150 types of fish. Naturally, fishing is forbidden, as is collecting shells and coral. As the notice says, “Take away nothing but photographs and memories.”

With the new five-star hotel, Sainte Anne Resort, (managed by the International Company Beachcomber) the island is now a holiday paradise for visitors.

Round Island Praslin Round Island Praslin lies just a short distance off Baie Ste Anne, Praslin. There is one beautiful sandy cove facing towards the main island with a beach bar and restaurant. The smallest resort in the Indian Ocean merges with the forest and the hillside, comprising just one large main house and three villas. A board walk skirts the edge of the hill and climbs to the summit where there is a spectacular view of the islands.

Sainte Anne et le Parc Marin National Des excursions d’une journée ou d’une demi-journée peuvent être facilement organisées sur les îles Cerf, Moyenne, Ronde, et Sainte Anne, au large de Mahé. Le meilleur moyen d’apprécier les merveilles de l’océan est de s’offrir une traversée en bateau à fond de verre vers l’une de ces îles. Car cela permet d’admirer les innombrables bancs de poissons. Malheureusement, les formations coralliennes ont souffert du réchauffement de l’eau, phénomène attribué au changement du climat, mais montrent des signes de récupération.

Le Parc Marin National de Ste Anne, qui fut constitué en 1973, est l’un des premiers de l’océan indien. Il abrite aujourd’hui plus de 150 espèces de poissons. La pêche et le ramassage du corail y sont strictement interdits. Comme le dit si bien la brochure touristique: “N’emportez rien sauf des photos, ne laissez rien sauf des traces de pas.”

Avec le nouveau complexe hôtelier cinq étoiles de Sainte-Anne, (géré par la compagnie internationale Beachcomber) l’île est maintenant devenue une destination touristique paradisiaque.

Ronde de Praslin Ronde de Praslin est une île située non loin de Baie Sainte Anne. On y trouve une belle anse sableuse faisant face à Praslin avec un bar de plage et un restaurant.

Avec une grande maison principale et trois villas, bien intégrées avec la forêt et la colline, c’est probablement le plus petit établissement hôtelier de l’Oocéan indien,. Un sentier longe le bord de la colline et grimpe vers le sommet qui offre une vue spectaculaire sur ldes autres îles.

Photo © Seychelles Tourism Board

Ste Anne and its Marine National Park

Your garden of Eden

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Mahé

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Discover Seychelles The Islands

Praslin

Praslin

The second-largest granite island of Seychelles is Praslin, about 40 kilometres from Mahé. It is 15 minutes by Air Seychelles service, which offers many scheduled flights a day. By boat, it takes about one hour with the powerful catamarans that make 3 to 4 round trips rotations per day. The island has a population of about 7,000. There are several excellent hotels, including the Lemuria Resort and Château de Feuilles.

Praslin is not as mountainous as Mahé – the highest point being 330 metres – but it has similarly great granite outcrops surrounded by beautiful beaches, and a coral reef enclosing the crystal-clear waters which are so typical of Seychelles.

The majestic bays and beaches alternate with smaller ones on which, even in the busy season, you could believe you were the only person on the island.

Anse Volbert, or Côte d’Or, to the east of the island, is particularly beautiful, with its pure white sand. Hotels such as Berjaya Praslin Beach offer a wide variety of watersports facilities.

Fantastic granite masses form striking backgrounds to the beaches of Anse Bois de Rose, Anse Boudin and Anse Kerlan, where the five-star Lemuria Resort has an 18-hole championship golf course. At the northernmost tip of the island, Anse Lazio is excellent for both swimming and snorkelling. Grand Anse, on the west coast, has an equally beautiful beach for lazing about, but the waters are sometimes heavy with seaweed and, because it is very shallow over the coral, swimming is difficult at low tide.

Baie Pasquière and Anse Volbert to the north and Baie St Anne to the south have natural harbours which are best appreciated if you opt to make your trip from Mahé to Praslin by boat; the view as you sail in is striking. In Baie St. Anne, you will see Baie St Anne village, where there is a bank, shops and a church, same as at Grande Anse village on the opposite side of the island.

One of the eternal symbols of Seychelles, the huge coco de mer nut, grows in the Vallée de Mai forest of Praslin, also home to one of the world’s rarest birds, the black parrot. The Vallée, a World Heritage Site, is open from 0830 to 1630 hours and the entrance can be found on the road from Grand Anse to Baie St Anne. This area is heavily protected and is being allowed to return to its natural state following ill-founded attempts to introduce non-native plants there in the 1930s and 1940s.

Paths are well-maintained and clearly marked, and a nature trail leads you to all the interesting botanical species. You can find leaflets and information at the entrance of the reserve, managed by the Seychelles Islands Foundation. To walk through the Vallée is to step back in time into a primeval forest, canopied by thick palm fronds that block out the sun. The silence is broken only by the call of the black parrot and the clatter of huge sturdy leaves as the wind blows through the trees.

In streams, freshwater crayfish and crabs can be seen, and the plants around you include the coco de mer, bois rouge, ferns, lataniers, coco marron, screwpines and orchids, all growing around the granite mass. Fruit bats, blue pigeons, bulbuls, lizards, geckos, chameleons, snails and insects can also be observed in the Vallée de Mai. Praslin is perfect to explore on foot and is covered by a network of walkways. There is no danger of getting lost as the island is so small that one needs only an hour or less to cross it width wise.

There is only a limited number of cars for hire, so if you wish to drive it is wise to book ahead, particularly during the busy seasons from December to January and July to August. Petrol stations can be found at Grand Anse and Baie St Anne.

There are taxi ranks at the airport. Taxis can be called by telephone from most hotels and the airport (tel: 4284666). Fares increase slightly at night.

A bus service runs between 0530 and 1900 hours, with a special Sunday service. You can also take a bus that passes the Vallée de Mai entrance. For souvenir shopping, there are boutiques in all the main hotels. Barclays Bank is at Baie St Anne (tel: 4232218), with a branch at Grande Anse open Mondays to Fridays from 0830 to1230 hours.

There are regular boat excursions to smaller islands such as St Pierre, a tiny rock island that is popular for its rich coral reef. The area is particularly favourable for underwater photography. You can organise a boat from Praslin to take you out in the morning and pick you up again in the evening. Coco is also another attractive destination for tourists; it is a deserted tiny island of rocks and boulders with a few palm trees and an exceptional marine life.

There are good restaurants on Praslin if you wish to have a meal away from your hotel.

Située à 40 kilomètres à l’Est de Mahé, Praslin est la deuxième plus grande île des Seychelles. Elle a une population d’environ 7,000 habitants. Les deux îles sont reliées par un service régulier d’Air Seychelles qui assure beaucoup de une quinzaine devols journaliers d’une durée de 15 minutes chacun. Le trajet par bateau (trois ou quatre aller-retours par jour) dure environ une heure .

Plusieurs hôtels de grande qualité sont installés à Praslin, parmi lesquels le Lémuria et le Château de Feuilles.

Le relief de Praslin, dont le sommet le plus haut n’atteint que 330 mètres, n’est pas aussi accidenté que celui de Mahé mais il comporte des formations granitiques semblables, entourées de plages merveilleuses et d’une barrière de corail aux eaux cristallines qui font la gloire des Seychelles.

Baies et plages majestueuses alternent avec de plus petites baies dans lesquelles, même en pleine saison touristique, on a l’impression d’être seul.

L’Anse Volbert, ou Côte d’or, sur la côte est, est particulièrement belle avec ses plages d’une blancheur éclatante. Les hôtels, tels que le Berjaya Praslin Beach offrent une grande variété de sports nautiques.

Des masses granitiques spectaculaires forment un arrière-plan qui contraste avec les plages de l’Anse Bois de Rose, l’Anse Boudin et l’Anse Kerlan où se trouve le nouvel Hôtel cinq étoiles Lémuria. Un golf de 18 trous y a également été construit. Au point le plus septentrional de l’île se trouve Anse Lazio, une magnifique plage excellente pour la baignade et le P.M.T. Sur la côte ouest, la plage de Grand Anse est parfaite pour les bains de soleil matinaux; cependant, la baignade y est difficile à marée basse en raison d’une eau peu profonde au-dessus des bancs de corail, parfois recouverts d’algues jusqu’au bord du rivage.

La Baie Pasquière et l’Anse Volbert au Nord, et la Baie Ste Anne au sud sont des ports naturels qui offrent un spectacle pittoresque à ceux qui ont opté pour la traversée en bateau depuis Mahé. On peut apercevoir de cette baie le village principal avec son monument au coco de mer, la banque, les kiosques et l’église.

Banques, boutiques et église sont aussi présentes à Grand Anse Village, de l’autre coté de l’île. Le coco de mer (vulgairement appelé Coco-fesses) est le symbole éternel des Seychelles. Il croît dans les forêts de la Vallée de Mai, à Praslin, où niche l’un des oiseaux les plus rares au monde: le Perroquet noir des Seychelles.

Cette vallée, qui fait partie du Patrimoine Mondialde l’humanité, est ouverte de 8h30 à 16h30 aux visiteurs qui peuvent la traverser en voiture sur la seule route goudronnée de l’île. C’est un site protégé que l’on espère voir retourner à son état primitif, malheureusement bouleversé dans les années trente et quarante par des tentatives mal fondées d’y introduire des plantes exotiques.

Les sentiers, qui serpentent à travers une nature bien fournie en espèces botaniques intéressantes, sont régulièrement entretenus et clairement indiqués.

Une brochure est mise à la disposition du public à l’entrée de la réserve, gérée par la Fondation des Iles Seychelles.

Se promener dans cette vallée équivaut à remonter le temps dans un décor de forêt vierge au toit formé d’épaisses feuilles de palmier qui empêchent le soleil de pénétrer. Le silence est y impressionnant, interrompu seulement par les cris du Perroquet noir et le bruissement des palmes agitées par le vent. Ecrevisses et crabes d’eau douce vivent paisiblement dans tous les ruisseaux, et parmi les plantes environnantes figurent Cocos-de-mer, fougères, lataniers, Bois rouge, vacoas, Cocos marrons et orchidées, qui poussent entre les masses de granit. Roussettes, Pigeons bleus, bulbuls, lézards, geckos, caméléons, escargots et insectes divers peuvent aussi être observés dans la Vallée de Mai. L’île de Praslin se prête parfaitement à l’exploration pédestre avec un réseau de sentiers et de chemins agréables. Pas de crainte de se perdre car l’île est si petite qu’il faut moins d’une heure pour la traverser dans sa largeur. Mais si vous préférez vous déplacer en voiture, il vaut mieux faire des réservations à l’avance car le nombre de véhicules de location est limité, surtout pendant les hautes saisons de décembre-janvier et de juillet-août. Les deux stations-service se trouvent à Grand Anse et à Baie Ste Anne. Il existe une station de taxis en face de l’aéroport. Ceux-ci peuvent être appelés par téléphone depuis l’aéroport (tel: 4284666) ou depuis les différents hôtels de l’île.

Le prix des courses est légèrement majoré la nuit. Il existe aussi un service de bus entre 5h30 et 19h00 sur les quatre routes principales avec service spécial le dimanche. On peut ainsi se rendre à la Vallée de mai en bus.

Vous trouverez des souvenirs dans toutes les boutiques d’hôtels. La banque Barclays est à Baie Ste Anne (tel: 4232218) avec une succursale à Grand Anse, ouverte du lundi au vendredi, de 8h30 à 12h30.

Des excursions partent régulièrement par bateau de Praslin à destination des petites îles avoisinantes, telles que St Pierre, un îlot rocheux très connu pour sa barrière de corail fourmillant d’une vie marine multicolore. Il est possible de s’arranger pour qu’une embarcation vous dépose le matin avec un panier piquenique, et vienne vous rechercher le soir. L’Ile Coco est une autre destination très prisée des touristes; il s’agit d’une petite île déserte et rocheuse sur laquelle poussent quelques palmiers, et où la vie sous-marine est exceptionnelle. Les amateurs de photos sous-marines y trouveront un cadre idéal.

Plusieurs restaurants permettent de déjeuner ou de dîner hors de l’hôtel.

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Discover Seychelles The Islands

Curieuse

Curieuse

Lying about two kilometres (one mile) to the north-east of Praslin, this island of about three kilometres (two miles) long was first given the name Ile Rouge on account of its red earth. As part of the Marine Park the island is strictly protected and only a few families live there. Like Praslin, Curieuse is home to the Coco-demer palm. The island has a wild population of about 250 giant tortoises, brought over from Aldabra in the 1980s and a breeding scheme has been in place there for several years. Curieuse was once a leper colony, and the ruins of the houses can still be seen. There is also a large, restored colonial villa, known as the Doctor’s House, where the island doctor lived in the 1870s. Nature trails wind their way across the island, notably through the extensive swamps, home to eight different species of mangrove. Excursions to Curieuse normally include a barbecue and often a visit to Cousin island as well.

Située à un kilomètre au Nord-Est de Praslin, cette île de moins de trois kilomètres de long présente des coteaux dénudés couverts de la terre rouge qui avait donné à l’île son nom d’origine, Ile Rouge. Partie intégrale du Parc marin de Curieuse, l’île est strictement protégée. Comme Praslin, Curieuse abrite des boisements de Coco-demer. Peuplée seulement de quelques familles, cette île est le domaine de près de 250 tortues géantes importées d’Aldabra dans les années 1980. Non loin des ruines d’une ancienne léproserie s’élève une vieille villa coloniale, la maison du Docteur qui servait de résidence au médecin lors de ses visites aux malades. Un sentier à travers bois permet au visiteur d’admirer les huit différentes sortes de palétuviers qui poussent sur l’île. Les excursions à Curieuse incluent souvent une halte sur la plage pour permettre aux visiteurs de déguster une grillade.

Cousine Island

Cousine Island

Cousine is no ordinary resort. Guests arrive by helicopter and are accommodated in just four villas to minimise the human impact on the island. There are very few islands anywhere in the world that have survived intact as Cousine has done, with such a profusion of wildlife and almost none where it is possible to stay overnight and soak up the atmosphere. There may be a small resort here but unquestionably, the island still belongs to nature. A systematic rehabilitation programme to restore the island includes the planting of thousands of native trees, the protection of the huge seabird colonies and the reintroduction of endemic birds.

Cousine n’est pas un établissement hôtelier ordinaire. Les visiteurs y parviennent par hélicoptère et sont hébergés dans seulement quatre villas afin de minimiser l’impact de l’homme sur l’île. Il y a peu d’îles dans le monde qui sont demeurées aussi intactes que Cousine, avec une telle profusion de vie sauvage, et presque aucune où il est possible de passer la nuit et de s’imprégner de la sorte de l’atmosphère ambiante.

Même s’il y a un petit établissement hôtelier, il est indéniable que l’île appartient à la nature. Un programme visant à restaurer l’île comprend la plantation de milliers d’arbres indigènes, la protection des importantes colonies d’oiseaux marins et la réintroduction d’espèces d’oiseaux endémiques.

Bird Island

Bird Island

A 30 minutes flight from Mahé by light aircraft gives the first stunning impressions of this 70 hectares (170 acres) coral cay. Bird Island is the most northerly island of the Seychelles Archipelago and is a nature lover’s paradise. Bird Island has just one hotel which offers guests a choice of 24 comfortable and spacious bungalows.

A true haven from today’s busy world, there are no telephones or televisions and the emphasis is very much on relaxation and being at one with the nature around you. The east and south sides of the island are surrounded by a protective barrier reef which is home to many varieties of colourful fish and the rest is an open beach which offers superb safe swimming. Situated on the northern edge of the Seychelles Plateau, where the sea floor drops 2,000 metres, the island offers some of the best game fishing in the country. During the North West monsoon (October to April), dolphins are regularly observed in the surrounding waters. This is also the best time to witness the magical sight of Hawksbill turtles nesting, and from December onwards the tiny hatchlings can be seen emerging and embarking on their journey down to the sea. The South East Monsoon (May to September) also offers an amazing avian spectacle. With over 750,000 pairs of Sooty Terns coming to the northern end of the island to breed, and a resident population of Noddy and Fairy Terns, the island is an ornithologists dream. Bird Island is also home to Guinness World Record holder Esmeralda, said to be the largest free ranging tortoise in the world and estimated to be over 230 years old.

Depuis Mahé, un vol de 30 minutes vous donnera les premières impressions de cet atoll corallien de 70 hectares. Bird Island est l’île la plus septentrionalede l’Archipel des Seychelles et un paradis pour les amoureux de la nature. L’unique hôtel offre à ses hôtes le choix de 24 bungalows confortables et spacieux, une authentique retraite dans le monde actuel si bousculé - ni TV, ni telephone - ou l’accent est mis sur la relaxation et la communion avec la nature environnante.

Les côtes Est et Sud de l’île sont protégés par une barrière de corail, refuge de nombreuses variétés de poissons multicolores. Le reste est une plage immense où la baignade est superbe et sûre. Proche de l’extrémité Nord du plateau sous-marin des Seychelles, là où les fonds atteignent 2000m, l’île présente une situation exceptionnelle pour les amateurs de pêche. D’octobre à avril, les dauphins s’y observent régulièrement - c’est aussi la meilleure période pour voir pondre les tortues marines et dès décembre assister a l’éclosion des oeufs et la ruée des petits vers la mer. De mai à septembre; vous pouvez admirer un étonnant ballet aérien - plus de 750,000 couples de Sternes Fuligineuses colonisent la partie Nord de l’île pour s’y reproduire. Avec la population sédentaire de Noddies et de Sternes Blanches, c’est le rêve pour tout ami des oiseaux. C’est aussi à Bird Island que vit Esmeralda, inscrite au Guiness Book pour être, à 230 ans, la plus grosse tortue terrestre en liberté.

Discover Seychelles The Islands

Photo © Seychelles Tourism Board

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La Digue This is the third largest granite island in Seychelles in terms of population, housing about 2,500 people. It is a half-hour trip from Praslin, or three hours by schooner from Mahé. However, visitors with a tight schedule may prefer to take the 20-minute flight with Helicopter Seychelles (tel: 4385858).

The pace of life is slow, about the same speed as its traditional way of transport – the ox cart. Very few cars are allowed on the island and bicycles are popular. They can be hired from various bicycle rentals at Anse Réunion or La Passe harbour on arrival. At l’Union a fine old traditional planter’s house has been carefully restored. It used to be the centre of a vanilla plantation of which the treatment factory can still be seen. Further inland, Château Saint Cloud, built under Napoleon’s regime, is another impressive restored plantation house. On the agricultural estate, you can see furnace-dried coconuts, or copra, being turned into oil. Also of historical interest, at Pointe Cap Barbi, there are graves of early colonists from Bourbon Island (today’s Réunion). The old cemetery at l’Union is also an attraction.

La Digue is noted for its superb beaches, and snorkelling (particularly in front of La Digue Island Lodge).

La Digue La Digue, avec une population de 2,500 habitants, est la quatrième île des Seychelles par sa taille. La traversée depuis Praslin se fait en une demi-heure, et celle depuis Mahé en trois heures. Les visiteurs ayant un emploi du temps serré préfèreront s’y rendre par le vol de 20 minutes d’Helicopter Seychelles (tel: 4385858). Le rythme de vie ici est aussi lent que le moyen de transport traditionnel: le char à bœufs. Très peu de voitures sont autorisées sur l’île, par conséquent les vélos ont beaucoup de succès, et peuvent se louer à Anse Réunion ou au débarcadère du port de La Passe.

Une belle maison traditionnelle de planteurs a été restaurée à l’Union, celle-çi a servi au tournage du film ‘Emmanuelle aux Seychelles’. Elle est située au centre d’une plantation de vanille dont on peut visiter l’usine de traitement. L’usine d’huile de copra (noix de coco séchées) peut être aussi visitée sur ce domaine.

Plus à l’intérieur, se trouve l’impressionnant Château St Cloud, une autre maison de planteur qui fût construite au temps des conquêtes napoléoniennes. Les tombes des premiers colons venus de l’Ile Bourbon (aujourd’hui l’Ile de la Réunion) s’élèvent au nord de l’île, à la Pointe Cap Barbi, ainsi qu’au vieux cimetière à l’Union.

La Digue est renommée pour ses plages superbes et ses sites spectaculaires pour le P.M.T (snorkelling) et la plongée sous-marine (en particulier en face de La Digue Island Lodge). On peut y admirer les formations granitiques sculptées par le vent et la mer au cours de millions d’années.

There are more spectacular granite formations which have been shaped by wind and sea over millions of years. Eagle’s Nest Mountain rises dramatically to 300 metres, taking up most of the island. Beaches at Pointe Cap Barbi have, like so many other beaches, a dramatic granite backdrop. The remote beaches at Grande Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Cocos with pink-tinged sand are beautiful, but beware of dangerous undercurrents.

La montagne dite Nid d’Aigle s’élève à 300 mètres au-dessus du niveau de la mer et occupe une grande partie de l’île. A Pointe Cap Barbi les plages sont, comme dans beaucoup d’autres endroits, entourées d’un merveilleux décor de granit. Les plages les plus isolées de Grande Anse, Petite Anse et d‘Anse Coco sont d’une très grande beauté avec leur sable aux reflets rosés. Mais gare aux dangereux courants!

Most parts of the island can be reached in under an hour. Among the birds you will encounter is the unique Seychelles paradise Flycatcher, one of the rarest birds in the world (less than 300 birds), the symbol of this island. In the distance, Praslin can be seen, completing a pattern of islands.

Il est possible d’atteindre n’importe quel point de l’île en moins d’une heure.

Parmi les oiseaux que vous rencontrerez figure le Gobemouche de paradis, appelé localement ‘La Veuve’, une des espèces les plus rares de la planète (moins de 300 oiseaux) qui n’existe qu’à La Digue, et dont elle est le symbole.

Discover Seychelles Les Îles

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Denis

Ile Denis

Discovered in 1773, this croissant shaped coral hideaway of 152 hectares (375 acres) is a small green jewel perched on the north easterly edge of the Seychelles bank, idyllic white beaches surround the island; its sheltered lagoon provides unrivalled swimming opportunities and the crystal-clear waters harbour turtles and exotic marine life, the house reef is perfect for snorkelling. The deep waters outside the reef allow for excellent diving, game, bottom and fly fishing.

Denis is undertaking unprecedented conservation and sustainable development projects. Over 50 hectares of woodland have been rehabilitated and the dense forested interior is a haven for the recently introduced endemic endangered avian species such as the Seychelles Fody, the brush warbler, the Seychelles magpie robin and most recently the Paradise FlyCatcher previously only found on La Digue. Other endemic species such as Seychelles blue pigeon abound. The island’s vegetable and livestock farm and surrounding seas supply the hotel’s kitchen’s requirements.

The island is accessible by a 30-minute flight. Twenty-five tasteful, elegant and secluded cottages each with its own private beachfront provide comfort and laid-back luxury.

3°48’ Sud - 55°40’ Est, une perle corallienne au nord de Mahé. Bercée par le flot des vagues, Denis Island trône sereinement au bord des grandes profondeurs de l’Océan Indien. Havr e de paix et de sérénité, « l’Ile des gens heureux » découverte par Denis de Trobiant en 1773 à bord de son bateau l’Etoile, semble n’avoir jamais cédé à l’empreinte de l’homme. Protégées par une longue barrière de corail, l’île de 152 hectares et sa plage de sable blanc bordent un extraordinaire lagon bleu turquoise où se côtoient d’infinies variétés de poissons, coquillages, coraux, tortues… Sur terre, la nature préservée et exubérante laisse échapper une symphonie douce et mélodieuse d’oiseaux marins, que seul peut interrompre le mouvement saccadé des crabes ou celui plus langoureux des tortues géantes.

Depuis plusieurs années, un important programme de conservation mobilise les énergies. Sur 50 hectares de forêt, des scientifiques travaillent à la réhabilitation de l’habitat originel afin d’introduire des espèces menacées d’oiseaux endémiques à l’archipel. Un pari sur le futur qui renforce chaque jour le caractère unique de l’Ile. Enfin, au fil des sentiers, Denis Island dévoile progressivement ses richesses, un vieux cimetière marin, son phare, sa chapelle œcuménique, sa ferme, ses projets de développement de tourisme durable.…

Familiale, romantique et amicale, Denis Island est avant tout une expérience unique, une symphonie harmonieuse entre luxe, calme et volupté. L’hôtel s’étend sur la pointe nord-ouest de l’île, les 25 villas et cottages sont dispersés le long de la plage.

Alphonse & St Francois Atoll

Les atolls d’Alphonse et de St François

Alphonse is the most remote island with a hotel, 400 kilometres southwest of Mahé. Its attractions include some of the best diving in the Indian Ocean, with forests of Gorgonian fan corals, huge schools of pelagic fish and many colourful reef fish. Once a productive coconut plantation, little remains as a reminder of these days save for a few old buildings and the island’s cemetery near to Pointe Huto. Conservation is a high priority and a team of full time scientists and rangers from the Island Conservation Society are employed on rehabilitation and monitoring programmes A short stretch of ocean, ominously named as Canal de Mort, separates Alphonse from picture perfect Bijoutier and the lagoon of St Francois, world famous for its fly-fishing, opportunities. A feature of St Francois is the number of shipwrecks, standing as grim reminders of the perils of the sea.

Située à 400 km au sud-ouest de Mahé, Alphonse est l’île la plus éloignée avec un hôtel. On y trouve quelques-uns uns des meilleurs sites de plongée de l’océan indien, avec des forêts de Gorgones éventail géantes, d’immenses bancs de poissons pélagiques et beaucoup de poissons de récifs colorés. Jadis une plantation de cocotiers productive, peu de choses sont restées de ce temps révolu à l’exception de quelques vieux bâtiments et le cimetière de l’île près de la Pointe Huto. La conservation de la nature est une priorité et plusieurs scientifiques et gardes de la Fondation pour la Conservation des Iles (Island Conservation Society) y sont employés à plein temps sur des programmes de suivi et de réhabilitation de l’écosystème.

Un bras de mer étroit, dont le nom (de mauvaise augure) est ‘Canal de Mort’ sépare Alphonse de l’îlot de carte postale Bijoutier, et du lagon de St François mondialement célèbre pour la pêche à la mouche. Une caractéristique de St François est le nombre d’épaves de bateaux naufragés, dressés comme des sinistres rappels des périls de la mer.

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Discover Seychelles The Islands

Silhouette

Silhouette

Silhouette lies 20 km northwest of Mahé. It is the third largest granitic island, yet the human impact is minimal. Mount Dauban rises to 740 metres and is the second highest summit in Seychelles. Though superficially similar to neighbouring islands, much of Silhouette is made up of younger rock called syenite and dated from 63 million years ago. Between Point Ramasse Tout and Point Zeng Zeng lies the only surface volcanic ash in Seychelles.

Silhouette was named for Etienne de Silhouette (1709-1767) who was the Controller General of Finances in France in the reign of Louis XV. His watchword was austerity and wags of the day commented that his financial strictures had reduced them to mere ‘silhouettes’ of themselves.

In 1987 a Marine National Park was declared around the island and in 2010, Silhouette National Park was created protecting 93 percent of the landmass. About 2,000 species of plants and animals have been recorded on Silhouette, including the Critically Endangered sheath-tailed bat, possibly the rarest mammal on earth. Most of the 75 or so endemic plants of the granitic islands are found on Silhouette. The Island Conservation Society runs a centre on the island, protecting the flora and fauna and conducting nature tours.

The crew of an English East India Company vessel, the Ascension were the first to step ashore on Silhouette in 1609. Graves discovered at Anse Lascars were thought to be those from an earlier Arab settlement but date to around 1800, possibly those of slaves who escaped the plantations of their owners on Mahé and created a new life for themselves on Silhouette, becoming the island’s first permanent inhabitants.

The first landowner about whom we have any background was JeanFrancois Hodoul, a French corsair in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. He is rumoured to have buried his fortune somewhere in the dark mountain forest. The Daubans bought the island in 1860 and owned it for a hundred years. They were plantation owners of French extraction and made real efforts towards profitable farming, clearing forest on the flat land in order to plant coconut palms and fruit trees, and building the necessary supporting infrastructure. The Dauban era came to an end when Henri Dauban sold the island to a French group, and it was acquired by the government in 1983, when management of the island passed to the Island Development Company. Nowadays Silhouette Island is home to 5 star resort Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, the only hotel on the island.

Silhouette se trouve à 20 km au nord-ouest de Mahé. Il s’agit de la troisième plus grande île granitique, mais l’impact de l’activité humaine est minime. Le Mont Dauban se dresse à 740 mètres, soit le deuxième plus haut sommet des Seychelles. Bien que superficiellement semblable aux îles voisines, Silhouette est essentiellement composée d’un jeune rocher appelé syénite et daté de 63 millions d’années. Entre la Pointe Ramasse Tout et la Pointe Zeng Zeng se trouvent les seuls cendres volcaniques de surface aux Seychelles. Silhouette doit son appellation à Étienne de Silhouette (17091767) qui était contrôleur général des finances en France sous le règne de Louis XV. Son maitre mot était l’austérité et les commentateurs de cette époque disaient que ses mesures financières contraignantes les avaient réduits à de simples «silhouettes» d’eux-mêmes.

En 1987, un parc national marin a été déclaré autour de l’île et, en 2010, le parc national de Silhouette a été créé, protégeant 93% de la masse terrestre. Environ 2.000 espèces de plantes et d’animaux ont été enregistrées à Silhouette, y compris la chauve-souris à queue en fourreau gravement menacée d’extinction, probablement le mammifère le plus rare sur terre. La plupart des quelques 75 espèces de plantes endémiques des îles granitiques se trouvent à Silhouette. La Société pour la conservation des iles gère un centre sur l’île en vue de la protection de la flore et de la faune, et l’organisation des excursions dans la nature.

Les membres d’équipage d’un navire de la British East India Company, Ascension, ont été les premiers à débarquer à Silhouette en 1609. On pensait que les tombes découvertes à Anse Lascars étaient celles des habitants arabes qui occupaient l’ île avant, mais elles datent de 1800 environ, et pourraient être celles des esclaves qui s’étaient échappés des plantations de leurs propriétaires à Mahé pour commencer une nouvelle vie à Silhouette, devenant ainsi les premiers habitants permanents de l’île.

Le premier propriétaire foncier pour qui nous disposons des informations est Jean-François Hodoul, un corsaire français de la fin du XVIIIème et début du XIXème siècle. Il semblerait qu’il aurait enterré sa fortune quelque part dans la forêt de montagne sombre. Les Dauban ont acheté l’île en 1860 et l’ont détenue pendant une centaine d’années. D’origine française, ils étaient propriétaires de plantations et se sont réellement efforcés à entreprendre une agriculture rentable en défrichant la forêt sur les terres plates pour planter des cocotiers et des arbres fruitiers, et construire les infrastructures nécessaires d’appui. L’ère Dauban prit fin lorsqu’Henri Dauban vendit l’île à un groupe français. Elle fut reprise par le gouvernement en 1983, sa direction passant à la Islands Development Company. Aujourd’hui, l’ile Silhouette abrite l’hôtel à 5 étoiles Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, le seul établissement hôtelier sur l’île.

Desroches Desroches is the largest island of the Amirantes, 45 minutes by air from Mahé. Swimming is excellent, unlike most atolls where waters over the surrounding reef are very shallow. The beaches are also excellent. There is a hotel, where guests enjoy sailing, cycling, canoeing, windsurfing, snorkelling deep-sea fishing and diving. Desroches is famous for the Desroches Drop with its fantastic caves, which may be explored under the supervision of a PADI dive-master. There is also a small settlement, with its copra drier, oil press and lock up, a reminder of the old plantation days. Since 2009, a full time team of scientists and rangers from the Island Conservation Society is employed to monitor and protect the terrestrial and marine life.

Desroches Desroches est la plus grande île des Amirantes, à 45 minutes d’avion de Mahé.La baignade y est excellente, contrairement à la plupart des atolls où les eaux sont très peu profondes au-dessus des récifs ou du platier. Les plages sont également excellentes.

Il y a un hôtel où les visiteurs peuvent profiter de la voile, du vélo, du canöé, de la planche à voile, du Palmes-Masque-Tuba, de la pêche en eau profonde, et de la plongée sous-marine. Desroches est célèbre pour son fameux ‘Mur tombant’ avec ses grottes fantastiques, qui peuvent être explorées sous la supervision d’un instructeur de plongée PADI. Il y a aussi un petit village, avec son four à copra, sa presse à huile, et son cachot, un souvenir de l’ancien temps lors de la plantation.

Depuis 2009, une équipe de scientifiques et de gardes de la Fondation pour la Conservation des Iles (Island Conservation Society) y est employée à plein temps pour assurer le suivi et la protection des espèces et des écosystèmes terrestres et marins.

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Discover Seychelles The Islands

Aride

Aride

This is the most northerly island of the granitic Seychelles. It was bought by the Royal Society for Nature Conservation in 1973 and today is owned and managed by the Island Conservation Society. It is second only to Aldabra in importance as a nature reserve in Seychelles. On Aride there are more breeding species of sea birds than on any other island in the region, together with the only breeding sites in the granitic islands for red-tailed tropicbirds, roseate terns and the world’s only sooty tern colony in tall woodland.

The island’s warden will guide you to the breathtaking clifftops, where hundreds of huge frigatebirds soar above the turquoise sea. If you are lucky, you will glimpse hawksbill turtles and dolphins in the waters below. Seychelles warblers, 29 of which were introduced from Cousin in September 1988, have multiplied to more than 2,000.

Aride is also a botanical treasure house, being the world’s only site for the beautiful Wright’s Gardenia, or bwa sitron, and a species of ‘peponium’ that might also be endemic to the island. Visits can be arranged from most Praslin hotels, but landings can sometimes be difficult during the south-east monsoon.

The world’s largest colony of lesser noddies and tropical shearwaters further enhance Aride’s reputation as the seabird citadel of the Indian Ocean. Aride is also home to five endemic land birds including the Seychelles magpie-robin, Seychelles warbler and Seychelles fody, each found only on a few other islands.

Aride, la plus septentrionale des îles granitiques seychelloises, fut achetée en 1973 par la Royal Society for Nature Conservation et appartient aujourd’hui à la Fondation pour la Conservation de Iles (Island Conservation Society) qui la gère.

Elle constitue la deuxième réserve naturelle la plus importante du pays après Aldabra. Il y a plus d’espèces d’oiseaux marins qui se reproduisent sur Aride que sur n’importe quelle autre île de la région. Outre toutes les espèces qu’on trouve sur Cousin, Aride héberge les seuls sites de reproduction des îles granitiques du Paille-en-queue à brins rouges et de la Sterne de Dougall, ainsi que la seule colonie au monde de sternes fuligineuses sous une forêt.

Là, un gardien-guide vous emmènera au bord des falaises époustouflantes d’où l’on peut voir des centaines d’immenses frégates planant au-dessus d’une mer bleu turquoise. Avec un peu de chance, il est possible d’apercevoir les tortues marines et les dauphins qui vivent dans les eaux environnantes. Les 29 Rousserolles des Seychelles qui furent importées de Cousin en septembre 1988 se sont reproduites et leur nombre a déjà dépassé deux milliers. La réputation de citadelle des oiseaux marins de l’océan indien que possède Aride est attestée par la présence de la plus grande colonie au monde de Noddis marianne, et peut-être de Puffins d’Audubon.

Aride est aussi un trésor sur le plan botanique, et le seul endroit au monde où poussent les magnifiques Gardénias de Wright, ou ‘Bois citron’, ainsi qu’une espèce de concombre sauvage qui pourrait être elle aussi endémique de cette île.

Aride abrite les plus grandes colonies du monde de Noddis Marianne et de Puffins de Baillon, ce qui renforce sa renommée de bastion des oiseaux marins de l’océan indien. Aride accueille aussi cinq espèces d’oiseaux terrestres endémiques dont la pie chanteuse ou dyal, la Rousserolle et le Foudi des Seychelles, qui n’existent que sur une poignée d’îles.

Frégate

Frégate

This, the most isolated of the granite islands, is only 12 minutes from Mahé by Air Seychelles. Of all the islands, it has the most romantic associations with the world of pirates and hidden treasure. Some relics on the island suggest that it was a refuge for pirates in the 17th and 18th centuries. Ian Fleming, who created James Bond, was persuaded from ancient maps he discovered here, that a treasure was hidden somewhere on the island.

More obvious treasures are the abundant flora and fauna. Frégate is the stronghold of the critically endangered Seychelles magpie-robin (less than 200 birds in the world), saved from extinction by the intervention of BirdLife International.

Recently the Ministry of Environment established successfully on Frégate another highly threatened endemic bird, the Seychelles white-eye (500 individuals in the world). The island boasts the world’s only population of giant tenebrionid beetle, as well as numerous giant tortoises. Despite the abundance of exotic vegetation and planted coconut palms, tens of thousands of native trees have been propagated and replanted since 1995, totaling several dozens of hectares restored. There are superb beaches, such as Anse Victorin, which some say is the prettiest in Seychelles. It is also a walker’s paradise, with wooded paths leading through plantations and groves.

With the five-star Frégate Island Private Resort, the island is a holiday preserve for guests.

Frégate, la plus isolée des îles granitiques est à 12 minutes de Mahé par un vol Air Seychelles. De toutes les îles, c’est celle qui est le plus souvent associée au monde des pirates et des trésors cachés au cours des dix-septième et dix-huitième siècles.

Ian Fleming, le créateur de James Bond, était convaincu, au vu d’anciennes cartes qu’il avait découvertes ici, que l’île cachait un trésor quelque part.

Mais les trésors visibles à l’œil nu sont la flore et la faune de l’île. Frégate est le bastion du Dyal ou Pie chanteuse des Seychelles (environ 200 individus dans le monde), qui après avoir frôlé l’extinction se multiplie grâce aux efforts de BirdLife International. Récemment, le ministère de l’Environnement y a implanté avec succès une autre espèce gravement menacée, l’Oiseau-lunettes des Seychelles (environ 500 individus dans le monde). Frégate abrite également toute la population mondiale d’un scarabée ténébrionide endémique, et possède de nombreuses Tortues géantes à l’état sauvage. Malgré une abondante végétation exotique et la persistance d’une vaste cocoteraie, des dizaines de milliers d’arbres natives y ont été multipliés et replantés depuis 1995, totalisant plusieurs dizaines d’hectares restaurés. Il y a de superbes plages, comme Anse Victorin, considérée par certains comme la plus belle du pays.

C’est aussi le paradis du promeneur, avec un réseau de sentiers traversant forêts, cultures et vergers. L’île est réservée depuis 1999 aux clients de Frégate Island Private, un luxueux hôtel 5 étoiles.

The Indian Ocean is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the world’s best destinations for golfers. And why not? Tony Smart explains.

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Opposite top: Mauritius - Le Touessrok golf course 6th hole.

The best place to enjoy all this in the Indian Ocean is the Constance Lémuria Seychelles on Praslin Island in the Seychelles. The golf course here is both stunningly beautiful and extraordinarily challenging, with the record for number of balls lost in one round currently standing at 40. This is largely due to the narrowness of many of the fairways, which can be daunting when seen from the tee, and the impenetrable lush jungle, or water that awaits should you miss the fairway on most holes. But this should not put you off playing

Photo © Constance Lémuria Seychelles

Below: Golf pro at Constance Lémuria Seychelles.

ith the exception of the Caribbean, where else in the world could you play golf on great courses, in lush tropical surroundings and beautiful weather, and then cool off by snorkelling or diving in crystal clear waters and gazing in awe at the beautiful coral and amazing variety of sea life? And all whilst staying in a luxury resort.

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the Lemuria course which is one of the most beautiful courses I’ve ever played anywhere in the world.

The course is quite short, measuring just 5,827 yards, par 70, so there’s no need to use a driver off every tee and golfers can use whichever club they feel gives them the best chance of hitting the fairways. Designed by Rodney Wright and Marc Farry, and opened in 2000, the first 12 holes play through narrow palm-lined fairways beside the resort itself with picturesque lakes and plenty of bunkers just waiting for wayward shots.

Then the remaining six holes rise up into the island’s hills, providing breathtakingly panoramic views across the course, the island, and other islands in the distance, with the 14th, 15th and 18th tees in particular providing spectacular photo opportunities. So please make sure you take your camera with you if you’re playing all 18.

On a course, it’s difficult to pick out certain holes because almost every hole is a work of art but I think two that are worthy of special mention are the signature par three 15th, a hole that measures 166 yards in distance yet also drops an astonishing 55 yards to the green lying in the valley below. If you’re in need of cooling off when you finish this gem the beautiful white sand of Anse Georgette beach and the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean lie just to the left of the green, accessible by a path across a small mangrove marsh.

My other pick of these great holes would be Lemuria’s 18th: a 520 yard par five that drops another 50 yards or so from tee to fairway and which requires a carry from the tee of almost 200 yards over thick jungle before your ball reaches the safety of the fairway. From there you’re faced with a dogleg right, wrapped around a large lake. A well struck and properly placed tee shot will be in excellent position for a player to go for the

Photo © Le Touessrok Resort Photo © Belle Mare Plage

uria Seychelles Photo © Constance Lém

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Photos © Belle Mare Plage

green in two. For those players seeking a safer route home, the option is to take the long way around the lake and the large stand of Takamaka trees by the lake about 100 yards from the green, which is protected on the left by three sand bunkers at the front and on the other three sides by the lake. Truly a great finishing hole.

From the 18th green it’s a short journey to the clubhouse where you can relax with a refreshing cold drink. And at Lemuria you can relax in many other ways, with a soothing massage at the Spa de Constance or the Shiseido Spa; kayaking, windsurfing, diving, deep sea fishing or parasailing in the Indian Ocean; soaking up the sun on one of the three magnificent beaches; walking lazily through the Seychellois gardens; or eating at one of Lémuria’s three world class restaurants, or enjoying the sunset with a cocktail at one of the four bars.

With luxury every step of the way, including the fully equipped and sumptuous suites and villas that make up the resort’s accommodation Lémuria is the only place to start a golf vacation in the Indian Ocean.

vetiver grass surrounding many fairways and mango, papaya and palm tree filled jungle lining many other holes, just waiting to swallow up any wayward shots.

A few kilometres further up the coast from the Heritage is the 6,437 yard, par 72 layout at the Paradis Golf Club on the Le Morne peninsula. The Paradis course is possibly the most scenic in Mauritius as it’s played in the shadow of the magnificent Le Morne mountain, a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site, with four holes on the back nine played right beside an inlet of the Indian Ocean.

Although not quite as challenging as some other courses on Mauritius the Paradis Golf Club is nevertheless a very enjoyable round and the par five 16th and par three 17th, played on a windswept peninsula that juts out into the ocean, are two truly great holes.

Another breathtakingly beautiful course on Mauritius is the Le Touessrok course, situated on its own island at Ile Aux Cerfs on Mauritius’ east coast, and the only golf course I’ve ever played that is not reachable by road, only by boat or helicopter.

At present seven stunningly beautiful championship golf courses can be found on Mauritius’ east, south and west coast, and the best of them, in my opinion, is the Peter Matkovich designed Heritage Golf Club course (previously known as Golf du Chateau), which measures over 7,000 yards, par 72 from the back tees. With majestic views of the Indian Ocean shimmering in the sunshine available from 10 holes, which rise up into the foothills of Bel Ombre in the south-west of Mauritius, and beautiful lakes that test the golfer on five other holes the course is spectacular. It’s also extremely challenging with lush

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Photo © Paradis Golf Club

From here dedicated golfers may want to try out the Seychelles only other golf course, a nine hole layout called the Seychelles Golf Club located on the south-eastern coast of the main island, Mahé, before flying out from Mahé to Mauritius, the Indian Ocean’s other golfing jewel.

Below: Mauritius Paradis 12th green.

With the exception of the Caribbean, where else in the world could you play golf on great courses ...?

This incredible Bernhard Langer designed course measures 7,115 yards, par 72 (from the back tees) and is a layout that has to be played to be believed. With several holes that run right beside the white sand beaches and turquoise blue waters of the Indian Ocean the whole course is a feast for the eyes, featuring a wide variety of exotic flora and fauna, including scarlet coloured cardinal birds that flit around the golf course. Whilst very beautiful, the Le Touessrok course is also an extremely tough one with black volcanic rock outcrops coming into play on several holes, mangrove swamps featuring on many others, water hazards to test your accuracy on 13 holes and strategic bunkering on many more.

Also on the east coast are two courses at the Belle Mare Plage Resort: the Legend, which hosts the MCB Tour Championship on the European Seniors Tour, and the Links. Unfortunately the Legend course is only available to guests of the resort and the neighbouring Le Prince Maurice hotel. But their other course, the Peter Alliss/ Rodney Wright designed Links layout is open to anyone and is a challenging test. The resort itself provides golfers with luxurious accommodation, great food and drink, Spas and a host of other facilities.

Completing the east coast’s golf is the great Ernie Els designed course at the Anahita Resort, close to Le Touessrok. The 2012 Open champion has created a great course here that measures 7,467 yards, par 72 from the back tees. But, as with most courses today, a variety of tees make the layout accessible to golfers of all levels. The Anahita course is always in superb condition and the six spectacular oceanside holes, particularly the finishing three which give Anahita possibly the best finish on the island, make it yet another enchanting Mauritian golf course.

The final heavenly golf course on Mauritius is on the island’s west coast, at the Tamarina Hotel, Beach, Golf & Spa resort, featuring a Rodney Wright designed layout that measures a whopping 7,512 yards, par 72 from the back tees though again there is a variety of other tees to choose from to suit all standards of golf. With fairways framed by seeming acres of purple pampas grass and lemongrass, views of the spectacular Rempart Mountain (resembling a mini-Matterhorn) available from most holes, and a magnificent signature hole, the par three 13th which drops almost 30 metres (100 feet) from the tee to a green surrounded by bunkers and a tidal pool on the left hand side, Tamarina is a cracker of a golf course.

For those golfers who would like to do a complete tour of all the 18-hole courses in the Indian Ocean there is also Golf du Rova in Madagascar and Golf de Bourbon and Golf du Bassin Bleu on the island of Reunion.

Further information on all these great courses can be found at www.lemuriaresort.com, www. seychellesgolfclub.com, http://golf-in-mauritius. com, and at www.golftoday.co.uk/clubhouse/ coursedir/africa.html.

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Destination

Dubai

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Photos courtesy of Peter Holthusen

Dubai’s Spectacular Theme Parks

by Rosemary Holthusen.

I

consider myself very fortunate for having lived and travelled in the Arabian Gulf at a time when the way of life there was much the same as it had always been, little changed since its place names first began to appear on scantily filled maps.

Its harsh environment was supportive of only a small population, ranking it as one of the lowest densities in the world and surviving at little more than a minimum subsistence level. From the air, much of the region resembled a moonscape, its tortured topography forsaken and devoid of life. But civilised life there was and great change was just over the horizon.

By 2020, Dubai will welcome 20 million visitors per year, and the annual contribution made by tourism to the city’s economy will triple.

At first it came in small ripples from the fastdeveloping oil states higher up the Gulf to which many people had been drawn in search of work, and finally it culminated in the overwhelming, seemingly breathtaking development that followed the discovery of oil.

Amid the man-made islands and ever more monumental architecture of Dubai, this remarkable city is building for the future of the United Arab Emirates at warp speed, and is set to become the theme park capital of the world.

Many people consider the whole of Dubai to be an amusement park, and they may well be right! But the city already boasts some world-class theme parks, endless water slides, true-to-life film studios, camel racing and even indoor skiing.

Opposite: Aquaventure Waterpark.

Dubai’s ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, recently approved plans to further develop the city’s tourism sector with a multi-million dollar investment that will include the construction of even more theme parks. By 2020, Dubai will welcome 20 million visitors per year, and the annual contribution made by tourism to the city’s economy will triple.

In this context, Sheikh Mohammed affirmed that the UAE in general and Dubai in particular are among the destinations most favoured by tourists regionally and globally, adding that the country seeks to be number one in the field of family tourism. Of the spectacular theme parks already in existence, here are five of the finest ...

AQUAVENTURE WATERPARK www.atlantisthepalm.com The largest and most popular water theme park in the world is located at Atlantis, The Palm, the first entertainment resort destination in the region and located at the centre of the crescent of The Palm in Dubai. Opened in September 2008, this unique ocean-themed resort features a variety of marine and entertainment attractions, as well as 17 hectares of waterscape amusement at Aquaventure Waterpark, all within a 46 hectare site.

It is home to one of the largest open-air marine habitats in the world, with over 65,000 marine animals in lagoons and displays including The Lost Chambers Aquarium, a maze of underwater corridors and passageways providing a journey through the ancient city of Atlantis.

The Ziggurat is the centrepiece of the Aquaventure Waterpark, reaching 30m (metres) into the sky and visible from the fronds of The Palm as well as from Dubai’s mainland. The Mesopotamian-styled tower features seven heart-pumping waterslides including the Leap of Faith, with its daring 27.5 metre nearvertical drop propelling body surfers through a clear acrylic tunnel submerged in a shark-filled lagoon and ultimately out into the sunshine and plunge pool below.

Surrounding the Ziggurat is a complex river ride system with waves pushing inner tube riders through a lush, sub-tropical landscape. The river loop, called

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Above: Sega Republic.

Amid the manmade islands and ever more monumental architecture of Dubai, this remarkable city is building for the future of the United Arab Emirates at warp speed, and is set to become the theme park capital of the world.

the Rapids, is a 1.6 kilometre river adventure using 15 million litres of fresh water to propel guests through a series of high-intensity rapids, thrilling waterslides, wave surges and tidal pools that circumnavigate the complex.

Atlantis, The Palm continues to wow guests and give them the chance to discover something new with the recent expansion of Aquaventure. In this new phase of development, a 40 metre high waterslide tower will loom over the existing Ziggurat, as well as the expansive lagoons of Dolphin Bay, the unparalleled dolphin conservation and education habitat, which was created to provide guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn more about one of nature’s most graceful mammals.

SEGA REPUBLIC www.segarepublic.com An exciting new wave of high-adrenaline gaming leisure in Dubai is offered by SEGA Republic, a revolutionary indoor theme park focused on action, adventure and entertainment. The two-level, 7,061 square metres leisure complex has been developed by Emaar Retail LLC in partnership with the Tokyo-based SEGA Corporation, Japan’s leading indoor theme park developer.

SEGA Republic offers visitors of all ages thrilling adventures and amusement games, and has five

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themed zones – Wild Adventure, Speed Zone, Cyberpop Zone, Sports Zone and Redemption Zone. With over 250 amusement games, from virtual reality and arcade games to simulation activities and physical sports games, SEGA Republic will thrill all visitors.

Building on the success of the region’s first SEGA Republic at The Dubai Mall, Emaar Retail opened a 335 square metres SEGA Republic Game Zone in Dubai Marina Mall. With a colourful ambience that will particularly appeal to children, the leisure destination offers a rich selection of amusement games including numerous redemption games.

WILD WADI WATERPARK www.jumeirah.com One of the most famous attractions in Dubai is the Wild Wadi Waterpark, situated between the iconic sister properties of the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel, a leisurely half-hour drive from the city centre and Dubai International Airport.

The Wild Wadi Waterpark is designed around a tale from Arabian folklore featuring Juha and his seafaring friend, Sinbad the Sailor. The main attractions include eight gravity-defying Master Blasters that operate on a series of high-powered water jets, taking guests on an aquatic roller coaster ride.

A small hotel with a big heart

The Coco D’or Hotel, is built on 3 hectares of lush tropical land, on the north west coast of Mahé. The hotel is a mere four minutes walk from Beau Vallon, one of the island’s most beautiful beaches.

The Coco D’or sets itself apart from other hotels in Seychelles by virtue of its location, amenities and unparalled service philosophy.

27 appointed rooms and suites, each with a private bath, balcony, terrace and/or living room are divided into two categories:Standard room

Deluxe suites

24 rooms with a verandah and tropical garden, 6 rooms with a terrace and 2 with a lounge.

3 rooms with a private patio terrace and mountain and garden view, two bathrooms, a kitchenette and a separate living room.

Coco D’or Hotel & Restaurant • T/A Nalini R. Properties (Pty) Ltd Beau Vallon, Mahé, Seychelles • P.O. Box 526 Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles Phone: +248 4247331 • Fax: +248 4247454 • E-mail: cocodor@seychelles.sc

Opposite: Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. Below: Wild Wadi Waterpark.

Wild Wadi offers no less than 24 waterslides, upward streams and the most intense wild water rides, some of which are over 30 metres high and reach speeds in excess of 80 kilometres an hour. For the less adventurous, Juha’s Journey, or the ‘Lazy River’ ride is a relaxing flow of water 360 metres long and four metres wide, which offers guests the opportunity to enjoy a leisurely swim or sunbathe in an inflatable ring as they drift down the river course.

For the ultimate adrenaline rush, test your mettle against Jumeirah Sceirah, their newest attraction. Drop through the trap door from a height of 32 metres into the waiting water tunnel and race down the slide at 80 kilometres per hour.

There are seven ring rides available at Wild Wadi; six of them are open to the elements. The Tunnel of Doom is a pitch black ride, longer and faster than any of its kind and guests braving this ride will travel in total darkness in an underground ring ride of sudden twists and turns before plunging into the Lazy River.

KIDZANIA www.kidzania.com One of the most exciting theme parks to emerge in Dubai in recent years is KidZania, an award-winning children’s ‘edutainment’ concept that has been introduced to the region through a partnership with Emaar Retail, the same corporation behind SEGA Republic. The KidZania complex is an 7,432 square metres interactive mini-city, that combines play with learning through a fun and innovative approach.

Breaker’s Bay, one of the region’s largest wave pools can also be found here and is fringed by a bank of palm trees creating waves of up to 1.5 metres in four different configurations. An interactive play structure aimed at younger children, Juha’s Dhow and Lagoon contains over 100 games including five vibrant and colourful body slides, a huge dumping bucket of water, a pair of fully-enclosed racing slides and water guns.

KidZania provides a safe, unique and realistic educational environment that allows children to do what comes naturally to them: role-playing by mimicking traditionally ‘adult’ activities. As in the real world, children perform ‘jobs’ and are either paid for their work or pay to shop or be entertained.

There are over 80 different roles to choose from including surgeons, airline pilots, chefs, engineers, firefighters, and more. The indoor theme park is built

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Dubai Tourism Board: www.dubaitourism.ae

to scale for children, and accurately reflects the working environment of a typical city through paved streets, vehicles, a functioning economy, and recognisable destinations in the form of ‘establishments’.

KidZania is highly sought-after for school field trips due to the high educational content provided in the activities. Birthday parties and summer camps at KidZania are also extremely popular with the young ones. The winner of the Superbrands 2011 laurel, KidZania Dubai was ‘Highly Commended’ at the recent Global Retail & Leisure International (RLI) Awards in the ‘Most Innovative Retail and Leisure Concept of the Year Award’ category.

DUBAI AQUARIUM and UNDERWATER ZOO www.thedubaiaquarium.com Located at the centre of The Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium is one of the largest indoor aquariums of its kind in the world at 51m x 20m x 11m in size and holds the Guinness World Record for ‘The World’s Single Largest Acrylic Panel’ at a staggering 32.88m long x 8.3m high. Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo has tens of thousands of aquatic animals, representing more than 330 species, including sharks and stingrays.

The Underwater Zoo, located on Level 2 takes visitors through various aquatic environments and individual aquatic displays, while offering an interactive approach to educating children and visitors on the ecology and sustainability of marine life. The journey consists of three ecological zones: Rainforest, Rocky Shore, and Living Ocean, where a variety of aquatic animals are featured including penguins, crocodiles, piranhas, giant spider crabs, water rats, and jellyfish, amongst others.

This spectacular aquarium also has a floor dedicated to Creepy Crawlies, featuring various species of snakes, insects, geckos, lizards, iguanas and amphibians. Spread over an area of 200 square metres on the mezzanine floor of the Underwater Zoo, Creepy Crawlies has five main exhibits – an Insect Wall featuring spiders, scorpions, millipedes, beetles and cockroaches; the Wall Mounted Glass Exhibits comprising stick insects, geckos, frogs, lizards and toads; the Iguana Enclosure; the Burmese Python Enclosure and the Tree Snake Enclosure. It offers visitors, especially children, a thorough insight into natural diversity with interesting facts and trivia.

The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo also offers exciting Shark Dives for the public – both experienced divers and novices; Specialty Dives; Shark Walker & Cage Snorkelling Experiences; Glass-bottom Boat rides; The Aquarist Programme for children; Summer camps and educational programmes for schools through The Ocean School Education Programme. The aquarium recently launched a Membership Card for aquatic enthusiasts offering them a world of privileges including access to behind the scenes activities at the leisure destination.

With the Marvel City Theme Park dedicated to the comic book superheroes Iron Man, SpiderMan and the Hulk scheduled to open later this year, and the IMG Group’s long-awaited Jurassic Park style theme park - The Lost City - nearing completion at Dubailand (which will eventually be the world’s largest amusement park), Dubai is certain to earn its laurels as the theme park capital of the world.

LOCATION: Located 126 kilometres (78 miles) northeast of Abu Dhabi, along the coast of the Persian Gulf. Dubai is the second largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates by GDP and land, after Abu Dhabi.

LAND AREA: Dubai has a total topographical land area of 4,114 square kilometres, with 72 kilometres of natural coastline.

POPULATION: 2.106 million (2013) CAPITAL: Dubai City, 1,750,000 inhabitants.

LANGUAGES: Arabic is the official language, although English is widely spoken.

TIME: GMT+3 CURRENCY: The official currency of the United Arab Emirates is the Dirham (AED) international. Each Dirham is comprised of 100 Fils (1 AED = 100 Fils), which are the smaller denomination coins.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passports for all visitors must be valid for at least 6 months.

Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations do not require a visa. Most other nationals will be issued with a 30-day visit visa free of charge upon arrival.

HEALTH: It is advisable to contact your physician before travelling to any country.

The UAE is an exceptionally clean and healthy country, although routine vaccines such as typhoid and hepatitis A are recommended.

RELIGION: Islam is the official religion of the UAE. WHEN TO GO: The climate of the UAE is subtropical and arid, with extremely hot summers and warm winters. The hottest months are July and August, when average temperatures can reach well above 40˚C (104.0˚F) on the coastal plain.

NOT TO BE MISSED: A visit to the spectacular Burj Khalifa, the tallest manmade structure in the world. At 829.8 metres (2,722 feet) and more than 160 stories, this record-breaking building is Dubai’s latest urban masterpiece.

BEST MEAL: Samak Mashwi, a mouthwatering Gulf dish of barbecued fish with dates cooked under the stars in a traditional cut-away, dome-shaped clay oven with glowing coals in the base.

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} Seychelles } The Oldest Building in the

Even though the passage of time has transformed the capital town of Victoria from a small colonial outpost to an important administrative township with modern amenities, one building has remained virtually unchanged. Tony Mathiot tells the story of one of Seychelles’ most cherished architectural features.

I

t was built during the time when Seychelles was a dependency of Mauritius, and the population was around 14,000 inhabitants. It existed long before Seychelles exported cinnamon for the first time. The oldest building in the Seychelles stands approximately a dozen yards from the Victoria Clock Tower. It is the Supreme Court Building but it was not built purposely for the Justice Department.

This somewhat glum, rectangular one-storied structure was erected in 1885 during the time of Civil Commissioner, Arthur Cecil Stuart Barkly to provide accommodation for the New Oriental Company which wanted to open a branch in the Seychelles. This was the last gasp of an ailing financial institution that wanted to exploit the Indian Ocean trade and commerce of the late 19th century. The bank was created in 1842 in Bombay, India, and was called the Bank of Western India. In 1845, the headquarters was moved to London and the name was changed to Oriental Bank Corporation.

The bank’s prosperity during its first decade brought rapid expansion by the opening of branches in Hong Kong, Japan, India, Mauritius, South Africa and Chinese

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Treaty ports. Evidently, it asserted its position across the entire oriental market. Unfortunately, its prosperity would not last until the end of the 19th century because its finances suffered greatly in the late 1870s when the vast coffee plantations in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in which the company had invested so much, were devastated by disease. In 1884, the year before it considered the prospects of establishing a branch in the Seychelles, the bank was reconstituted as the New Oriental Bank Corporation.

It was the company itself which undertook the erection of their building. The small capital town of Victoria consisted mostly of timber and coral limestone dwellings and shops with pitched corrugated iron roofs: the old post office of 1861, the old Government House, the Anglican Church built in 1859, the old Courthouse at Royal Street, the rather impressive Catholic Church, the educational institution of St. Louis College which was run by the Mariste Brothers and the St. Joseph Convent school for girls run by the sisters of St. Joseph de Cluny. The Gordon Square (the actual Freedom Square) was surrounded by water on three sides, and a Customs house and a Coal house were located at the jetty. There was hardly any space where the building of such a reputable financial company could be located, so

Opposite page: (Left) Supreme Court Building in the late 1930s.

(Far left) The first Chief Justice of Seychelles Furcy Alfred Herchenroder (1865-1932).

For over a century the building has asserted its cold and venerable – and perhaps also foreboding – presence, here in its corner of Victoria.

a large portion of the sea on the south west coast had to be reclaimed.

It must have been a long and laborious task. Eventually, the extent of land reclaimed by the filling of the foreshore was 136 metres (447 feet) long, 89 metres (292 feet) broad at the wide end, and 34 metres (113 feet) broad at the narrow end.

Apparently, there was no question of allowing the reclaimed land time to settle before starting the construction. Work started immediately.

The Government had no influence pertaining to the size or the design of the building. Gradually, the structure began to rise as hardwood timber from the forested mountains of Mahé and limestone corals from the coastal reefs were collected and brought all the way to the newly-created land in Victoria. As months went by, the structure grew and expanded to the curious admiration of the town’s inhabitants who must have been awed by the sight of such an unprecedented construction development. The balustrade consisted of wrought-iron, the pillars of the gallery were of iron, and the roof was covered with red tiles. A quaint feature of the building was the iron spiral staircase that gave access to the second floor. Eventually, at the end of 1886, the building flaunted its distinctive appearance without being an affront to the slatternly dwellings over which it towered.

It was indisputably the first modern building to be erected on Mahé and without doubt, set a certain standard with which the construction of other government buildings in the early 20th century strove to match, such as the Governor’s chamber and Council building in 1903 or the Carnegie building in 1910. Its estimated cost was SEZ Rupeez 120,000. A stipulation in the lease agreement was that the bank paid the Government a nominal rent of SEZ Rupeez 50 per annum.

In mid-1887, the New Oriental Bank moved into the new building which a shareholder of the company considered “too large for the present or possibly any future requirements of a banking institution…”

However, the company did not enjoy the relative modern luxury of their premises for long because less than five years later, on 17 June 1892, it closed. The sudden collapse was not attributed to any local circumstances. It appeared that its main branch abroad could not survive the growing competition from its rivals, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and the Charted Bank of India, Australia and China. Moreover, it could have been an early victim of the impending financial panic of 1893. The Government’s balance in the bank amounted to SEZ Rupeez 23,232.18 cts. The land reverted to the government and the building which the bank was entitled to demolish was sold to the Government for SEZ Rupeez 30,000.

In 1893, during the administration of Thomas Risely Griffith, the Eastern Telegraph Company rented a section of the building to use as offices until August 1894. The company was laying submarine cables to connect Seychelles with Mauritius and Zanzibar. Late in 1894, the Treasury and Customs Department Offices were transferred to the ground floor of the right wing of the building. It was also at that time that the Judicial Department decided to abandon the old courthouse at Royal Street and avail itself of the comfort and convenience of the relatively new, large and modern building. Initially, it occupied the entire upper portion of the building. This consisted of the Judge’s court, the Judge’s chambers and the Magistrate’s court. The Police Department was located beneath, on the ground floor of the left wing.

In order to adapt the premises to the new requirements, certain alterations were effected. Wooden partitions which divided the upper portion were removed and glass doors were installed to all the upper external openings of the courts and offices. A major additional feature was a stone staircase at the back of the building to form the entrance to the Judicial Department. For these alterations and modifications, the Legislative council approved a special vote of SEZ Rupeez 2,500.

Thus, began the long residency of the Judiciary in the building.

In 1903, when Seychelles achieved its status of a separated colony, the Judicial Establishment saw its major transformation. This came about with the Seychelles Judicature order in council 1903 that created the Supreme Court of Seychelles. The first Chief Justice to wield the gavel in that building was Furcy Alfred Herchenroder a Mauritian. The most notable historical moment that the building has witnessed during its existence was when, on 9 November 1903, Ernest Bickham Sweet-Escott took his oath of office as the first Governor of the Seychelles.

For over a century the building has asserted its cold and venerable – and perhaps also foreboding – presence, here in its corner of Victoria. During the decades of the 20th century it has seen modern edifices of all kinds sprout up all around: the Carnegie Building in 1910, Queen’s Building in 1953, Victoria House Complex Building in 1976… and yet amidst all this construction development it has retained its distinctive presence in the architectural panorama of the expanding town.

By the 1970s the vagaries of time and climate had began to take their toll. It was the second Seychellois Chief Justice Sir Louis Georges Souyave who expressed his indignant concern for a new courthouse for the Judiciary. Addressing members of the legal profession at the formal re-opening of the Supreme Court on Wednesday 1 May 1974, he made it a point to say that “In welcoming you all to this ceremony, I must at the same time apologise for receiving you in this decrepit, dilapidated and unsuitable court building. Apart from its infirmities due to old age and its rotten leaking roof which is beyond repair, this building is subjected to noise and dust from vehicular traffic and is too small to meet the requirements of the supreme court…”

However, the Judicial Department remained installed in the ‘decrepit, dilapidated’ building for the following four decades, almost. The last case was heard on 7 June 2013. So it has served its noble purpose well over a century. It has known 20 Chief Justices, scores of Judges, thousands and thousands of court cases and ... sentences. That’s quite a record for the oldest building in the Seychelles.

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Photo © Peter Holthusen

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Photos © Camerapix Magazines

The AMIRANTES Why not discover one of the Indian Ocean’s hidden secrets and chart a course for the glorious Amirantes, where nature still reigns supreme? says Peter Holthusen.

I

Opposite top: The Amirantes consist of 11 main islands as well as numerous shoals, sand cays and low lying coral atolls, where nature still prevails phenomenal.

Opposite: The island of Desroches is 230 kilometres south west of Mahé, and it takes about 45 minutes to fly there. It lies on the southern edge of a coral reef of atoll character.

t is sunrise over the Indian Ocean and on the ivory white sand a solitary figure is greeting the new dawn. He slowly lifts his fishing nets out of the water and hangs them out to dry. Then something moves. As if from nowhere a tiny pink crab appears, scuttling sideways across the beach. It skims the surface, barely making an impression in the wet sand.

Then they are gone and once more the beach is totally deserted, proof that in a crowded world there are still some places that remain unspoilt; but then this is the Amirante Islands.

There could scarcely be a corner of the world further removed in both distance and spirit from the everyday than these remote Indian Ocean islands. The Amirantes are part of the Outer Island Group of Seychelles. They stretch about 155 kilometres from the African Banks in the north to Île Desnoeufs in the south, all of which lie on the shallow Amirantes Bank (Amirantes Plateau, with depths of mostly 25 to 70 metres), except the main island of Desroches in the east, and Lady DenisonPender Shoal at the northern end.

It would appear that the Amirantes were the first of the Seychelles’ islands to have been discovered by Europeans in the 16th century, when the Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, on his second voyage of exploration in 1502, named them Ilhas do Almirante (the Admiral Islands). They were almost certainly known to early Indian and Arab traders in search of fresh water and food.

It is not known who were the first visitors to the islands of the Amirantes. The main granite islands of the Seychelles archipelago were first visited by the British in 1609 when the ships Ascension and Good Hope

sighted Silhouette and then arrived at North Island during an expedition for the English East India Company. They made no claim to the islands, which remained largely uninhabited. That was until 1742 when the Frenchman, Lazare Picault, landed on Mahé at Anse Boileau and claimed Seychelles for France. Formal possession was asserted in 1756. By the time of the Treaty of Paris in 1814, the islands were passed officially to the British, as a part of Mauritius. In 1903, Seychelles became a separate British Crown Colony, thereby including the Amirantes.

The Amirantes Islands consist of 11 main islands as well as numerous shoals, sand cays and low lying coral atolls.

The total population of the island group is about 110, and the main settlement is on the island of Desroches, with a resident population of around 50.

Of the outlying islands, Lady Denison-Pender Shoal is submerged, African Banks is a sand cay and Remire Reef is a drying reef, and all are uninhabited. Remire Island, which is an uplifted sand cay, has a small coconut plantation.

African Banks is regularly visited by people with charter yachts, and over the years the island has been exploited by poachers for nesting birds and their eggs, particularly Sooty Terns who once bred there in considerable numbers. In 1995, there was a single coconut palm, but other than that, the island is treeless. There is a derelict automated lighthouse at the north-eastern end: North Island Lighthouse. African Banks used to have a second islet, Île du Sud (South Island), 2.9 kilometres south of North Island, but that eroded in 1976, leaving a small sandstone ridge exposed only at low tide. The closest island to African Banks is Remire Island, about 25 kilometres to the south.

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Desroches is famous among the diving fraternity for the ‘Desroches Drop’, with its fantastic caves, underwater labyrinths, yawning fissures and deep chasms.

Remire, or ‘Eagle’ Island has trees over 15 metres high and a small paved airstrip. The British adventurer and businessman Mark Veevers-Carter and his American wife, Wendy (Day) Veevers-Carter, who was the daughter of American author Clarence Day (Life with Father), lived on the island with their family for some years where they founded and operated a successful copra plantation before it was taken over by the Government-owned Islands Development Company.

The island has rich deposits of guano that were mined after World War I, but today only a few workers live there to keep the island clean and maintain the coconut plantation and a small guesthouse on the island.

A variety of seabirds, including the Fairy Tern, Lesser Noddy, Bridled Tern and Wedge-tailed Shearwater are seen on Remire, but the number of birds has declined over the years. In the early 1990s peacocks were introduced to the island. It has also been a Presidential retreat since the 1980s.

D’Arros, or Daros Island is an oval-shaped, flat coral sand cay, and much of the island is covered by dense vegetation. Once a thriving coconut plantation, the trees are over 27 metres high and mainly coconut palms and Casuarina equisetifolia. Until recently the island was privately owned by an offshore company which, sold D’Arros and the surrounding islets to a firm affiliated to the Swiss-based ‘Save our Seas Foundation’ – a marine conservation group.

Above: African Banks is regularly visited by people with charter yachts, nesting birds and their eggs, particularly Sooty Terns who once bred there in considerable numbers.

unpaved airstrip 975 metres long which bisects the island into two parts. There are no regular flights to D’Arros, but some flights divert to the airstrip from nearby Desroches.

Saint Joseph Atoll is located at the eastern edge of the Amirantes Bank and has 14 sandy islets: the three larger ones along the northeast and east shore, which are covered by coconut plantations, and the remaining ones to the south. The lagoon is completely enclosed by the surrounding reef and has a huge population of stingrays as well as giant blue mud crabs that live in its depths and rise to the flats at high tide. There is also a large population of bonefish, grouper and rock lobster. An abundance of colourful reef fish can also be found there, along with Oysters which can be seen in considerable numbers clinging to the seaweed and feeding on coralline algae.

There was once a small settlement at the western end of Saint Joseph Atoll, now abandoned to the seabirds, such as Lesser Frigatebirds, which have a large colony on the island. Other breeding birds include Sooty Terns, numerous Purple Herons, the Madagascar Fody, Lesser Crested Terns, Brown Booby, Whimbrel and the curious Crab Plover.

There are several colonies of seabirds on the island as well as a small number of giant tortoises. The lagoon is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the area and sea turtles visit the island’s beaches for breeding every year.

Desroches, or Île Desroches is the largest and main island of the Amirantes group, with a resident population of about 50 people. It is located 36 km east of the Amirantes Bank, and is separated from it by a stretch of ocean over 1,300 metres deep, making it the easternmost island of the chain. It has a splendid hotel – the exclusive Desroches Island Resort – and a paved airstrip that is 1,372 metres in length. The island is 230 km south west of Mahé, and it takes about 45 minutes to fly there.

The island has a small hotel and is permanently inhabited by the hotel staff only. There is also an

It lies on the southern edge of a coral reef of atoll character. At the northern edge of the atoll are the

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Shark Rocks, with least depths between three and six metres. There is also a lighthouse on the northeast end of Desroches, which is a very popular tourist attraction.

Desroches was named after the flamboyant Chevalier des Roches, the Governor of Île de France (Mauritius) and Réunion (then Île Bourbon) from 1767 to 1772. Along with the remaining Amirante Islands, Desroches has been part of the Seychelles since it became an official British Crown Colony in 1903.

The island has eight kilometres of white sand beaches and is covered with coconut trees. It is surrounded by a protective reef that offers excellent scuba diving. Desroches is famous among the diving fraternity for the ‘Desroches Drop’, with its fantastic caves, underwater labyrinths, yawning fissures and deep chasms, which may be explored under the supervision of a PADI dive-master from the hotel.

This is actually the only island in the Amirantes that offers accommodation. Forbes Magazine recently described Desroches Island as one of the ‘Top 10 Remote Destinations in the World’.

There is even a small Creole Village with its copra drier, coconut oil press and lock-up – a piquant reminder of the old plantation days.

Since 2009, a full-time team of scientists and rangers from the Island Conservation Society (ICS) has been employed to monitor and protect the terrestrial and marine life on Desroches, and earlier this year they united the island together to plant 350 new trees, with a further 410 saplings already growing in the island’s nursery.

Unlike most atolls where waters over the reef are shallow, Desroches is also a good spot for swimming and snorkelling, and the beaches around the hotel have excellent facilities for guests to enjoy sailing, cycling, canoeing, windsurfing and deep-sea fishing.

Poivre Atoll is named in honour of Pierre Poivre: botanist, philosopher, reformer, scientist and nominated in 1767 as intendant, the king’s appointed representative in Mauritius. It is near the eastern edge of the Amirantes Bank, and was one of the first places coconuts were grown for commercial use in the Seychelles. There are three islets on the reef: Poivre Island to the north, Florentin to the west and Île du Sud, to the south. A settlement stands on the eastern side of Poivre Island, amid a clump of coconut palms. The island is bisected by an unpaved airfield, about 1,100 metres long.

There are numerous other islands and cays, including Étoile Cay – an uninhabited circular coral cay which is 4.6 metres high, and lies 29 km northeast of Boudeuse Cay. This island is treeless and the only vegetation is grasses and low bushes, fringed by a steep sandy beach. Landing is relatively easy during calm weather.

Boudeuse Cay is a sandstone platform island and the westernmost island in the Amirantes.

It has no trees, but it has a small beach and is considered one of the most pristine islands in the chain because it has yet to be cultivated by humans. It has heavy breakers, even when the weather is calm, so it is difficult to land on this cay.

Marie Louise Island is located at the southern end of the Amirantes chain and is a low sandy coral cay. It is permanently inhabited with a population of about 15 agricultural workers and beach fishermen based in a small settlement on the west coast. It is not easy to land a boat here. Île Desnoeufs is the southernmost island in the chain and has a central depression instead of a lagoon. Most of the land is sandstone, exposed after the guano was exploited in the late 19th century. The island is still a base for the commercial exploitation of breeding seabirds, especially the eggs of the Sooty Tern, who have established a colony here of more than 1,250,000 birds.

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COCONUT

Oil Industry The Gold of the Indian Ocean It was as long ago as 1786, when Louis Jean-Baptiste Philogène de Malavois first arrived in Seychelles on a mission for the French East India Company, that the commercial importance of coconuts began to be exploited, writes Peter Holthusen.

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Photos courtesy of Peter Holthusen

Making copra – removing the shell, breaking up and drying – is usually done where the coconut palms grow.

P

hilogène de Malavois was born in 1748 in the Saint Brice d’Ay diocese of Reims in the Champagne-Ardenne region of north-eastern France. Soon after his arrival in Seychelles he was appointed Lieutenant of the new French settlement at Etablissement du Roi (Royal Settlement), on the site of modern day Victoria.

He assumed command of the settlement on 16 December 1788.

The end of the Seven Years’ War between England and France caused the decline of the French East India Company which had formerly controlled Mauritius. This settlement, and thus Seychelles, now came under direct royal authority of the French King, Louis XV. The new Intendant of Mauritius at the time, Pierre Poivre, was determined to break the Dutch monopoly of the lucrative spice trade, and thought Mahé would be perfect for spice cultivation.

In 1771, Poivre sent the horticulturalist Antoine Gillot to Seychelles where he established a spice garden at Anse Royale, successfully cultivating nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and pepper plants, but when the British took possession of the islands in the early 19th century, the plantations Gillot had established were already in decline, their soils exhausted by years of cultivation without investment in renewing fertility.

When the British abolished slavery in 1835, some plantation owners took their slaves and left. The liberated slaves had no land, and most were reduced to squatting on the estates they had tended in bondage, and the colony entered a period of stagnation. There were no exports, and no money to pay for new infrastructure.

crops of spices, cotton, sugar, rice, and maize.

Soon, they also had a source of virtually free labour once again. The British took their antislavery stance seriously, and operated patrols along the East African coast, raiding Arab dhows transporting slaves to the Middle East. Slaves liberated south of the Equator were brought to Seychelles, and apprenticed to coconut plantation owners. They worked the land in return for rations and wages. Over a period of 13 years from 1861 around 2,400 men, women and children were brought to Seychelles.

Coconuts grew abundantly on the coastal plateaux of many of the Seychelles islands, and initially small quantities of oil were made for local consumption. Thanks largely to the efforts of Antoine Gillot and the early plantation owners, by 1840, some 30,000 velts (around 300,000 litres) of coconut oil were exported to Mauritius.

Copra is the dried meat, or (kernel), of the coconut from which the oil is extracted, making it an important agricultural commodity for many

Right: Copra is the dried meat, or (kernel), of the coconut from which the oil is extracted, making it an important agricultural commodity for many coconut-producing countries.

Opposite: Coconut oil is an edible oil which provides the primary source of fat in the diets of millions of people for generations.

The situation was only improved when planters realised they could grow coconuts with less labour and more profit than the traditional

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Above: Coconut palms at St Joseph Atoll.

Coconut oil production is no longer a major industry of the Seychelles, but its legacy will remain for many years.

coconut-producing countries. It also yields coconut cake which is mainly used as feed for livestock. Copra was traditionally grated and ground, then boiled in water to extract coconut oil. It was long used by Pacific island cultures and became a valuable commercial product for merchants in the South Seas, Indian Ocean and South Asia in the 1860s. This 19th century copra trading inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1893 novella The Beach of Falesa, based on his experiences in Samoa.

Nowadays, the process of coconut oil extraction is done by crushing copra in a press to produce the oil (70%); the by-product is known as copra cake or copra meal (30%).

Once the oil is extracted, the remaining coconut cake is 18-25 per cent protein but contains so much dietary fibre it cannot be eaten in large quantities by humans.

Instead it is normally fed to ruminants.

Making copra – removing the shell, breaking up and drying – is usually done where the coconut palms grow.

Copra can be made by smoke drying, sun drying, or kiln drying. Sun drying requires little more than racks and sufficient sunlight. Halved nuts are drained of water, and left with the meat facing the sky; they can be washed to remove mould-creating contaminants.

After two days the meat can be removed from the shell with ease, and the drying is complete after three to five more days (up to seven in total). Sun drying is often combined with kiln drying, eight hours of exposure to sunlight means the time spent in a kiln can be reduced by a day and the hot air the shells are exposed to in the kiln is more easily able to remove the remaining

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moisture. This process can also be reversed, partially drying the copra in the kiln and finishing the process with sunlight.

In 1876, no less than 722,580 coconuts were exported and by 1880, exports of coconut oil had risen to 18,993 hectolitres. By then, the landowners, who were mostly descendants of the French settlers, had established vast coconut estates on their properties.

These were to become the economic mainstay of Seychelles for almost a century. Between 1911 and 1914 the number of coconuts harvested reached well over 105 million nuts but with the outbreak of World War 1 the islands suffered great hardship and the industry declined. Ships could not bring in essential goods, nor take away exports. Wages fell; prices soared by 150 per cent.

Many turned to crime and the prisons were bursting.

Joining the radical Seychelles Labour Contingent, formed at the request of General Jan Christiaan Smuts, seemed to offer an escape, but it was no easy option.

The force, 800 strong, was sent to East Africa. After just five months so many had died from dysentery, malaria and beriberi that the corps was sent home. In all, 335 men lost their lives.

The coconut harvest for the year 1919 alone was 36,423,072 nuts. Between 1915 and 1919, a little over 85 million nuts were converted into copra for the export market. Almost overnight, copra had become the gold of the Indian Ocean!

There was such an insatiable demand for copra on the European market that up to the late 1960s copra production in Seychelles injected millions of rupees into the economy.

Like many islands in the Seychelles archipelago in the heyday of the coconut industry, the island of Denis which lies 95 kilometres north of Mahé, and one of the most northerly of the group, was once home to a thriving coconut plantation. Its population of between 70 and 100 people would spend their days producing copra, collecting guano (decomposed seabird droppings) and fishing.

In 1975 Denis was purchased by the French paper magnate Pierre Burkhardt, who transformed the island into a successful eco island resort lodge. The indefatigable businessman promoted the island with the marketing slogan “the island at the edge of the world”. However, in the mid 1990s Denis was sold to Mason’s Travel, one of the Seychelles first local ground handling operators.

Alongside neighbouring Bird Island, which lies 45 km to the west, much of Denis’s history and buildings which date back to the 1890s can still be observed today and are best seen by way of a privately guided tour of the island, undertaken on a buggy. The tour will also take guests past the Anglo-French lighthouse built in 1910 at the northern edge of the island, which still warns passing ships against the hazardous shoals and coral reefs. You will also see the old coconut press, the island’s farm, the workshop, where much of the furniture for the villas are made from the island’s trees, as well as the remnants of a mysterious cemetery for which no known records exist. There is also a small chapel named Chapel St. Denis, which is the only ecumenical chapel on the archipelago.

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Coconut oil production is no longer a major industry of the Seychelles, but its legacy will remain for many years to come.

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Earthenware

Jars of History Produced using traditional techniques, Shaoxing rice wine has remained very close to its roots in China’s dynastic times, says Wang Yuanchang.

W

ine – grape wine – and beer are two of the heavy hitters in the world of alcoholic beverages. The third big player, best known in Asia, is rice wine, the earliest wine of China and around the world – produced from the fermentation of glutinous rice grains. Of this type there is one name that goes right back to China’s dynastic period: Shaoxing rice wine, approximately 6,500 years old. Rice wine is also called yellow wine and, in Chinese, laojiu or huangjiu. It is widely consumed and produced in the regions around the Yangtze River as well as in coastal areas such as Shanghai, Fujian, Guangdong and Taiwan. It is exported to many countries in Asia, particularly Japan and Korea, and also to Europe and North America.

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The producers of Shaoxing rice wine still depend on traditional artisanal techniques to make their wine, thus retaining its distinctive, original character.

Aromatic and full-bodied are two of the words often used to describe Shaoxing rice wine, and according to craftsmen, the secret is in the water – specifically, Jianhu Lake water. But how does it all come together?

There was only one way to find out.

A Journey in Time After substantial preparations I decided to visit the hometown of rice wine. Belying its worldwide renown, Shaoxing is quite tiny: a pocket-sized town in Zhejiang Province, located in the region south of the Yangtze River. The city is wet and watered all year-

Rice wine, I was told, is like a newborn baby, especially during the brewing process.

Before I even reached the factory, I could practically taste the wine; the aroma tickled my nostrils and the air felt a little stickier, wetter, and warmer. Before I was allowed in I had to put on a uniform and mask. The reason soon became apparent. Rice wine, I was told, is like a newborn baby, especially during the brewing process. Its environment should be germ-free as much as possible, as contaminants will influence the flavour, turning it just a bit acrid, or perhaps a touch too sweet.

Workers must take a full body shower before coming into the workshops.

The factory was filled with dense vapours from the steaming rice. It was buzzing with activity as well, since this was the brewing season. The coming of winter is their busiest time of the year, generally lasting until March and April, depending on the weather and temperatures.

Near to the workshop where rice is steamed, other workers were busy with Kaipa – where the fermented rice is stirred thoroughly with a wooden rake to aerate it and cool the liquor, before covering it once again to continue fermentation. The whole process is laborious and intense; three or four strong men are required to

finish the task. I learnt that, from choosing the rice grains to filling up the jars, over 20 processes are involved. The rice is chosen, polished and washed. The grains are separated to cool. The main mash is prepared and readied for saccharification, where the starches are converted into sugars. Partial fermented rice is stirred and aerated, and then follows more fermentation, filtration and purification and colouration of wine using natural ingredients. At the end is pasteurization until February or March, then storing and packaging. In general the fermentation process lasts 90 days, divided into pre-fermentation and secondary-fermentation.

When sealing the jars the worker adds some lotus and Indicalamus leaves. The sun-dried leaves are used to increase the liquor’s fragrance, The entire cycle lasts about three months, and workers are expected to be on their toes and vigilant 24 hours a day. It’s hard slogging work, and it requires more than ordinary skill to get the wine just right. There are only about 10 wine craftsmen who are experts of traditional winemaking techniques in Shaoxing, all working in Guyue Longshan Wine factory, mostly aged more than 60 years old. The factory is doing its best to cultivate more, but it will take time. It takes more than 10 to 20 years’ experience to be a good winemaker.

Just why wine brewed with Jianhu Lake water is the best is a mystery. The miracle lies in the ingredients of

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Photos © Wang Yuanchang

round, thanks to the streams zig-zagging through it.

I immediately headed out to Guyue Longshan Wine Factory, Shaoxing’s oldest and biggest, and famous for its traditional brewing technique.

the lake. Jianhu Lake contains a lot of microelements and minerals, providing a favourable environment in which yeast can ferment fully. Another key recipe is the brewing season: the best wine comes after the winter solstice (21 to 23 December) when the coldest days follow, water flows and slows down and the peat bed absorbs impurities, and water stays at the most balanced degree of turbidity and limpidity. After aging for years or dozens of years, the wine is said to have a moderate acridity and sweetness, with a silky and slippery feel in the mouth, and it has an amber and lustrous colour.

Zhuji Jars, the best containers for Rice Wine.

In Chinese history, pottery, white and blue porcelain as well as bamboo ceramic jars were used as rice wine containers, but Shaoxing rice wine has traditionally been stored and aged only in Zhuji jars which are said to preserve the natural fragrance of the wine like no other containers can. The pottery jars are sourced and produced in Zhuji Prefecture, hence the name. There is a saying that goes: “Shaoxing rice wine and Zhuji pottery jars are a good pair.”

Chinese pottery techniques go back to 11,700 years ago in the Neolithic Age, and more than 6,500 years ago pottery techniques commenced in Shaoxing, nearly at the same time as Shaoxing Rice wine, during Hemudu Period. Zhuji pottery jars date back 2,500 years when geologists discovered abundant deposits of good quality argil in Zhuji town.

People built kilns and started making pottery jars there. Kilns have been unearthed in Zhuji and in some sites in Shaoxing and Zhejiang Province – some more than 2,000 years old.

Why did Zhuji jars become the favoured container for rice wine? It boils down to the materials, particularly argil and kaolin, which are known for their proofing properties, and the process by which the jars are produced. Kaolin, in particular, is the material of choice for making hightemperature-proof pottery parts including those used in aeroplanes and ships. Zhuji jars are fired in a Dragon kiln, set on the hillside, with excellent firing power and rapid heating and larger firing areas. Pine branches are used to make the fire. The pine oil strengthens glazing and the jars acquire a lustrous green glaze outside and a rufous color inside. A skilled jar maker can judge the quality of the jar by colour alone. Zhuji jars can enhance the fragrance of the wine during storage by allowing the liquor to breathe and to come in contact with a little air from outside, which intensifies the aroma.

Huadiao Jars A jar is a work of art that needs dozens of procedures to complete. In the past, artists drew or painted patterns on the surface of every jar to symbolise happiness and luck.

For a long time it has been a traditional culture and craft of Shaoxing people, who experimented with different motifs such as flowers, fairies and fish in three major colours: red, gold and black. The Huadiao jar best represents the tradition of making jars and is noted for its intricate carvings and drawings.

Dating back more than 2,300 years, Huadiao jars originated in the Spring and Autumn Period and bloomed during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is said that in the Song Dynasty, a ministry councillor brewed 20 big jars of rice wine to prepare for his child’s birth. He buried the wine under an osmanthus shrub in the garden, and dug them out when the daughter got married. At once all his guests were enveloped by a sweet and refreshing aroma. Since then, it has become a custom to bury rice wine underground upon the birth of a daughter, to be opened on her wedding day. For blessings, happiness and good fortune, parents invite folk artists to draw and carve colourful patterns on each jar. Hence, the jars are called ‘daughter jars’, which was later changed to Huadiao jars in the Qing Period.

Huadiao jars are still produced today. The outer designs were predominantly colourful paintings until 20th century craftsmen started changing things. Huang Ayuan and Cai Abao were among those who combined traditional Huadiao decoration with relief work, turning flat drawings into three-dimensional scenes. Today, the Huadiao jar has eight different shapes, 11 sizes and around 200 patterns.

The biggest Huadiao jar created so far is the Guyue Longshan, which stands 4.5 metres high and weighs 27 tonnes. The smallest Huadiao jar fits into the palm of your hand.

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Green Corner

by Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF)

T

he Seychelles boasts some of the most magnificent beaches in the world, bordered by lush forest and towering granite peaks. This natural beauty attracts thousands of tourists every year who come to soak up the tropical sun and exquisite surroundings. But these paradise islands are under attack. Since the islands were first colonised in the 18th century people have been bringing alien species into the Seychelles. These alien species are now threatening the natural treasures of these islands: unique animals and plants that are only found here.

Alien or introduced species are plants, animals or organisms which are introduced by humans accidentally or intentionally to an area outside their native range, for example: dogs, pigs, goats, ornamental plants and many fruit trees. Invasive alien species spread extremely fast and can completely take over whole ecosystems. This is when the habitat of some of the very rare Seychelles species such as the Seychelles Black Parrot or the Coco de Mer palm tree is threatened. A local organisation, the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), has started a campaign to combat these invasive species in the Seychelles.

SIF manages and protects the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Sites of the Vallée de Mai on Praslin Island and Aldabra Atoll in the far reaches of the Seychelles archipelago. Invasive alien species pose a serious threat to both of these unique and internationally renowned areas. With generous funding from the European Union, SIF has embarked on a four-year project to eliminate or control some of the invasive alien species that are found in these sites, safeguarding their beauty and biological diversity for the future.

Ring-necked Parakeet

Since 2011, SIF has secured many successes in their fight against invasive alien species. After being present on Aldabra for over 130 years, goats had caused untold damage to the native vegetation and threatened the survival of the Aldabra Giant Tortoise. In August 2012, the last goat was successfully removed from the atoll by SIF, which was a huge achievement and crucial to protecting the native plants and animals of the island. Work is also ongoing on Assumption Island, which is the closest island to Aldabra. Large populations of introduced birds on Assumption pose a threat to the endemic birds of Aldabra.

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In order to reduce this risk an eradication programme was initiated and over 75 per cent of the invasive bird population on Assumption has since been eradicated.

Closer to home on the main island of Mahé, activities have also begun in the ancient palm forest of the Vallée de Mai on Praslin. In 2012, an extensive plant survey of the Vallée de Mai was completed. This enabled researchers to identify the location and extent of invasive plant species, such as the well-known Cinnamon tree. Data collected in this survey will be used to make future management decisions on the removal of these plant species from the forest.

Some invasive alien species are so small that it is hard to imagine the damage they could cause; Yellow Crazy Ants are one such species. These yellow ants may be small but have had devastating effects around the world. They can easily overpower and threaten insects and animals such as snails, slugs and reptiles that are found only in Seychelles. Research so far has shown that although the ants are present in the Vallée de Mai, they are not spreading which should make it easier to control them.

Praslin is also home to the iconic Seychelles Black Parrot, one of the 12 endemic bird species of the Seychelles. The Seychelles Black Parrot is only found

on Praslin Island and is one of the rarest birds in the Seychelles archipelago. The parrot breeds mainly in the mature palm forest of the Vallée de Mai and, interestingly, each breeding female parrot has its own distinctive call. The parrot’s small population size and limited range make it highly vulnerable to external pressures. One of the main threats to the parrots is the presence of the introduced Ring-necked parakeet or Kato ver, on Mahé.

The Ring-necked Parakeet is the most widely found and successful parrot in the world. It has a broad native range stretching across southern Asia and northern Africa and has been introduced to more than 35 countries across five continents. A large green bird with a long tail and an unmistakeable high-pitched squawk, the parakeet has caused many problems in different countries. In Mauritius the parakeet transmitted a virus to endemic Echo Parakeets which resulted in the deaths of many birds. In Australia, the Ring necked parakeet is now considered a major agricultural pest, raiding a wide range of cereal, nut and fruit crops, causing economic losses. In the UK, the Ring-necked Parakeet population has exploded and now competes with nesting native birds, posing a threat to already declining species.

The parakeet was accidentally introduced in the Seychelles in 1996, when four captive birds escaped. These birds quickly increased in number to the current population of around 300 birds. Although only currently found on Mahé there is a danger that the parakeets could populate other islands in Seychelles. The establishment of parakeets on Praslin would directly threaten the Black Parrots, as they would compete for food and nesting sites, and transfer disease. An effort to limit this population of destructive parakeets has been started by SIF to protect the national bird of the Seychelles, the Black Parrot.

With the collaboration of international agencies, such as the European Union, the Seychelles government, local organisations, international visitors and local people, it is both possible and achievable to maintain the natural splendour of these magical islands.

How you can help prevent the spread of invasive species: • Ensure you declare all animal and plant products when entering the Seychelles • Visit the Vallée de Mai on Praslin island to learn about invasive species and the work of SIF • Support and promote the protection of native plants and animals both in the Seychelles and at home • If you see the Ring-necked Parakeet whilst you are here, particularly if they are roosting or nesting, do not disturb the birds but report the sighting to the Greenline (+248 272 2111) or to SIF (+248 252 3623).

Further information: Please visit our website – www.sif.sc, or email us on info@sif.sc.

62 • Silhouette • Vol 24 No 3 •

Air Seychelles Supports Seychelles

Sea Turtle Festival

A

ir Seychelles showed its support for local conservation as one of the sponsors for the Seychelles Sea Turtle Festival, held from 9 to 10 August 2013, to celebrate marine turtles and also raise public awareness about conservation issues.

The event was organised by Global Vision International (GVI) Seychelles and Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS) in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and the Seychelles Tourism Board.

Air Seychelles contributed flight tickets to Praslin as prizes for winners of the writing and painting competition held for children from local primary and secondary schools to highlight the importance of supporting turtle conservation.

During the festival, participants saw a special screening of Turtle: The Incredible Journey at Victoria’s Deepam cinema – a documentary film tracing the spectacular journey of a young loggerhead turtle on the path of her ancestors across the globe.

In addition to an exhibition of the primary and secondary school children’s works of art depicting aspects of conservation there were also displays covering the grand diversity of Seychelles wildlife as well as details of an array of conservation programmes run by the NGOs (Non governmental organizations) present.

There was even the chance to do some snorkelling and get up close and personal to the wonders beneath the waves.

The Seychelles Sea Turtle Festival looks set to make further appearances on the Seychelles’ events scene.

• Silhouette • Vol 24 No 3 • 63

Tips for Visitors to Seychelles

3• 64 • Silhouette • Vol 24 No 2

We wish you a happy and ‘green’ vacation, one that will give you great pleasure and memories and ensure that the Seychelles environment is protected for future generations to enjoy.

S

eychelles is renowned for its natural beauty and unique geology and biodiversity.

This tiny island paradise has set aside almost 50 per cent of its 455 square kilometres as national parks and nature reserves, more than any other country on earth.

Islands like Seychelles make great holiday destinations, but behind the scenes small island states have an uphill struggle in their journey towards environmental sustainability as they try to grapple with issues like energy security, waste and pollution, habitat loss, poaching, water shortages, food security and climate change.

For instance, although Seychelles now boasts a small wind farm, the islands are still 95 per cent reliant on imported fossil fuels to generate electricity. Solar energy seems like the obvious solution but the technology is still prohibitively expensive for a small island and most of its inhabitants.

Water is another critical issue. The main islands of Seychelles receive more than two metres of rainfall each year but the country’s storage capacity is so limited that most of it runs off into the sea! There is no land to spare for the construction of large dams and reservoirs. During the months when rainfall is scarce, water is produced through the energy-intensive desalination process and water rationing is the norm for residents and businesses alike.

In terms of waste, Seychelles has very limited space for landfills, but with increased development and tourism, the mountains of waste produced are increasing. Some items like scrap metal, PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic and aluminium cans are now exported for recycling but this is not feasible for many other waste forms due to the economies of scale and Seychelles’ distance from potential recycling markets.

Food security is another key issue for the islands. Land in Seychelles is always at a premium and the flat coastal strip around the main islands is juggled between the demands of housing, farming, industrial and tourism sectors. Over the last 20 years much of Seychelles’ agricultural land has been converted to tourism establishments and housing estates, making it tough for the country to produce all of the food needed by the local population and tourism sector. Relying on imported foods makes the islands vulnerable to fluctuations in prices and foreign exchange rates, and the quality of imported items is not as fresh as local produce.

Climate change is a major challenge for all small island developing states (SIDS).

Seychelles has a small population and its carbon footprint is relatively tiny compared to larger industrialised countries. Furthermore, the vegetation on land and in the sea throughout the 1.14 million square kilometres exclusive economic zone, acts as a significant sink or absorber of carbon dioxide. However, like other SIDS, Seychelles is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change which, for islands, include issues such as sea level rise, coastal erosion, coral bleaching, changing migration patterns of tuna and other pelagic fish stocks, heavy rains and flooding contrasted by periods of drought.

Given all these challenges, it is remarkable that Seychelles is still as beautiful as it is! This is not an accident but a result of a longstanding government commitment to environmental protection coupled with the active engagement of many environmental NGOs and, increasingly, the private sector.

Even tourists can lend a hand! While on holiday, there are a number of things our guests can do to help island states like Seychelles become more sustainable. Take note of the eco-tips below and see how many of them you can put into action during your stay …

1 Be energy wise - Try to conserve energy when possible – turning off lights and air conditioners when you leave your hotel room is a great way of making a difference.

2 Be water wise - Use water carefully – take short showers and turn the taps off when not in use. Use your towel for a few days to cut down on laundry use.

3 Watch your waste - Recycle your plastic bottles and drink cans. Buy a reusable bag to cut down on plastic bags. Take your batteries home with you. Ask your hotel if they are participating in local recycling programmes.

4 Eat local - Instead of eating what you can eat at home, try some of the local cuisine, cooked with fresh local fish, meat, vegetables and fruits, available in restaurants and at take-aways. For a snack, try out some of the delicious local crisps made from organic breadfruit, cassava or plantain bananas.

5 Participate in conservation activities - Ask your hotel what they are doing for the environment – what are they doing to save water, save energy, reduce waste, reduce their climate footprint and help local communities?

Pressure from tourists will help encourage our tourism industry to go greener!

6 Discover Seychelles - Get out and explore all that Seychelles has to offer – marine parks, nature reserves, gardens, mountain trails, beaches, museums. Try exploring by bus (it is more eco-friendly than renting your own car and can be an interesting cultural experience!).

7 Support the local economy - Buy locally made crafts, music CDs and other souvenirs. Avoid buying shells, corals, shark jaws or other souvenirs that degrade natural ecosystems.

Seychelles, as you will soon discover, is a fantastic place to have a holiday. We wish you a happy and ‘green’ vacation, one that will give you great pleasure and memories and ensure that the Seychelles environment is protected for future generations to enjoy.

Contributed by Sustainability for Seychelles (S4S), a local NGO whose mission is to promote sustainable living in Seychelles. For more info about our work.

Contact us on: Email: info@s4seychelles.com Tel. 422-4072 / 251-9135. Address: Suite A9 Arpent Vert, Mont Fleuri. Website: www.s4seychelles.com or find us on Facebook.

• Silhouette • Vol 24 No 3 • 65

66 • Silhouette • Vol 24 No 3 •

Seychelles Plus Joins Etihad Guests Loyalty Programme We are pleased to announce improved benefits, services and flexibility for our valued and loyal travellers. Since 16 June 2012, the Air Seychelles Plus Programme has been fully integrated into Etihad Guests, the award winning loyalty programme of Etihad Airways.

All members of the Air Seychelles Plus Programme have automatically become new Etihad Guest members, earning eight Etihad Guest Miles for every Seychelles Plus point in their account as at 15 June 2012.

Their current Seychelles Plus tier level has been carried over to their new Etihad Guest membership. For example, Air Seychelles Plus Gold Members have automatically been enrolled as Etihad Guest Gold members.

On becoming an Etihad Guest member, they now enjoy more benefits and rewards, including: • Immediate rewards - with the 1 MileRedemption feature, fly once and enjoy instant rewards.

• No blackout periods - GuestSeats are available on all flights, and if a seat is available, the guests can book it.

• Anytime availability - all seats on a flight, including the very last seat, are available at any time. Redeem OpenSeats at a mileage

•

•

•

cost equivalent to the commercial price of the seat.

The widest choice - redeem for flights, products or services using the exclusive Etihad Guest Reward Shop.

Expanded network - redeem and earn points on over 3000 routes worldwide, with Etihad Airways and its partner airlines, including Air Berlin, Virgin Australia and American Airlines.

Also, as Etihad Guest members, our Guests can automatically earn and redeem Etihad Guest Miles with the entire Etihad Guest Partner network worldwide, which includes international hotel chains, car hire companies and retailers as well as 1 5 airline partners.

Guest Programme This level enables the member to enjoy permanent membership to the programme after earning 500 miles.

Guest Enjoys • Earn Etihad Guest Tier Miles for journey • Redeem Etihad Guest Miles for journey/Upgrades / kilos • Seat selection upon availability

Silver Tier Guest Enjoys • Waitlist priority • 10 kg excess baggage • Earn Etihad Guest Tier Miles for journey • Redeem Etihad Guest Miles for journey/Upgrades/kilos • Seat selection upon availability • 25% Tier Bonus Miles Gold Tier Guest Enjoys • Priority Check-in • Lounge Access • Priority Boarding • 50% Tier Bonus • Earn Etihad Guest Tier Miles for journey • Redeem Etihad Guest Miles for journey/Upgrades/kilos • Seat selection upon availability • 15 kg excess baggage Gold Elite Tier Guest Enjoys • Priority Check-in • Lounge Access • Priority Boarding • 50% Tier Bonus • Earn Etihad Guest Tier Miles for journey • Redeem Etihad Guest Miles for journey/Upgrades • Seat selection upon availability • 20 kg excess baggage

For more information call us on +248 4391069 / 4381016 / 4391366 / www.airseychelles.com/guest

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Air Seychelles Plus rejoint le programme de fidélisation Etihad Guest Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer une amélioration de prestations, de nos services et de la flexibilité pour notre fidèle clientèle. Depuis le 16 Juin 2012, le programme Air Seychelles Plus a été entièrement intégré dans celui d’Etihad Guest, le programme de fidélisation primé d’Etihad Airways.

Tous les membres du programme d’Air Seychelles Plus deviennent automatiquement des nouveaux membres d Etihad Guest, obtenant huit miles d’Etihad Guest pour chaque point sur leur compte au 15 Juin 2012.

Les membres d’Air Seychelles Plus conserveront le même statut dans le nouveau programme d’Etihad Guest. Par exemple, les membres Gold d’Air Seychelles ont été automatiquement inscrits comme membres d’Etihad Guest Gold.

En devenant membre d’Etihad Guest, ils vont maintenant bénéficier de plus d’avantages et de récompenses, y compris: • Des récompenses immédiates – avec la formule 1MileRedemption, voyagez une fois et de profitez des récompenses immédiatement.

• Aucune période d’interdiction – les GuestSeats sont disponibles sur tous les vols, et si un siège est disponible, les clients pourront le réserver.

• Disponibilité à tout instant - tous les sièges sur un vol, y compris le dernier, sont

•

•

•

disponibles à tout moment. Échangez vos miles pour les OpenSeats à un coût équivalent au prix commercial du siège par kilométrique.

Le plus grand choix – échangez vos miles contre des billets d’avion, des produits ou services en utilisant la boutique exclusive Etihad Guest Reward Shop.

Un réseau étendu - échangez et accumulez des points sur plus de 3000 destinations à travers le monde, avec Etihad Airways et ses partenaires, dont Air Berlin, Virgin Australia et American Airlines.

Par ailleurs, en tant que membres d’Etihad Guest, nos clients peuvent obtenir automatiquement et échanger leurs milles avec l’ensemble de ses partenaires à travers son réseau mondial qui comprend des chaînes hôtelières internationales, les compagnies de location de voitures et les boutiques, ainsi que 15 compagnies aériennes.

Guest Programme Ce statut permet de devenir membre permanent du programme après avoir obtenu 500 miles.

Avantages • Optenez des miles pour chaque voyage • Echanges de miles contre des billets d’avion/surclassement /kilos

Silver Avantages • Liste d’attente prioritaire • 10 kg d’excédent de bagages • La sélection de sièges selon disponibilité • 25% de bonus sur les miles • Gagnez des miles pour chaque voyage • Echanges de miles contre des billets d’avion/

surclassement /kilos Gold Avantages • Priorité au Check-In • Accès au Salon • Embarquement prioritaire • 50% de bonus sur les miles • Gagnez des miles pour chaque voyage • Echanges de miles contre des billets d’avion/ surclassement /kilos • Sélection de siège selon la disponibilité • 15 kg d’excédent de bagages Gold Elite Avantages • Priorité au Check-In • Accès au Salon • Embarquement prioritaire • 50% de bonus sur les miles • Gagnez des miles pour chaque voyage • Echanges de miles contre des billets d’avion/surclassement /kilos • Sélection de siège selon la disponibilité • 20 kg d’excédent de bagages

Pour plus d’informations appelez-nous au +248 4391069/4381016/4391366 / www.airseychelles.com/guest

H e a l t h y Tr a v e l l i n g

These gentle exercises, which you can carry out easily during your flight, will help blood circulation and reduce any tiredness or stiffness that may result from sitting in one place for several hours. Check with your doctor first if you have any health conditions which might be adversely affected by exercise.

Foot pumps: Start with both heels on the floor and point feet upward as high as you can. Then put both feet flat on the floor.

Then lift heels high, keeping the balls of your feet on the floor. Continue cycle in 30-second intervals.

Knee lifts: Lift leg with knees bent while contracting your thigh muscles.

Alternate legs. Repeat 20 to 30 times for each leg.

Forward flex: With both feet on the floor and stomach held in, slowly bend forward and walk your hands down the front of your legs towards your ankles. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds and slowly sit back up.

Shoulder roll: Hunch shoulders forward, then upward, then backward, then downward, using a gentle, circular motion.

Overhead stretch: Raise both hands straight up over your head. With one hand, grasp the wrist of the opposite hand and gently pull to one side.

Hold stretch for 15 seconds.

Repeat on the other side.

Shoulder stretch: Reach right hand over left shoulder. Place left hand behind right elbow and gently press elbow toward shoulder. Hold stretch for 15 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

Arm curl: Start with arms held at a 90-degree angle: elbows down, hands out in front.

Raise hands up to chest and back down, alternating hands. Do this exercise in 30-second intervals.

• For your own comfort try and travel light.

• Wear loose clothing and elasticated stockings made of natural fibre.

Knee to chest: Bend forward slightly.

Clasp hands around the left knee and hug it to your chest. Hold stretch for 15 seconds. Keeping hands around knee, slowly let it down. Alternate legs.

Repeat 10 times.

OTHER TIPS FOR A COMFORTABLE FLIGHT

Ankle circles: Lift feet off the floor, draw a circle with the toes, simultaneously moving one foot clockwise and the other foot counterclockwise.

Reverse circles. Do each direction for 15 seconds. Repeat if desired.

Neck roll: With shoulders relaxed, drop ear to shoulder and gently roll neck forward and to the other side, holding each position about five seconds.

Repeat five times.

• Increase your normal intake of water and only if need be, drink alcohol but in moderation.

• Use moisturising cream to keep your skin from drying out.

• Take off shoes in the plane to prevent your feet from swelling up or wear shoes that will cope with expanding ankles.

• Avoid heavy meals during the flight.

• Short walks once every two hours are excellent for circulation.

• Try to touch your toes when waiting in the aisle to stretch your hamstrings.

• On arrival at your destination, have a hot shower or a relaxing bath.

• On arrival a quick jog, brisk walk, or a vigorous scrub will help stimulate your circulation.

Air Seychelles disclaim any responsibility in the unlikely event that you may suffer an injury as a direct result of these gently exercises.

Copenh Manchester Düsse Dublin B London Fr Brussels Paris Geneva M

International Route Map NOTE: Graphics representation only. Not to scale. The actual flight paths may vary.

AIR SEYCHELLES LTD (Head Office) • PO Box 386, Mahé, Seychelles • Telephone: (248) 4391000 Fax: (248) 4224305 • E-mail: info@airseychelles.com • www.airseychelles.com

MAP KEY

August 2013

Air Seychelles Destinations Air Seychelles & Etihad Airways Codeshare Destinations Air Seychelles & Air Berlin Codeshare Destinations Air Seychelles & South African Airways Codeshare Destinations Air Seychelles & Czech Airlines Codeshare Destinations

Fleet Airbus A320

Wet-leased from Etihad Airways Business Class seats: 16 Economy seats: 120 Mauritius route only

Airbus A330-200 (Vallée de Mai, Aldabra) Aircrafts: 2 Cruise speed: 870 k/hr Business Class seats: 18 Economy seats: 236 Wing span: 197 ft 10 inches Length: 191ft 5.5 inches Maximum range: 4200 nm at

maximum payload

Maximum Takeoff weight: 233,000 kgs Maximum Landing Weight: 182,000 kgs Fuel Capacity: 139,000 lts Engine thrust: 71,100 lbf Seat Configuration Two aisle passenger cabin Pearl class: 2-2-2 six abreast Economy: 2-4-2 eight abreast

Stockholm

hagen

eldorf Berlin rankfurt Prague Munich Milan

Kuwait Bahrain

ABU DHABI Muscat

Hong Kong Bangkok Colombo

SEYCHELLES Mauritius Bird Island

Johannesburg

Denis Island

Praslin Island

Fregate Island

Mahé Island

D´Arros Island Desroches Island

Sydney Melbourne

Air seychelles

Domestic Route Network

Alphonse Island

SHORTS 360-300 Aircraft: 1 • Seat Capacity: Total 36 Max. Gross Weight: Take Off, 12,292 kgs Range: 630 nautical miles (1,165.5 km) Engines: Pratt and Witney PT 6A-67R Sea Level Thrust: SHP 1281

DHC-6 (TWIN OTTER) Aircraft: 4 • Seat Capacity: Total 19 Max. Gross Weight: Take Off, 5,669 kgs; Range: 490 nautical miles ( 907.5 km) Engines: Pratt and Witney PT 6A-27 Sea Level Thrust: SHP 680

Online Offices

South Africa

Capital: Pretoria Languages: English, Afrikaans Currency: Rand Area: 1,221,037 km2 Population: 45,919,000 Air Seychelles destination: Johannesburg Lu Dowell Representations

Mauritius

Capital: Port Louis

Air Seychelles destination: Plaisance Airport Rogers & Company Ltd Rogers House 5, President John Kennedy Street PO Box 60, Port Louis Tel: (00230) 202 6671 Fax: (00230) 208 3540 Sita: mrurrhm E-mail: info-mu@airseychelles.com

Languages: French, English, Creole Currency: Rupees Area: 2,040 km2 Population: 1,243,000

United Arab Emirates

Capital: Abu Dhabi Languages: Arabic, English Currency: Emirati Dirham (AED) Area: 83,600 km2 Population: 8, 264,070 Air Seychelles destination: Abu Dhabi

HongKong

Greenstone Hill Office Park Emerald Boulevard, Building 1, Unit F4.

Modderfontein, Edenvale South Africa Tel: (0027-11)-452-0244 Fax: 0866578741 or (0027-11) 781-2144 E-mail: airseychelles@ludowell.co.za

OmeirTravel Agency, Shk. Khalifa Street Po Box 267,Abu Dhabi Tel: (00971 2) 612 3470 Fax: (00971 2) 622 6799 Email: Info-Abu@Airseychelles.Com

Capital: Hongkong

Walshe Group

Incola Air Services Ltd. Suite A,6/F, Wah Kit Comm. Centre 300-302 Des Voeux Road Central Tel: (00852) 2866 8826/36 Fax: (00852) 2527 7837 Email: info-hk@airseychelles.com

Suite 906, Orient Tower, 33 Lockhart Road, Wan chai, Hong Kong.

Tel 00852 3979 3488 or 00852 3979 3489 Email: info@walshegroup.com

Wo r l d w i d e O f f i c e s The Creole Spirit Po Box 386 Victoria, Mahé Tel: (00248) 439 10 00 Fax: (00248) 439 10 05 (Head Office) Fax: (00248) 432 41 94 (Marketing & Sales) Email: Info@Airseychelles.Com Fax: (00248) 422 59 33 (Sales & Reservations) Email: Marketing@Airseychelles.Com Baltic Countries Katusepapi Street 6, Tallinn 11412, Estonia Tel: (00372) 6681 009 Fax: (00372) 6228 115 Email: Airseychelles@Airlinemanagement.Eu Australia Sky Air Services, Level 7, 24 Albert Road, South Melbourne 3205 Tel: (0061 3) 9699 9355 Fax: (0061 3) 9699 9388 Email: Info-Mel@Airseychelles.Com Austria Aviareps, Airline Management Service Gmbh Argentinierstrasse 2/4 A - 1040,Vienna, Austria Tel: (0043 1) 585 3631 55 Fax: (0043 1) 585 3630 88 Email: Airseychelles@Aviareps.Com Info-At@Airseychelles.Com Website: Www.Airseychelles.De Bahrain Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo W11 Al Khalifa Road, Building 302 Block 304 Po Box 45, Manama Tel: (00973) 17 220 800 Fax: (00973) 17 213 458 Email: Info-Bh@Airseychelles.Com Belgium/Luxembourg Kales Airline Services, Park Hill, Mommaertslaan 18A B –1831, Diegem, Brussels. Tel: (0032 2) 716 00 64 Fax: (0032 2) 716 00 86 Email: Info-Be@Airseychelles.Com Canada Aviareps, 130 Spadina Ave Ste 606 Toronto, On M5v 2L4 Tel: +1 416 561 8243 Fax: +1 416 363 9608 Email: Rkieda@Aviareps.Com

China Beijing Jinzhihong Aviation Service Co. Ltd Boc Group 1/F, Qinglan Plaza, No.24, Dongsi Shitiao, Beijing, Prc 100007 Tel: +8610- 84042096 Fax: +8610-64022093 Email: Nicole.Li@Bocgroupe.Com Contact Person: Nicole Li

FINLAND AIR TOUCH Eerikinkatu 27,FI 00180 HELSINKI Email: Pekka.makinen@airtouch.fi Contact Person: Pekka Makinen- Manager Contact Number: + 358 40 57 06 760

Czech Republic Aviareps Czech Republic Na Rybnícku 5/1329, 120 00 Praha 2, Tel: (00 420) 296 368 273 Fax: (00 420) 224 233 412 Email: Info@Airseychelles.Cz

GERMANY Aviareps Airline Management Group AG Josephspitalstrasse 15 8033 Munich Tel: (0049 89) 552 53338 Fax: (0049 89) 545 06855 Email: info-de@airseychelles.com Website: www.airseychelles.de

Chennai Chennai Global Aviation Services Pvt Ltd 733, Anna Salai, Chennai 600006 Tel: +91 44 4295 9600, 4203 6220 Tel: +91 44 4295 9696 Extn: 632 Fax: +91 44 42959656 Sophia.Tallent@Globalaviationindia.Com Jitesh.Grover@Globalaviationindia.Com

GREECE Intermodal Air 25 Filellinon Str, 105 57 Athens Tel: (0030 1) 371 6357/3249300 Fax: (0030 1) 324 9152 Sita: athgdco Email: info-gr@airseychelles.com

Comores Ario Ltd, Route Magoudjou Bp 1285, Moroni Tel: (00269) 733 144 Tel: (00269) 733 820- Airport Tel: (00269) 732 388- Reservations Fax: (00269) 730 719 Email: Info-Km@Airseychelles.Com Email: Ario.Comores@Snpt.Km

HUNGARY Aviareps Magyarorszag Kft Capital Square/First Clients Offices Vaci ut 76, 1133 Budapest, Hungary Tel: (0036 1) 4113880 Fax: (0036 1) 411 3881 Email: jvaradi@aviareps.com Website: www.aviareps.com Contact Person: Janos Varadi- General Manager Contact Number: + 36 70 529 8507

DENMARK Discover the world Marketing Trommesalen 5, DK – 1614 Copenhangen V Tel: (0045) - 88 30 66 10 Fax: (0045) 33252586 Email: sales@airseychelles.dk

INDONESIA Aviation Services co. Ltd Menara bdn, 9th floor, Jl.Mh thamrin no.5 Jakarta 10340 Tel: (0062 11) 392 9949 Fax: (0062 11) 392 9948 Email: avs@aviatioindonesia.com

DUBAI Asian Air Travel and Tours Agency PO Box 65006 Dubai, UAE Tel: (00971 4) 286 8008 Fax: (00971 4) 283 2115 Email: info-ae@airseychelles.com

INDIA Ahmedabad Office 202-203 Olive Arcade, Off C. G. Road, Sardar Patel Nagar Road, Ellis Bridge, Ahmedabad - 380 006 Tel: 079 - 4021 6599 Email: maitreyee@globalaviationindia.com

ESTONIA Airline Management Katusepapi Street 6,Tallinn 11412, Estonia Tel: +372 6681 009 Fax: +372 6228 115 Email: AirSeychelles@airlinemanagement.eu

Bangalore Office C4/ C5, 1st Floor, Devatha Plaza, 131 / 132 Residency Rd, Bangalore - 560025.

Tel: +91 80 22222920 / 22222947 Email: kishore.rao@globalaviationindia.com

Chennai Ticketing and Reservation Office Email: amar.patro@globalaviationindia.com Contact Person: Mr. Amar Kumar Patro Contact Number: +044 4295 9632 Coimbatore Office Vincents Bldg., Door No.1420-A, T richy Rd., Coimbatore -641018.

Tel: 0422 - 2302 265 / 272 Email: vijaya.b@globalaviationindia.com Delhi Office 303 - 304, Prakash Deep Bldg., 3rd Floor, 7, Tolstoy Marg, New Delhi – 110 001 Tel: 011 - 23737471 / +011 23737473 Email: del@globalaviationindia.com Global Air Transport Services Pvt. Ltd. (Southern India) Global House, 733 Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 006.

Tel: +044 4295 9632 / 9696 Email: vasumathi@globalaviationindia.com / amar.patro@globalaviationindia.com Contact Person: Mrs.Vasumathi Jayaraman (Regional Director- South India), Mr. Amar Kumar Patro (Manager- passenger sales) Goa Office Alcon Chambers, First Floor,Office No. 2, D. B. Marg, Panjim,Goa - 403 001 Tel: 0832-2220364 / 2426584 Email: domnic.noronha@globalaviationindia.com Crescent Tower, 2nd Floor, 229, A.J.C.B. Road, Calcutta – 700020 Tel: +91 33 22872550 / 22871230 / 2550 Email: mazumdar.p@globalaviationindia.com Head Office Global AirTransport Services Private Limited N.K.M.International House, 6th Floor, 178, Backbay Reclamation,B.M.Chinai Marg, Mumbai-400020 Tel: 091 022 6620 5600 / 2282 9003 Fax: 091 022 6620 5656 Email: mailto:padmaja@globalaviationindia.com Website: www.globalaviationindia.com Contact Person: Mrs. Padmaja Ashar – Marketing Head

Wo e fOf ifcf iecse s Wo r l dr lwd iwd ied O Hyderabad Office Gupta Estate, 5-9-58/A/203, 2nd Floor, Basheer Bagh, Hyderabad – 500001.

Tel: 040-6661 3450 / 2324 1586 Email: suchitra.c@globalaviationindia.com

IRELAND Aviareps plc Commercial Office, 11 The Anchorage, Charlotte Quay, Dublin 4, Ireland Tel: (00353 1) 6319604 Fax: (00353 1) 6674228 Email: hmsupport@aereps.ie Website: www.aereps.ie

Jaipur Office 114-115, Jaipur Tower, Opposite All India Radio, M.I. Road, Jaipur – 302001 (Rajasthan - India).

Tel: 0141-237 7752 / 7753 Email: devendra.bhatt@globalaviationindia.com

ISRAEL Open Sky Limited 23 Ben Yehuda Street, Tel Aviv 63805 Tel: (00972 3) 795 1333 Fax: (00972 3) 795 1330 Email: info-il@airseychelles.com

Jalandhar Office 204, Prestige Chambers, 1st Floor, Opp Narinder Cinema, G. T. Road, Jalandhar–144 001 Tel: 0181-508 2071 / 2072 Email: rajnish.sharma@globalaviationindia.com

ITALY (NORTH) Sima International Via Albricci, 8, 20122 Milano (Mi) Tel: (0039 02) 89096106 Fax: (0039 02) 316180 Email: info-mi@airseychelles.com

Kochi Office K.G.Oxford Business Centre, Office No.2A, 2nd Floor, Sreekandath Road, Ernakulam, Kochi - 682 016.

Tel: 0484-2350544 / 2351091 Email: latha.vinod@globalaviationindia.com Kolkata (Calcutta) Office Crescent Tower, 2nd Floor, 229, .J.C.B. Road, Calcutta – 700020 Tel: +91 33 22872550 / 22871230 / 2550 Email: mazumdar.p@globalaviationindia.com Mumbai Ticketing and Reservation Office PIL Court - G.A. (front),111, Maharshi Karve Road Churchgate, Mumbai - 400020.

Tel: (022) 6621 3800/3811 Fax: (022) 6621 3818 Email: ajay.udeshi@globalaviationindia.com Contact Person: Mr. Ajay Udeshi- General Manager, Passenger Nagpur Office Shop 1 & 2 Pitambar Building , Atrey Layout Ring Road, Ranapratap Nagar, Nagpur - 440 001 Tel: 0712 - 2283385 Email: prasad.v@globalaviationindia.com Pune Office Hermes Kunj, 5,6,7 & 7A Mangaldas Road, Pune – 411011.

Tel: 020 - 41052208 - 22 Email: janhavee.t@globalaviationindia.com Thiruvanthapuram Office 2nd Floor,T.C. No. 26 / 699, Krishna Commercial Complex, Bakery Junction,Thiruvanthapuram – 695001.

Tel: 0471-233 3237 Email: meenakshi.nair@globalaviationindia.com Vadodara Office FF- 5, First Floor, Panorama Bldg., R. C. Dutt Road, Alkapuri, Vadodara – 390005 Tel: 0265 – 2355 542/ 547 Email: anil.bharwani@globalaviationindia.com Global Air Transport Services Pvt. Ltd. N.K.M.International House,6th Floor, 178 Backbay Reclamation,B.M.Chinai Marg, Mumbai -400 020 (India) Tel : (+91 022) 22829000/66205600 Fax: (+91 022) 22829004/66205656 Email: info-in@airseychelles.com Email: padmaja@globalaviationindia.com Reservations and Ticketing Tel: (+91 022) 6621 3807 / 3811 Fax: (+91 022) 6621 3818 Email: deepak@globalaviationindia.com Ahmedabad: Tel: 079 - 4021 6599 Email: dharmesh.rami@globalaviationindia.com Bangalore Tel: (080) 22275091/22275416 Email: kishore.rao@globalaviationindia.com Kolkata(Calcutta) Tel: (033) 22806336 /22872550 Email: mazumdar.p@globalaviationindia.com Delhi Tel: (011) 23737471/3 Email: brij@globalaviationindia.com Hyderabad Tel: (040) 66613450 / 23241586 Email Suchitra.c@globalaviationindia.com INDONESIA Aviation Services co.ltd Menara bdn, 9th floor Jl. Mh thamrin no. 5 Jakarta 10340 Tel: +6221- 392 9949 Fax: +6221- 392 9948 Email: avs@aviationindonesia.com

JAPAN Air Solution Service Ltd 5F, Eagle Hamamatsucho Building , 2-7-17, Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0013 Japan Tel: +81 80 5379 8908 Email: pax-sales@air-sos.co.jp KENYA Safari Travel Kenya Ltd, 2nd Avenue, Parklands PO Box 58716-00200 GPO Tel: (254 20) 3747276, 3521872 Fax: (254 20) 3747286 Email: info-ke@airseychelles.com KOREA INOCEAN M&C 411, Doosan We’ve Pavillion 58 Susong-dong Jongno-gu Seoul Tel: +82-2-737-3235 Fax: +82-2-737-3236 Email: sey@seychellestour.co.kr KUWAIT Pan Arab Travels Co PO Box 2842, Safat Pc 13029 Tel: (00965) 241 5554/ 241 5556 Fax: (00965) 241 0873 Email: info-kw@airseychelles.com/ patravel@qualitynet.net MALAYSIA Worldwide Aviation Sales SDN BHD CP12, suite 1303, 13th floor, Central Plaza, 34 Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603 - 2142 1199 / 603 – 2143 3755 Fax: 603 - 2141 4433 / 603 – 2148 8499 Email: chew@avs-worldwide.com.my Contact Person: Ms Chew Gake Yong MALDIVES Universal Travel Department 39 Orchid Magu, Malé 20-02 Republic of Maldives Tel: (00 960) 3334 004/3314910 Fax: (00 960) 3316 156 Email: info-mv@airseychelles.com/ airlines@ utsmaldives.com MAYOTTE Air Moyotte 21 place MAriage, 97600 Momoudzou, Tel: (00 269) 623 100 Fax: (00 269) 623 118 Email: info-may@airseychelles.com NETHERLANDS Kales Airlines Services B.V Building:Triport 1, E. V.d Beekstraat 46 1118 CL Schiphol Airport Tel: (0031 20) 655 3670 Fax: (0031 20) 655 3651 Email: info-nl@airseychelles.com peter.kales@kales.com johan.six@kales.com NORWAY Flyservice AS Fr. Nansens pl 8 0160 Oslo Tel: +47- 24 14 87 54 Fax: +47- 24 14 87 51 Email: info-no@airseychelles.com / fly@flyservice.no/ gonzalo.peluffo@flyservice.no Contact Person: Gonzalo Peluffo

POLAND UI. Sienna 72, Apt. 3 00-833 Warszawa, Poland Tel: (0048 22) 6323205 Fax: (0048 22) 6324046 Email: info-pl@airseychelles.com PORTUGAL Select Aviation Portugal Campo Grande, 220 B 1700-094 Lisbon Tel: + 351 (21) 35 84 450 Email: airseychelles@acro QATAR Qatar Tours PO Box 1683, Doha Tel: (00974) 441 1414/443 6002/441 9753 Fax: (00974) 4433 197, 4351926 Email: info-qa@airseychelles.com/ qatartours@dtco-qatar.com REUNION Air France 7 Avenue De La Victoire, BP 845 F-97477 Saint Denis Cedex Tel: (00262) 262 40 38 38 Fax: (00262) 262 40 38 40 Email: info-run@airseychelles.com ROMANIA Aviareps Magyarorszag Kft Capital Square/First Clients Offices Vaci ut 76, 1133 Budapest, Hungary Tel: (0036 1) 411 3880 Fax: (0036 1) 411 3881 jvaradi@aviareps.com RUSSIA Aviareps, Moscow, Prospect Mira, 39 BLDG 2 129110 Moscow Tel: (007 495) 937 5950 Fax: (007 495) 937 5951 Email: info-rus@airseychelles.com/airseychelles@aviareps.co.ru SAUDI ARABIA Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo - Central Province Kanoo Building One block off king Abdul Aiz road P.o.Box 753 Riyadh 11421 Tel: +9661 - 477 2228 ext.288/305 Fax: +9661 - 283 3041 Email: info-sa-c@airseychelles.com / othergsa@ruh. kanoosa.com

SRI LANKA North South Lines Pvt Ltd 400 Deans Road Colombo 10 Sri Lanka Tel: +94 11 4740760 Fax: +94 11 4740765 Email: info-lk2@airseychelles.com Website: www.hayley.com SWEDEN Riddargatan 17, 114 57 Stockholm, Sweden Tel Direct: (0046 8) 545 259 42 Fax: (0046 8) 241 888 Email: HMRes.Scan@aviareps.com/info-se@ airseychelles.com Contact Person: Paul Riddez (General Manager) SWITZERLAND Airpass Services Switzerland Ltd Schaffhauserstrasse 115 Airport City CH-8302 Kloten Switzerland Tel: +41 (44) 220 19 20 Fax: +41 (44) 220 19 15 Email: airseychelles@airpass.ch Website: www.airseychelles.ch TAIWAN Aviation Travel Services Co Ltd 10F, No. 19, Sec 3 Nan Jing E. Road Taipei Taiwan R.O.C. Tel: +886- 2 2567 8956 Fax: +886- 2 2563 7596 Email: info-ta@airseychelles.com THAILAND TT Aviation Co. Ltd, 140/19 ITF tower, 11th floor Silom Road, Suriyawongse Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Tel: (00662) 235 8282 Fax: (00662) 231 6488 Email: info-th@airseychelles.com TAIWAN Aviation Travel Services Co Ltd 10F, No. 19, Sec 3 Nan Jing E. Road Taipei , Taiwan R.O.C. Tel: +886- 2 2567 8956 Fax: +886- 2 2563 7596 General email: info-ta@airseychelles.com Email: mckoy@atstpe.com.tw

Yusuf Bin Ahmed kanoo - Eastern Province Air Seychelles, Airline Center PO Box 1878 Al Khobar 31952, Saudi Arabia Tel: (00966 3) 8355832 Fax: (00966 3) 835573 Email: info-sa-e@airseychelles.com

UKRAINE Aviareps AG9/2, Chervonoarmijska str. of.4 01004Kiev Tel: +38 044 490 65 01 Email: HM.Ukraine@aviareps.com Website: www.aviareps.com Contact Person: Natalya Ilyashova (Country Manager)

Central Province Air Seychelles, Kanoo Building, One Block off King Abdul Aiz Road, PO Box 753 Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia Tel: (009661) 4772228 Ext 288/305 Fax: (009661) 2833041 Email: info-sa-c@airseychelles.com

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Asian Air Travel and Tourism P.o.Box 65006 Dubai Tel: +971 - 4 286 8008 Fax: +971 - 4 283 2115 Email: info-ae@airseychelles.com / airseychelles@ emirates.net.ae / asttrvl@eim.ae

Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo - Western Province Air Seychelles Kanoo Center, Kilo ‘7’ Madinah Road PO Box 812, Jeddah 21421, Saudi Arabia Tel: (009662) 2632959 Ext 121/108 Fax: (009662) 2632948 Email: info-sa-w@airseychelles.com

Omeir Travel Agency Shk. Khalifa Street P.o.Box 267 Abu Dhabi Tel: +971 2 6118640 Fax: +971 2 6225653 Email: mubarak@omeir.com / marketing@omeir.ae

SEYCHELLES Head Office Air Seychelles Ltd Head Office International Airport P.O.Box 386 Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles Tel: +248 4 39 10 00 Fax: +248 4 39 13 50 (marketing & sales) Email: info@airseychelles.com / airseyrr@airseychelles.com / marketing@airseychelles.com Website: www.airseychelles.com

OMAN United Travels Llc PO Box 599, Muttrah Postal Code 114 Sultanate of Oman Tel: (00968) 247 80057/61 Fax: (00968) 247 80094 Email: info-om@airseychelles.com

SINGAPORE Aviation Services (Gsa) Pte Ltd 100 Tras Street #13-01 Amara Corporate Tower Singapore 079027 Tel: +65 - 6 324 8006 Fax: + 65 - 6 225 6315 / +65 - 6 221 8810 Email: info-sg@airseychelles.com

PAKISTAN Seypak Aviation (Pvt) Ltd 4 J.C.H.S. Main Sharea Faisal Karachi 75350 Tel: (0092 21) 454 5912/ 4536348/ 4543044 Fax: (0092 21) 454 5905/ +92 - 21 454 8809 Email: info-pak@airseychelles.com/ seypak@khi.compol.com

SOUTH AFRICA Lu Dowell Representations Border Air 280 Oak Avenue Randburg 2125 Tel: +011 326 4440/4443/4388 Fax: +011 781 2215 Email: reservations@border-air.co.za / airlinesres@ border-air.co.za / Airseychelles@border-air.co.za

PHILIPPINES MC Travel Corporation, UGL-A Grand Hamptons Tower 31st Street corner 2nd Avenue Bonifacio Global City Taguig City, Metro Manila Philippines 1630 Tel: (0063 2) 856-2336 Tel: (0063 2) 856-2808 Email: cecile@quevenco.com

SPAIN Air Marketing Representatives S.A.-amr-C/Monte Esquinza, 30 Oficina 5 28010 Madrid Tel: +34 - 91 319 5189 / +34 - 91 310 1907 Fax: +34 - 91 310 5098 Email: info-es@airseychelles.com / airmart@amr-sa.com / airseychelles.es@amr-sa.com

UNITED KINGDOM Aviareps Plc Aviareps House Gatwick Road Crawley West Sussex rh10 9rb Tel: +44 - 01293 596655 Fax: +44 - 1293 596 658 Email: info-uk@airseychelles.com / airseychelles@aviareps-group.com Website: www.airseychelles.co.uk Contact Person: Sarah Gilmore- Reservations department Contact Number: +44-1293 596 656 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Chicago Office 101, N.Wacker Dr Suite 350 Chicago, IL 60606 Tel: +1- 877 359 7392 Fax: 312-269-0222 Email: chi@aviaworldna.com Houston Office 350 Post Oak Blvd, Suite 1320 Houston TX 77056 Tel: +1- 877 359 7392 Fax: (713) 626 1905 Email: hou@aviaworldna.com Los Angeles Office 16250, Ventura Blvd Suite 101 Encino, CA 91436 Tel: +1- 877 359 7392 Fax: (818) 501-2098 Email: lax@aviaworldna.com New York Office 1, Penn Plaza, Suite 1416 New York, NY 10119 Tel: +1- 877 359 7392 Fax: (212) 279 6602 Email: nyc@aviaworldna.com VIETNAM Worldwide Agency 127-129 Nguyen Hue Street, District1 1 HoChiMinh City, Vietnam Tel: (0084) 3915 2264 Fax: (0084) 3915 2265 Email: grace@itlavs.com

Tr a v e l Fa c t s

Currency

Language

The Seychelles Rupee (SCR1 = 100 cents). Notes SCR 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500.

Coins SCR 1, 5 and Cents 1, 5, 10, 25. Most credit cards and travellers’ cheques are accepted. There is no restriction on the import and export of domestic and foreign currency in the country. Banks and Bureaux de Change are authorised dealers in foreign currency. For rates of exchange contact authorised dealers for which information can be otained on Central Bank’s website at www.cbs.sc

Creole, English and French are the official languages of the Seychelles.

Credit Cards American Express, Mastercard, Diners Club and Visa cards are widely accepted.

Time Seychelles is four hours ahead of GMT and three hours ahead of Central European Time.

Public Holidays New Year January 1-2 Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday March 29, 31 & April1 Labour Day

May 1 Liberation Day June 5 Corpus Christi May 30 National Day June 18 Independence Day June 29 Assumption Day, (festival on La Digue) August 15 All Saints Day November 1 Immaculate Conception December 8 Christmas December 25

Climate 26°-29° C all year round. Annual rainfall totals approximately 90 inches, with heavy showers between November and February. As the Islands lie beyond the cyclone belt, high winds and thunderstorms are rare.

Electricity

Tipping Restaurant bills normally include a service charge. Although not widely expected, tips are warmly received for personal service.

Clothes Very casual. For men, shorts and T-shirts during the day, and slacks for evening. Jackets and ties are rarely worn. For women, cotton wrap-arounds or shorts for daytime, cool dresses for evening wear.

Transport: An efficient bus service operates on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue between 0530-1900. Taxis are available and cars can also be hired on Mahé and Praslin and bicycles on La Digue. A valid international license is required for self-driving. Air Seychelles operates flights between Mahé and Praslin throughout the day. Charter flights are also operated to other islands. An inter-island ferry service operates daily between the islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. L’Air Dezil operates a shuttle service between Mahé, Praslin and La Digue and other islands.

Customs Duty Free items are permitted for up to: - 200 millilitres of Perfume and Eau de Toilette.

- 2 litres of beverages with less than 16% alcohol i.e beer, wine.

- 2 litres of beverages with more than 16% alcohol i.e whisky, gin, rum etc.

- 250 grammes of tobacco or 200 cigarettes.

- Personal goods worth SCR 5000 for adults and SCR 3000 for under 18 years.

For more information visit www.src.gov.sc

Accommodation

Tourist Information

Seychelles offers a variety of accommodation, from international resorts and medium-sized hotels with all facilities to guest houses, lodges and chalets on the smaller islands. Camping is not allowed.

The Seychelles Tourist Office is located in Independence House, Victoria, Mahé.

Sports and Watersports

240 volts AC 50 Hz. Adaptors are provided by hotels.

Emergency Services The Emergency number for fire, police or ambulance is 999.

Victoria Hospital: 4388000.

Medical Services Victoria has a large and efficient hospital and most islands have health clinics.

Some hotels provide duty nurses. Private doctors are available on call at all hotels – contact reception.

Many hotels have excellent facilities for watersports centres offering a wide range of activities. Some also have dive centres and tennis courts. There is an 18-hole golf course at Lemuria Resort on Praslin and Seychelles Golf Course, a 9-hole golf course at Anse aux Pins, Mahé.

Museums and Libraries

The central office in Victoria is open from 0800-1600 Monday-Friday and 0800-1200 Saturday.

The History Museum is situated on Francis Rachel Street, Victoria in the National Library Building. The Natural History Museum is situated on Independence Avenue, Victoria near to the Post Office. Kenwyn House directly opposite the main entrance to the National Library on Francis Rachel Street is one of the best preserved 19th century buildings of Victoria, renovated in 2005.

Telecommunications

Shopping

Post Office

Cable & Wireless Seychelles (CWS), the islands leading communications provider, is the operator of choice across mobile (3G+), broadband and fixed services. As a subsidiary of Cable & Wireless Communications PLC (listed on the LSE), the company delivers first rate business and consumer solutions including turnkey solutions for major international investors. CWS’ mission is “To provide world class communication services and solutions wherever and whenever people work, play and have fun”. No one knows Seychelles better.

Telecom (Sey) Ltd, AIRTEL. Provider of Mobile GSM Telecom Services with 3G & Edge Network, Mobile broadband Data Services for High Speed Internet Access. Roaming with over 200 operators worldwide. Prepaid starter kits & recharge options available at Airtel Centres in Victoria, Providence, Praslin & selected retail outlets on main islands. Coverage on Mahè, Praslin, La Digue, Inner Islands, Fregate & Coetivy.

Local handicrafts include basketware, table-mats, hats, jewellery and paintings. Shops are open from 0800-1700 hours Monday-Friday and 0800-1200 hours Saturday. Some open Sunday morning.

Restaurants A range of cuisine is also available, from traditional Creole and French cuisine to Chinese. In addition to hotels and restaurants, several take-away outlets can be found in Victoria.

Nightlife Most hotels offer programmes for evening entertainment ranging from barbecues and dinner dances to folk singing. There are two cinemas in Victoria.

Theatrical productions are sometimes staged in Creole, English and French.

Informations Utiles

Devise

Une roupie seychelloise = 100 sous. Il existe des billets de 10, 25, 50 , 100 et 500. Il existe de la monnaie à 1 et 5 roupies, 1, 5, 10 et 25 sous. La majorité des cartes de crédit et des chèques de voyage sont acceptés. Il n’y a pas de restriction sur l’importation et l’exportation de devises étrangères et locales dans le pays. Les banques et les bureaux de change sont autorisés pour toutes les transactions en devises étrangères. En ce qui concerne les taux d’échange, prenez contact avec les courtiers autorisés qui obtiennent leurs informations de la Banque Centrale ; site web : www.cbs.sc

Cartes de crédit Les cartes American Express, Mastercard, Diners Club et Visa sont généralement acceptées.

Décalage horaire Les Seychelles ont trois heures d’avance sur Paris.

Jours fériés

Nouvel An 1 et 2 janvier Vendredi saint, Dimanche de Pâques 29, 31 mars & 1 avril Fête du travail 1 mai Jour de la Libération 5 juin Fête Dieu 30 mai Fête Nationale 18 juin Fête de l’Indépendance 29 juin Fête de l’Assomption (La Digue) 15 août Toussaint 1 novembre Immaculée Conception 8 décembre Noël 25 décembre

Climat Entre 26 et 29 degrés Celcius, tout au long de l’année. Saison des pluies entre novembre et février (env. 200mm de précipitation). Les Seychelles étant hors de la zone des cyclones, les tempêtes sont rares.

Electricité Courant alternatif 240 volts.

Les hôtels mettent des adaptateurs à disposition.

Information Touristique

Langues Le créole, l’anglais et le français sont les langues officielles des Seychelles.

Pourboires Le service est compris dans la plupart des restaurants. Bien qu’ils ne soient pas obligatoires, les pourboires sont toujours reçus avec un grand sourire.

Tenue vestimentaire Décontractée. Pour les hommes le port du short et du T-shirt la journée et du pantalon le soir. Pour les dames le port du short ou d’une jupe en coton la journée et robe légère le soir.

Transport : Un service de bus efficace fonctionne sur Mahé, Praslin et La Digue entre 5h.30 et 19 heures. Des taxis et des voitures en location sont aussi disponibles sur Mahé et sur Praslin et des bicyclettes peuvent être louées sur La Digue.Un permis valable de conduite international est exigé en cas de location de voiture sans chauffeur.

Air Seychelles fournit des vols entre Mahé et Praslin durant la journée. Des vols charter sont aussi organisés vers les autres îles. Un service de ferry interîles fonctionne aussi entre les îles de Mahé, Praslin et La Digue. L’ »Air Dezil » propose aussi une navette entre Mahé, Praslin, La Digue et d’autres îles.

Les produits hors-taxe sont limités à : - 200 ml de parfum et eau de toilette - 2 litres de boisson contenant moins de 16% d’alcool, par ex. la bière, le vin.

- 2 litres de boisson contenant plus de 16% d’alcool, par ex. le whisky, le gin, le rhum etc.

- 250 grammes de tabac ou 200 cigarettes.

- des biens personnels pour une valeur de 5.000 Rs par adulte et de 3.000 Rs pour les jeunes de moins de 18 ans. Pour plus d’informations, visitez notre site: www.src.gov.sc

Hébergement Les Seychelles disposent d’une grande diversité d’hébergement – allant des hôtels de grande, moyenne et petite capacité aux “lodges”, chalets et bungalows sur les plus petites îles.

Sports et sports nautiques

Urgences

Beaucoup d’hôtels ont d’excellents centres de sports nautiques offrant une large gamme d’activités. Certains ont également des clubs de plongée et des courts de tennis. Il y a un golf de18 trous à l’hôtel Lémuria à Praslin, et le Seychelles Golf Course, un neuf trous à Anse aux Pins, à Mahé.

Pour toutes urgences (ambulance, police, pompiers), il faut composer le 999. Victoria Hôpital: 4388000.

Museums et librairies

L’office du tourisme est situé à L’Independence House à Mahé.

Services médicaux Victoria est dotée d’un hôpital tandis que la plupart des îles possèdent une clinique. Certains grands hôtels ont un service d’infirmerie.

Bureau de poste Les heures d’ouverture du bureau de poste à Victoria sont: de 8:00h à 16:00h, du lundi au vendredi et de 8:00h à 12:00h le samedi.

Télécommunications

Cable & Wireless Seychelles (CWS), le principal opérateur de télécommunications de l’archipel, propose des services de téléphonie fixe, mobile (3G+) et internet (ADSL). En tant que filiale du Groupe Cable & Wireless Communications PLC (coté à la bourse de Londres), la société offre des prestations innovantes pour les entreprises et les particuliers, ainsi que des solutions intégrées pour les grands comptes internationaux.

Notre mission est “de fournir des solutions et services parmi les meilleurs au monde, partout et pour chaque instant de la vie”. Personne ne connaît mieux les Seychelles que nous.

Telecom (Sey) Ltd, Airtel propose des Réseaux GSM, 3G, et Edge avec couverture intérieure/extérieur dans les îles de Mahè, Praslin, La Digue, Frégate et Coetivy. Des cartes de téléphone cellulaires sont disponibles dans les bureaux d’Airtel et des locaux spécifiques. L’accès au réseau ‘roaming‘ avec plus de 200 opérateurs internationales.

Le Musée d’Histoire est situé dans la rue Francis Rachel, à Victoria, dans le bâtiment de la Bibliothèque Nationale. Le Museum d’Histoire Naturelle est situé dans la rue de l’indépendance, à Victoria, près du bureau de Poste. Kenwyn House, en face de l’entrée principale de la Bibliothèque Nationale dans la rue Francis Rachel, est l’un des bâtiments du 19ème siècle les mieux préservés à Victoria. Il fut rénové en 2005.

Shopping L’artisanat local offre des travaux en fibre (chapeaux, paniers etc.) en coquillages, en nacre ou encore en or (bijoux et objets décoratifs) ainsi que des œuvres d’artistes locaux. Les heures d’ouverture des magasins sont de 8:00h à 17:00h du lundi au vendredi et de 8:00h à 12:00h le samedi.

Certains commerces restent ouverts le dimanche matin.

Restaurants Les Seychelles offrent une cuisine variée: créole et internationale. En dehors des établissements hôteliers et des restaurants, des services traiteurs sont à votre disposition à Mahé (Victoria) ainsi qu’à Praslin.

Vie nocturne La plupart des hôtels organisent des spectacles nocturnes: danses traditionnelles, dîners dansant ou barbecues sur la plage. Il y a deux cinémas à Victoria. Régulièrement, des pièces de théâtre en français, en anglais et en créole sont à l’affiche. Il existe aussi des boîtes de nuit à Victoria et Beau Vallon ainsi qu’à Praslin.

Dining Out

RESTAURANTS – MAHÉ A LA CARTE Al Mare Restaurant

Beau Vallon Tel: +248 462 02 40 / 251 21 17 / 251 21 13 Fax: +248 462 02 42 E-mail: almare@email.sc

CREOLE

Anse Soleil Cafe

Anse Soleil, Mahé Tel: +248 436 10 85 / 436 17 00 / 251 12 12

Boat House

Address: Beau Vallon Mahé Tel: +248 424 78 98 E-mail: davejoubert@yahoo.com

Cap Lazare

Tel: +248 428 01 00 / 252 46 42 Fax: +248 422 58 17 E-mail: info@creoletravelservices.com

Chez Batista Restaurant

Takamaka, Mahé Tel: +248 436 63 00 Fax: +248 436 65 09 E-mail: batistas@seychelles.net

Domaine Du Soleil Restaurant Tel: +248 428 55 55 Fax: +248 424 72 24 E-mail: sun@seychelles.net

Katiolo

Anse Faure Tel: +248 4375 453

Le Marinier Restaurant

Inter Island Quay Victoria, Mahé Tel: +248 422 49 37

Le Reduit Restaurant

Tel: +248 436 61 16 / 436 62 25 E-mail: lereduit@seychelles.net

Marie Antoinette Restaurant Serret Road St Louis Tel: +248 426 62 22

News Cafe

1st floor, Trinity House Victoria, Mahé Tel: +248 432 29 99

CHINESE

Le Canton Chinese Restaurant

Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Beach Resort & Casino Tel: +248 428 72 87 Fax: +248 424 79 43 E-mail: bhrseysm@berjayaseychelles.com

The Wok Chinese Restaurant Coco D’Or Hotel Tel: +248 424 73 31 Fax: +248 424 74 54 E-mail: cocodor@seychelles.sc

GOURMET

Cyann “Signature Cousine” Constance Ephilia Resort Tel: +248 4395 001

Maia Restaurant

Luxury Resort Spa Tel: +248 4390 000 E-mail: reservations@southernsun.sc

Chilli Bar & Steakhouse La Louise Tel: +248 4344 155

Zez Restaurant

Four Seasons Resort Tel: +248 4393 000 ext. 1902 E-mail: Restaurants-Reservation.SEY@ fourseasons.com

INDIAN

Mahék Indian Restaurant

Coral Strand Hotel Tel: +248 462 10 00, Fax: +248 424 75 17 E-mail: info@coralstrand.sc

Berjaye Beau Vallou

La Scala Restaurant

Tel: +248 424 75 35 Fax: +248 424 79 02 E-mail: silscala@seychelles.net

The Sea Shell

Tel: +248 428 72 87

Port Launay Tel: +248 4324026/2523968

SOUTH ASIAN

Uncle Will’s Pizzeria

Kannel

Four Seasons Resort Tel: +248 4393 000 ext. 1902 E-mail: Restaurants-Reservation.SEY@ fourseasons.com

JAPANESE Teppanyaki

Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Beach Resort & Casino Tel: +248 428 72 87 , Fax: +248 424 79 43 E-mail: bhrseysm@berjayaseychelles.com

INTERNATIONAL/CREOLE Anchor Cafe

Anse a la Mouche, Mahé Tel: +248 437 12 89, Fax: +248 437 17 53 E-mail: keith@seychelles.net

Au Jardin D’Epices

Banyan Tree Seychelles Tel: +248 438 35 00, Fax: +248 438 36 00 E-mail: reservations@banyantree.com

Aubergine Restaurant

The Wharf Hotel & Marina Providence, Mahé Tel: +248 467 07 00, Fax: +248 460 17 00 E-mail: thewharf@seychelles.net

Coco D’Or Hotel Tel: +248 424 73 31 Fax: +248 424 74 54 E-mail: cocodor@seychelles.sc

Lounge 8

Vista bay Glacis, Mahe Mobile: +248 2746808

Fairyland Restaurant

Pointe au Sel, Mahé Tel: +248 437 17 00 Fax: +248 437 16 10 E-mail: fairylan@seychelles.net

Green Valley

Anse aux Pins Tel: +248 437 1670

The Hilltop Restaurant

Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa PO Tel: +248 429 90 00 Fax: +248 429 90 03 E-mail: reservations@thenortholmehotel.com

Jolie Rose 2 Restaurant

Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market Tel: +248 422 54 51

Le Jardin du Roi

Domaine de L’enfoncement Anse Royale Tel: +248 437 13 13 Fax: +248 437 13 66 E-mail: brymich@seychelles.net

Le Mangrovia Restaurant

Le Meridien Barbarons Tel: +248 467 30 00 Fax: +248 467 33 80 E-mail: reservation.barbarons@lemeridien.sc

Le Rendez-vous Restaurant

1st Floor, Victoria House Victoria, Mahé Tel: +248 432 35 56 Fax: +248 432 32 16 E-mail: patti@seychelles.net

Le Surmer Restaurant

Le Surmer Hotel Pointe Conan, Mahé Tel: +248 424 18 11 Fax: +248 424 15 27 E-mail: lesurmer@seychelles.net

Les Cocotiers Restaurant

Tel: +248 429 90 00 Fax: +248 429 90 01 E-mail: reservations@thenortholmehotel.com

Maia

Luxury Resort & Spa Tel: +248 4390 000 E-mail: reservations@southernsun.sc

Manresa Restaurant Manresa Small Hotel Tel: +248 424 13 88 Fax: +248 424 13 88

Montezuma Restaurant

Beau Vallon, Mahé Tel: +248 424 71 67 / 258 38 68

Anse Royale Mahé Tel: +248 436 16 80 E-mail: chefinparadise@hotmail.com

Mahé Beach Resort Port Glaud Mahé Tel: +248 438 53 85 Fax: +248 437 81 17 E-mail: bmbsm@seychelles.net

Beach Side Bistro

La Cocoteraie Restaurant

The Parrot

Baobab Pizzeria Restaurant

Coral Strand Hotel PO Tel: +248 462 10 00, Fax: +248 424 75 17 E-mail: info@coralstrand.sc

Bel Air Restaurant

Hotel Bel Air Bel Air, Mahé Tel: +248 422 44 16, Fax: +248 422 49 23 E-mail: belair@seychelles.net

Bravo

Eden Island Tel: +248 4346 020 bravo@seychelles.net

Carefree Guesthouse & Restaurant Anse Aux Pins Mahé Tel: +248 437 52 37, Fax: +248 437 56 54 E-mail: honey@seychelles.net

Chez Plume Resturant

Kaz Kreol Restaurant

Le Meridien Barbarons Hotel Tel: +248 467 30 00 Fax: +248 467 33 80 E-mail: reservation.barbarons@lemeridien.sc

Berjaya Beau Vallon Tel: +248 428 72 87 E-mail: bhrseysm@berjayaseychelles.com

La Palma Restaurant

Eden Island Tel: +248 443 63 03

Coco D’Or Hotel PO Tel: +248 424 73 31 Fax: +248 424 74 54 E-mail: cocodor@seychelles.sc

Tel: +248 422 50 01 Fax: +248 422 44 50 E-mail: pirates@seychelles.sc

La Plage Restaurant

Pizzeria Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay

Tel: +248 432010

Beau Vallon Beach Tel: +248 4620290

La Perle Noire Restaurant

Beau Vallon Tel: +248 462 02 20, Fax: +248 462 02 01 perlnoir@seychelles.net

Docklands Pizzeria

La Voliere

Doubleclick Seychelles

Lazare Picault Restaurant

Maison La-Rosiere Palm Street Tel: +248 461 05 90, Fax: +248 461 05 91 E-mail: bureau@seychelles.net

Helios Restaurant

Constance Ephilia Resort Tel: +248 4395 001 info@ephiliaresort.com

Kaz Zenana

Revolution Avenue Tel: +248 4324150

Konoba Restaurant Bar Launge

Angel Fish Bayside Marina Tel: +248 4345 400, contact@konoba.sc

Pirates Arms

La Plaine St Andre

Tel: +248 435 50 50, Fax: 248 435 50 33 E-mail: plume@seychelles.net New Port -Victoria Tel: +248 4610 888

The Board Walk Lounge & Bar

Mahé Beach Resort Tel: +248 438 53 85, Fax: +248 437 81 17 E-mail: bmbsm@seychelles.net Lazare Picault Hotel Tel: +248 436 11 11, Fax: +248 436 11 77 E-mail: lazarpco@seychelles.net

Le Bourgeois Restaurant

(Fisherman’s Cove) c/o Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove Tel: +248 467 70 00 Fax: +248 462 09 00 / 01 E-mail: reservations@lemeridien.sc

Le Cardinal Restaurant

c/o Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove Tel: +248 467 70 00 Fax: +248 462 09 00 / 01 E-mail: reservations@lemeridien.sc

Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino Tel: +248 28 472 87 Fax: +248 424 79 43 E-mail: bhrseysm@berjayaseychelles.com

Saffron

Banyan Tree Seychelles Tel: +248 438 35 00 Fax: +248 438 36 00 E-mail: reservations@banyantree.com

Sam’s Pizzeria

Francis Rachel Street, Victoria, Mahé Tel: +248 432 24 99 / 32 34 95 Fax: + 248 432 43 59 E-mail: sulemane@seychelles.net

Seselwa Bar

Constance Ephilia Resort Tel: +248 4395 001 info@ephiliaresort.com

Sea View Restaurant Coral Strand Tel: 248 421000 Mail@coralstrand.sc

Diner a l Extérieur

Silhouette Restaurant

Sunset Beach Resort Tel: +248 426 11 11 , Fax: +248 426 12 21 E-mail: sunset@seychelles.net

Skychef LTD

Seychelles International Airport Tel: +248 438 17 50 Fax: +248 437 34 56 E-mail: skychef@seychelles.net

Sundown Restaurant Port Glaud, Mahé Tel: +248 437 83 52 Fax: +248 437 83 52

Surfers beach restaurant Anse Parnell Tel: +248 278 3703

Takamaka Restaurant

Takamaka Residence Tel: +248 436 60 49 Fax: +248 436 63 03 E-mail: infobox@seychelleshotel.com

The Sea Shell

Port Launay Tel: +248 4324026/ 2523968

Black Parrot Restaurant

Black Parrot Suites Anse Bois de Rose, Praslin Tel: +248 429 05 55 Fax: +248 429 04 40 E-mail: cocodeme@seychelles.net

Bonbon Plume

Anse Lazio, Praslin Tel: +248 423 21 36 Fax: +248 423 22 77

Bonm Ange

Hotel L’Archipel Anse Gouvernement, Praslin Tel: +248 428 47 00, Fax: +248 423 20 72 E-mail: archipel@seychelles.net

Britannia Restaurant

Britannia Hotel Grand Anse, Praslin Tel: +248 423 32 15 / 423 39 15 Fax: +248 423 39 44 E-mail: britania@seychelles.net

Chateau de Feuilles

Pointe Cabris, Praslin Tel: +248 429 00 00 Fax: +248 429 00 29 E-mail: info@chateaudefeuilles.com

Feuille d’Or Tyfoo Restaurant

La Plaine St. Andre Au cap, Mahé Tel: +248 437 14 85

Vye Marmit

Domaine de Val de Pres Au Cap, Mahé Tel: +248 437 61 55 / 437 61 00 Fax: +248 437 61 18

Zez Lounge

Hotel L’Archipel Anse Gouvernement, Praslin Tel: +248 428 47 00 Fax: +248 423 20 72 E-mail: archipel@seychelles.net

The Fregate

Berjaya Praslin Beach Hotel Anse Volbert, Praslin Tel: +248 428 62 86, Fax: +248 423 22 44 E-mail: bpbres@berjayaseychelles.com

Four Seasons Resort Tel+248 4393222 Email: Restaurants-Reservation.SEY@ fourseasons.com

The Britania

RESTAURANTS – PRASLIN CREOLE

Coco de Mer Hotel Anse Bois de Rose, Praslin Tel: +248 429 05 55 , Fax: +248 429 04 40 E-mail: cocodeme@seychelles.net

Capricorn Restaurant

Islanders Guesthouse Anse Kerlan, Praslin Tel: +248 423 32 24 Fax: +248 423 31 54 E-mail: islander@seychelles.net

Coco Rouge

Baie Ste Anne, Praslin Tel: +248 423 22 28

Le Chevalier Bay Restaurant

Anse Lazio, Praslin Tel: +248 423 23 22 , Fax: +248 423 23 22 E-mail: chevalierbay@seychelles.sc

Les Lauriers Restaurant

Les Lauriers Petit Hotel Cote d’Or, Praslin Tel: +248 423 22 41 Fax: +248 423 23 62 E-mail: laurier@seychelles.net

INTERNATIONAL/CREOLE Acajou Hotel Restaurant

Cote d’Or Praslin Tel: +248 423 24 00, Fax: +248 423 24 01 E-mail: acajou@seychelles.net

Beach Bar and Grill

Lemuria Resort Anse Kerlan, Praslin Tel: +248 428 10 91, Fax: +248 428 10 01 E-mail: fnbmgr@lemuriaresort.com

Beach Bar Restaurant

Acajou Hotel Cote d’Or, Praslin Tel: +248 423 24 00, Fax: +248 423 24 01 E-mail: acajou@seychelles.net

Grand Anse Tel: +248 423 32 15

Hibiscus Restaurant

Indian Ocean Lodge

Grand Anse, Praslin Tel: +248 423 33 24 / 23 34 57 Fax: +248 423 39 11 E-mail: iol@seychelles.net

The Jetty Restaurant

La Reserve Hotel Anse Petite Cour, Praslin Tel: +248 429 80 00, Fax: +248 423 21 66 E-mail: resa@lareserve.sc

The Jetty Restaurant

La Reserve Hotel Anse Petite Cour, Praslin Tel: +248 429 80 00, Fax: +248 423 21 66 E-mail: resa@lareserve.sc

Kannel restaurant

Four Seasons Resort Seychelles Tel+248 4393222 Email: Restaurants-Reservation.SEY@ fourseasons.com

Le Beach Restaurant

Paradise Sun Hotel Anse Volbert, Praslin Tel: +248 429 32 93 Fax: +248 423 20 19 E-mail: paradise@seychelles.net

Le Dauphin

Hotel Le Duc de Praslin Baie Ste. Anne, Praslin Tel: +248 423 22 52 Fax: +248 423 23 55 E-mail: leduc@seychelles.net

Le Kato Noir

Palm Beach Hotel Grande Anse, Praslin Tel: +248 429 02 90/429 02 92 Fax: +248 423 30 90 E-mail: palmbeach@seychelles.sc

Legend Restaurant

Lemuria Resort Anse Kerlan, Praslin Tel: +248 428 10 88 Fax: +248 428 10 01 E-mail: fnbmgr@lemuriaresort.com

Octopus Diving Center Berjaya Praslin Beach Hotel Anse Volbert, Praslin Tel/Fax: +248 423 26 02 Tel Hotel: +248 423 22 22 Mobile: +248 271 54 41 E-mail: bpbfc@seychelles.net

Pool Deck Restaurant

Lemuria Resort Anse Kerlan, Praslin Tel: +248 428 10 88, Fax: +248 428 10 01 E-mail: fnbmgr@lemuriaresort.com

Pool Grill Restaurant

La Reserve Anse Petit Cour, Praslin Tel: +248 429 80 00 Fax: +248 423 21 66 E-mail: resa@lareserve.sc

Port Side Cafe

Address: Baie Ste. Anne Jetty, Praslin Tel: +248 271 28 00 / 276 64 00

Sea Horse Restaurant & Bar

Lemuria Resort Anse Kerlan, Praslin Tel: +248 428 12 43 Fax: +248 428 10 01 E-mail: resa@lemuriaresort.com

Tante Mimi Restaurant

Cote d’Or, Praslin Tel: +248 423 25 00 Fax: +248 423 25 03 E-mail: desisles@seychelles.net

Touchdown Restaurant Amitie Airport Praslin Tel: +248 423 36 55 Fax: +248 423 35 66

Village de Pecheur Praslin Tel: +248 423 20 00

RESTAURANTS LA DIGUE CREOLE Bernique

Anse Reunion Tel: +248 423 42 29

Patatran Restaurant

Patatran Village Anse Patates, La Digue Tel: +248 429 43 00, Fax: +248 429 43 90 E-mail: patatran@seychelles.net

Tournesol

Tournesol Guesthouse La Passe, La Digue Tel: +248 423 41 55 , Fax: +248 423 43 64 E-mail: tournesol@seychelles.sc

Villa Authentique Restaurant & Bar Villa Authentique La Passe, La Digue Tel: +248 423 44 13,Fax: +248 423 44 13

Villa Mon Reve

Anse Reunion, La Digue Tel: +248 423 42 18 , Fax: +248 423 42 18 E-mail: vmonreve@hotmail.com

Zerof Restaurant

Anse Reunion, La Digue Tel: +248 423 44 39, Fax: +248 423 40 67

INTERNATIONAL/CREOLE Cafe Le Monde

Grand Anse Tel: +248 274 22 65/ 278 11 21

Cafe Le Monde

Baie St Anne Tel: +248 423 21 11

Chateau St Cloud

La Passe, La Digue Tel: +248 423 43 46, Fax: +248 423 45 45 E-mail: stcloud@seychelles.net

La Vanille

Anse La Blague Tel: +248 423 21 78

La Digue Island Lodge Anse Reunion Tel: +248 429 25 25

L’Ocean

Anse Patates Tel: +248 423 43 33

Pool Side Restaurant

La Digue Island Lodge Anse Reunion, La Digue Tel: +248 429 25 25 Fax: +248 423 41 32 E-mail: reservation@ladigue.sc

Pecheur Restaurant

La Digue Island Lodge Anse Reunion, La Digue Tel: +248 429 25 25, Fax: +248 423 41 32 E-mail: reservation@ladigue.sc

Restaurant Le Dauphin C/o Le de Praslin Hotel Tel: +248 429 48 00

Restaurant Patatran

Hotel L’Ocean Anse Patates, La Digue Tel: +248 423 41 80, Fax: +248 423 43 08 E-mail: hocean@seychelles.net

Tarosa Restaurant

La Passe, La Digue Tel: +248 423 44 07, Fax: +248 423 43 44 E-mail: patatran@seychelles.net

PIZZERIA/CAFE-BAR Gregoire’s comples Tel: +248 429 25 25

SEA FOOD

Cafe Des Arts

Cote d’Or Tel: +248 423 21 70

RESTAURANTS OTHER ISLANDS CREOLE Jolly Roger’s

Moyenne Island Tel: +248 429 70 00, Fax: +248 422 58 17 E-mail: info@creoletravelservices.sc

INTERNATIONAL/CREOLE L’habitation Restaurant

Tel: +248 432 31 11, Fax: +248 432 13 08 E-mail: habicerf@seychelles.net

Please send updated information to creative@camerapix.co.ke

English- Creole

Hello How are you?

I am well Thank you Very much Goodbye Hotel Room Bed Food Coffee Beer Cold Hot Tea Meat Fish Bread Butter Sugar Salt Bad Today Tomorrow Now Quickly Slowly Hospital Police Mr. Mrs. Miss.

I

Bonzour Konman Sava?

Byen Mersi Mersi Mersi bokou orevwar Lotel Lasanm Lili Manze Kafe Labyer Fre So Dite Lavyan Pwason Dipen Diber Disik Disel Pa bon Ozordi Demen Konmela Vitman Dousman Lopital Gard Msye Madanm Manmzel Mon

You’re welcome

Where do you come from I come from.......

What is your name?

My name is....

Can you speak Kreol?

Only a little I would like to learn more How do you find Seychelles?

I like it here The weather is hot, isn’t it?

Where are you going?

I am going to...

Please stop here How much?

Wait a minute I have to get change Excuse me Where is the toilet?

In the back Where may I get a drink?

You He, She We They What?

Who? Where?

When?

How? Why? Which?

Yes No To eat To drink To sleep To bathe To come To go To stop To buy To sell Street/road Airport Shop Money Cent One Two Three Four Five Six

Pa dekwa Kote ou sorti?

Mon sorti......

Ki mannyer ou apele?

Mon apel.....

Ou kabab koz Kreol?

Zis en pe Mon oule apran ankor Ki mannyer ou war Sesel?

Mon kontan isi Sesel Letan i so, wi?

Kote ou pe ale?

Mon pe al......

Aret isi silvouple Konbyen?

Esper mwan en pti moman Fodre mon ganny larzan sanze Ekskize Kote kabinen i ete sivouple?

Deryer lakour Kote mon kapab ganny en keksoz pou bwar?

Ou Li Nou Zot Kwa? /Ki? Ki? /Lekel?

Kote?

Kan? Ki mannyer?

Akoz?

Lekel?

Wi Non Manze Bwar Dormir Bennyen/Naze Vini Ale Arete Aste Vann Lari/Semen Erport Laboutik Larzan Sou Enn De Trwa Kat Senk Sis

Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen Nineteen Twenty Twenty-one Twenty-two Twenty-three Twenty-four Twenty-five Thirty Forty Fifty Sixty Seventy Eighty Ninety One hundred Where is the hotel?

Good morning Good afternoon Good evening Please come in

Please sit down

How much does this cost?

That’s quite expensive Help!

No, thanks Please You’re welcome No problem Ok That’s right!

A little bit Is everything ok?

Not now Attention/watch out!

We are looking for...

I’m very thirsty I am hungry Where are we?

How old are you?

What do you need?

What do they call that in Creole?

How do they say... in creole?

Set Wit Nef Dis Onz Douz Trez Katorz Kenz Sez Diset Dizwit Diznef Ven Venteen Vennde Venntwa Vennkat Vennsenk Trant Karant Senkant Swasant Swasanndis Katreven Katrevendis San Kote lotel i ete silvouple?

Bonzour Bonnapremidi Bonswar Antre silvouple Asize silvouple

Konbyen i vann?

I ase ser Ed mwan! / O Sekour!

Non, mersi Silvouple Pa-de-kwa Napa problenm oke Wi i bien!

Piti piti Tou keksoz i oke?

Pa kounye-a Atansyon!

Nou pe rod Mon swaf Mon lafen Kote nou ete?

Ki laz ou anan?

Ki ou bezwen?

Koman zot dir sa an Kreol?

Koman zot dir an Kreol ?

K i d s Co r n e r © Cecilia W. Gaitho

Brer Soungoula and Tortoise

O

nce upon a time, there lived Mr. Tortoise and Mr. Brer Soungoula who lived in a jungle.

They were great friends who often walked together to the river to drink water and to fetch firewood and other things for their livelihood.

One day while walking to the river, Mr. Brer Soungoula challenged Mr. Tortoise saying “Why do you walk so slowly? Do you know I am faster than the wind?” he boasted to Mr. Tortoise who gracefully answered Mr. Brer Soungoula saying, “My reason for walking at this speed is for protection against those who are keen to see me die quickly; in fact I am capable of walking faster than you. Why don’t you test me? Let us have a walking race,” suggested Mr. Tortoise. Mr. Brer Soungoula, confident that he would win the race, quickly agreed to the challenge.

And so the two arranged for a day to hold a walking race that would determine who the winner of the race will be. They also agreed to invite all the animals of the jungle to witness the race. And so they invited Mr. Lion and Mr. Hyena to modulate the event.

Elephant and buffalo were placed at various points of the race to be witnesses to the event. Another thing they arranged was the cheerleaders who would cheer them on in the race and all birds were invited to join the cheering squad. Soon there was great excitement in the jungle as the animals anticipated the big race between Mr. Tortoise and Mr. Brer Soungoula.

As they continued to plan for the walking race, they determined the course of the race to be a full five kilometres to the river but passing through a slightly swampy field near the finish line. The race began one fine morning two weeks after agreeing to the challenge. Mr. Lion was the one who rang the gong for the race to begin. And in no time Mr. Brer Soungoula zoomed past Mr. Tortoise and off he ran to the tallest tree near the swamp with the cheering squad of birds singing and flying along with him. Once he

reached near the swamp he slowed down and took a break under the tall tree to rest for a while because he knew Mr. Tortoise would require many hours to reach near the swamp.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tortoise walked on slowly yet surely with each step put forth with confidence and great humility. And the other animals cheered him on with the race. However, a few animals quickly went forth to investigate where Mr. Brer Soungoula had reached, and they reported to one another what they considered great news, that Mr. Brer Soungoula is resting under a tree. Soon Mr. Brer Soungoula was heard snoring from a distance by Mr. Hyena and other animals who stood at the finish line waiting for the winner to emerge, and they were puzzled at the loud snoring of Mr. Brer Soungoula. “Well, I think Mr. Brer Soungoula is very exhausted with the race, but he has run very fast and within a short time”, they murmured among themselves.

Mr. Brer Soungoula continued to sleep while Mr. Tortoise continued to walk. Soon Mr. Tortoise reached Mr. Brer Soungoula and walked faster to the swampy area and towards the finish line while Mr. Brer Soungoula continued to sleep. And alas! He finished the race while Mr. Brer Soungoula was still sleeping and snoring. With all animals cheering the winner, Mr. Lion embraced Mr. Tortoise and began a great feast of merry making and singing which woke poor Mr. Brer Soungoula from his slumber and he began to run towards the finish line where a party was going on. To his amazement he found Mr. Tortoise celebrating his victory with all the other animals of the jungle.

Defeated, downcast and embarrassed Mr. Brer Soungoula hid himself and never again attempted to mock the speed of his friend Mr. Tortoise. To this day, he still attempts to win many unarranged races with other animals to prove that he is truly a fast animal.

Crossword & Sudoku

Take time and relax ... have some fun testing your wit!

Clues across 1 A party and a hit (4) 4 Comes from the sea and soaks up liquid (6) 8 Drink from this (3) 10 A keen diva? (4) 13 Famous old Paris prison (8) 14 Narrowing towards a point (7) 15 Long angry speech (6) 17 Military uniform for formal occasions (4, 5) 21 Consume (3) 22 Eggs (3) 23 In between (3) 26 Right side of a ship (9) 27 Glamorous hair ornaments (6) 28 Get back (7) 32 Something to hang clothes on (4, 4) 34 Uncommon (4) 35 Containing moisture (3) 36 Sailing vessels (6) 37 A plant grows from this (4)

3

2

1

8 10

11

12

4

5

7

6

9 13

14 15 17

18

19

21

16

20

22

23

24

26

25 27

28 32

29

31

30

33

34 35 37

36

Clues down Answers down 1. Brat 2. Skip 3. Tube 5. Patois 6. Nil 7. Eleven 9. Pad 11. Value 12. Dealt 15. Tsar 16. Aria 18. Lava 19. Rots 20. Eva 23. Motor 24. Drier 25. Stocky 26. Sachet 28. Row 29. Eked 30. Vase 31. Read 33. Arc Answers across 1. Bash 4. Sponge 8. Cup 10. Avid 13. Bastille 14. Tapered 15. Tirade 17. Full dress 21. Eat 22. Ova 23. Mid 26. Starboard 27. Tiaras 28. Recover 32. Coat hook 34. Rare 35. Wet 36. Yachts 37. Seed

1 Unruly child (4) 2 Hop or miss out (4) 3 e.g. Metro (4) 5 Local dialect (6) 6 Nothing (3) 7 A soccer side (6) 9 Thick piece of soft cloth (3) 11 Worth (5) 12 Gave out – as in card game (5) 15 Old Russian ruler (4) 16 Operatic song (4) 18 Volcanic substance (4) 19 Decays (4) 20 Girl from Nevada? (3) 23 Engine (5) 24 Less wet (5) 25 Thick-set (6) 26 Small sealed envelope (6) 28 Noisy argument (3) 29 Stretched out (4) 30 Container – e.g for flowers (4) 31 Comprehend written words (4) 33 Curve (3)

Sudoku Place a number from 1 to 9 in every empty cell so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains all the numbers from 1 to 9. No number can appear twice in a row, column or 3x3 box. Do not guess – you can work it out by a process of elimination.

Good luck!

2

1

7 3

9 3

4

9

1 5 8 4 3 2

7 9 4

7

5 2

6

3 6 4 9 8 5 6 1 9 2 4 3 2 7

WE WANT YOUR VIEWS!

We aim to keep Silhouette as interesting and informative as possible to a wide cross-section of readers. Please let us have your views on the contents of this magazine. What do you like about it? Is there anything that you do not like? Are there any topics that you would like to see more of? With your feedback we can make the magazine even better in future.

Please drop a line to the publishers: Camerapix Magazines Ltd. Email: rukhsana@camerapix.co.ke or camerapixuk@btinternet.com Thank you.

Rukhsana Haq, Editorial Director

5

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