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SILHOUETTE THE IN-FLIGHT MAGAZINE OF AIR SEYCHELLES VOLUME 25 NUMBER 2

NOW YOU'RE BETTER CONNECTED

Etihad Airways, the World’s Leading Airline*, is proud of its strategic partnership with Air Seychelles, Seychelles premier international airline, extending Etihad Airways’ network to include Praslin and Hong Kong (operated by Air Seychelles). Together, the partnership offers guests easy access to over 103 destinations. Guests will also benefit from a fully integrated frequent flyer programme that allows members of Etihad Guest to earn and redeem miles across both airlines. *2013 World Travel Awards

airseychelles.com

etihad.com

Dear Guest, Welcome on board our four-star airline!

I am delighted to be the new Chief Executive Officer of this remarkable airline and very proud and grateful to work alongside a tremendous team of dedicated staff whose mission is only to serve you, our esteemed guest and to offer you the best experience on your carrier of choice to the destination of your dream.

We have announced a second consecutive year of profitability, signifying the success of our turnaround strategy as well as the synergies derived from working with our equity partner, Etihad Airways.

We intend to continue this programme of growth and excellence in order to serve you better in ultra-comfort and luxury. The future is all about growing our operations, launching new routes, taking delivery of new aircraft, and expanding our airline partnerships.

As we continue to expand our network, we will very soon announce the 2014 summer launch date for a twice-weekly service to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on our Airbus A330-200, offering a same seat, same plane service from Paris to Seychelles, with a brief stopover in Abu Dhabi.

Other new routes will also be launched in the third Quarter.

Very soon we will also announce new codeshare partnership.

This shows the continuing attraction of the Seychelles as an inbound destination for our partners in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Asia.

We expect to see more revenue growth from our partners, both new and current.

We have recently signed an agreement with the Vanilla Islands to develop better connections between the islands of the Indian Ocean.

Air Seychelles’ regional presence will be dramatically expanded, providing travellers within, to and through the Indian Ocean with more choice, more options and greater flexibility.

As we continue to invest in our product, I am particularly pleased to announce that we will be taking delivery of two of our three brand new Twin Otter DHC6-400 aircraft one year ahead in mid-summer 2014 with the third one arriving in mid-2015. The new aircraft will replace our three existing DHC-6 Series 300 Twin Otters and will offer enhanced levels of comfort on your journeys between the islands.

We have recently launched our first ever domestic all-cargo operation – an exciting addition to domestic business, one that we are confident will boost local tourism and encourage more transshipment cargo to Seychelles.

A new dish called the ‘Creole speciality dish’ for each season has been introduced in business class. This is in our effort to promote the superb unique Seychellois cuisine and Seychellois chefs. This season we are thrilled to offer you the famous ‘Red snapper with passion fruit’, dish created by La Plaine St Andre restaurant.

In just two years, we have rebuilt our national carrier, strengthened our partnerships with Etihad Airways, and beyond delivering good results for the airline, we have helped grow Seychelles tourism in the process-one of our core objectives.

Esteemed guest, our success would not have been possible without you. We wish to thank you for choosing Air Seychelles and for your continued loyalty. With your support, we aim to become the best airline in Africa with the best in-flight crew. Your feedback is crucial for us, please let us know about your experience flying with us and hope this flight remains a memorable one for you.

Cher Client, Bienvenue à bord de notre compagnie aérienne quatre étoiles!

Je suis ravi d’être le nouveau ‘Chief Executive Officer’ de cette remarquable compagnie et je très fier et reconnaissant de travailler avec une formidable équipe d’employés dévoués dont la mission est principalement de vous servir et de vous offrir la meilleure expérience vers la destination de vos rêves à bord de votre compagnie préférée.

Pendant deux années consécutives, nous avons annoncé une bonne rentabilité, confirmant ainsi le succès de notre stratégie de redressement ainsi que les synergies de notre collaboration avec notre partenaire, Etihad Airways.

Notre nouvel objectif est de poursuivre ce programme de croissance et d’excellence afin de mieux vous servir avec encore plus de confort et de luxe. Notre avenir dépend de la croissance de nos opérations, du lancement de nouvelles dessertes, de l’achat et de la réception de nouveaux avions, et de l’expansion des partenariats avec d’autres compagnies aériennes.

Nous continuons à développer notre réseau et très bientôt nous allons annoncer la date du lancement d’un service bihebdomadaire dès l’été 2014 vers Paris Charles de Gaulle à bord de notre Airbus A330-200. Nous offrirons le même nombre de places et le même service à bord de Paris aux Seychelles, avec une brève escale à Abu Dhabi.

D’autres nouvelles dessertes entreront en opération durant le troisième trimestre.

Très bientôt, nous allons annoncer un nouveau partenariat de partage de code, ce qui démontre l’attrait continuel de la destination Seychelles pour nos partenaires en Europe, en Asie, au Moyen-Orient et en Asie.

Nous nous attendons à une plus grande croissance de nos chiffres d’affaires de nos partenaires actuels et à venir.

Nous avons récemment signé un accord avec les Iles Vanilles pour mieux développer les liaisons entre les îles de l’Océan Indien. La présence régionale d’Air Seychelles sera considérablement renforcée, offrant aux voyageurs plus de choix, plus d’options et une plus grande flexibilité lors de leurs trajets vers l’océan indien et à travers l’espace indiaocéanique.

Alors que nous continuons à investir dans notre produit, je suis particulièrement heureux d’annoncer que nous allons prendre livraison de deux des trois nouveaux avions ‘Twin Otter DHC6-400’ durant l’été 2014, un an avant la date prévue de livraison de la commande. Le troisième appareil arrivera vers mi-2015. Le nouveaux avions remplaceront nos trois ‘Twin Otter DHC-6 séries 300’ existants et offriront un confort accru sur nos lignes inter-îles.

Nous avons récemment lancé notre premier service domestique tout-cargo une opération supplémentaire intéressante sur le plan local qui, nous en sommes confiants, va stimuler le tourisme local et encourager plus de fret en transbordement vers les Seychelles.

En ce qu’il s’agit du service à bord, nous offrons désormais, dans la classe affaires, ‘la spécialité créole’, un plat particulier en fonction des saisons afin de promouvoir la cuisine et les Chefs des Seychelles. Durant la présente saison, nous sommes heureux de vous offrir le fameux ‘bourgeois aux fruits de la passion’ créé au restaurant de La Plaine St André.

En seulement deux ans, nous avons reconstruit notre compagnie aérienne nationale, renforcé nos partenariats avec Etihad Airways, et, au-delà des bons résultats financiers pour la compagnie, nous avons aussi contribué à la croissance du tourisme aux Seychelles, ce qui constitue un de nos principaux objectifs.

Cher client, notre succès n’aurait pas été possible sans vous. Nous tenons à vous remercier d’avoir choisi Air Seychelles et de votre fidélité. Avec votre soutien, nous voulons devenir la meilleure compagnie aérienne en Afrique avec le meilleur personnel de bord. Comme vos commentaires sont très importants pour nous, nous vous prions de nous faire part de votre expérience de voyage avec nous.

Nous espérons que ce vol demeurera un moment inoubliable pour vous.

Thank you and we look forward to welcoming you on board again soon.

En vous remerciant, nous espérons bientôt vous revoir à bord.

Bon Voyage Manoj Papa Chief Executive Officer Directeur Général

SILHOUETTE VOLUME 25 NUMBER 2

Photo courtesy of Air Seychelles

THE IN-FLIGHT MAGAZINE OF AIR SEYCHELLES

Contents

Carnaval International de Victoria

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Air Seychelles Helps to Expand Seychelles’ Carnival & Vanilla Islands

The Carnival event, sponsored by Air Seychelles, has become a catalyst for unprecedented regional cooperation to market collectively the south-western Indian Ocean region as a tourism destination.

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Copenhagen

Explore the most liveable city in the world and with a reputation for also being the coolest, most cosmopolitan, most exciting, most wonderful city in Scandinavia!

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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

Lovely La Digue The lack of traffic, easy pace of life, the perfect scenery and not least, the complete absence of tarmac, has made La Digue famous.

The World’s Greenest City Discover an emerging global hub for renewable energy and clean technologies; a place where businesses can thrive and innovation can flourish.

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

© 2014 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 • 71 • 75 • 80

CEO Foreword Discover Seychelles Map of Mahé English - Creole

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4 Welcome Aboard 68 Guest Feedback 72 International Route Map 76 Travel Facts

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8 News 70 Healthy Travel 74 World Wide Offices 78 Dining Out

Crossword

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The Little Chapel on the Hill

There is a charming little sanctuary hidden high on a wooded hill far away from Victoria - a quaint melancholy enigma of elegiac beauty.

A Silk Tale We uncover the story of this extraordinary fabric, prized for centuries for its delicate and luxurious quality.

An American in Mauritius Mark Twain was a truly amazing man, a real ‘fish out of water’ who found his place in life and society through his great writing and his adventurous spirit.

Tips for Getting the Best out of your Golf Holiday There are many factors that go into creating the perfect golf holiday.

Vallée de Mai: 30 Years of Discovery With enhanced visitor services and effective conservation management the Vallée de Mai has become a world class tourist attraction.

Keeping Seychelles Clean Why is the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle implementation given so much importance?

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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.

exploring new horizons

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Available at: Kenwyn House,Victoria • Mahe International Airport • Praslin Domestic Airport • Ephelia Resort & Spa • North Island • Fregate Island Private • Kempinski Resort & Spa • Eden Island Commercial Centre. www.islandjouel.com • tel: +248 4224440 • fax: +248 4224430

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News

Manoj Papa Succeeds Cramer Ball as Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles Air Seychelles has appointed Manoj Papa as its new Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Cramer Ball, who spent two fruitful years at the helm of Air Seychelles.

Mr. Papa joins from South African Airways, where he held the position of Acting General Manager: Commercial, overseeing the entire commercial portfolio for the airline. As part of this he was instrumental in developing the Long Term Turnaround Strategy for SAA. He joined Etihad Airways in 2007, later serving as Vice President Corporate Strategy until he returned to South African Airways in 2012.

Joël Morgan, the Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs and Transport and Chairman of Air Seychelles, welcomed the appointment of Mr. Papa and said: “I put on record our grateful thanks to Cramer Ball, who has been instrumental in revitalising our national carrier. Cramer was seconded to Air Seychelles in January 2012 as part of a partnership in which Etihad Airways acquired 40 per cent of our airline and secured a five-year management contract. He took us into profitability in his first year of leadership and has rebuilt the foundations of this proud airline.”

Mr. Ball said the progress of Air Seychelles in two years was testament to the commitment of the employees and the support and trust of the Government.

“We have not only turned around the airline, but we have created the foundations for a very bright future for our staff and future generations of Seychellois,” said Mr. Ball. “I will be forever grateful for the support and friendship shown to me by the people of the Seychelles. I would also like to recognise the incredible vision shown by President Michel for laying the foundations of Air Seychelles, and the unwavering support, commitment, foresight and passion of my Chairman, Joël Morgan, in working with me and my team to turn around Air Seychelles and create a strong business with a bright future.”

(Left to right) Kevin Knight, Vice Chairman Air Seychelles; Joël Morgan, Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs and Transport and Air Seychelles Board Chairman; Manoj Papa, Chief Executive Officer, Air Seychelles.

Air Seychelles in Profit for Second Consecutive Year Air Seychelles has announced a net profit of US$3 million for 2013, exceeding by 171 per cent its profit of US$1.1 million reported in 2012. Revenue increased by 107 per cent to US$88.7 million (2012: US$42.8 million).

The airline’s passenger numbers on its international network increased 100 per cent to 195,857 (2012: 97,576), while traffic on domestic services in 2013 increased nine per cent to 156,617 passengers. Cargo volumes flown in 2013 rose by 159 per cent to 5,529 tonnes.

Joël Morgan, Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs and Transport and Air Seychelles Board Chairman, said the 2013 results were a testament to the on-going success of the airline’s turnaround strategy and business plan.

Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles, Manoj Papa, said: “These results are another step forward in our journey as a commercially successful business and come against a backdrop of impressive development in both our domestic and international operations.

Our business is now in good shape for the future, which includes growing our operations, launching new routes, taking delivery of new aircraft, expanding airline partnerships, hiring more Seychellois, and bringing more travellers to the Seychelles”.

At the close of 2013, Air Seychelles employed 629 staff, an increase of 17 per cent over the 536 staff the airline employed in 2012. Of this number, the airline employs 622 Seychellois nationals, 98.8 per cent of the total. The airline recruited 57 cabin crew in 2013, promoted eight domestic pilots to Airbus A330 operations and two domestic pilots were promoted to Captain.

Domestic Fleet Order to Arrive Ahead of Schedule Two of the three aircraft ordered by Air Seychelles from Canada’s Viking Air will arrive in mid-2014, one year ahead of schedule.

Last October Air Seychelles placed an order for three Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft in a multi-million dollar deal which will enable the island carrier to renew its domestic fleet. Deliveries were scheduled for mid-2015, with earlier advancement possible if newly built aircraft became available.

Air Seychelles now plans to welcome the new Twin Otters in June and July, following which, the aircraft will enter into service between Mahé and Praslin, as well as other islands in the archipelago, including Bird, Denis, D’Arros, and Frégate.

The third Twin Otter aircraft is expected to arrive in the third quarter of 2015. All three new aircraft are part of a phased business plan to refresh the Twin Otter DHC6 fleet.

Twin Otters were first introduced by Air Seychelles in the early 1980s and the airline currently operates three DHC-6 Series 300 aircraft and 1 DHC-6 Series 400 aircraft.

8 | Silhouette • Vol 25 No 2 •

The signing of the Vanilla Islands partnership by Cramer Ball, former Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles, and Pascal Viroleau, Chief Executive Officer of the Vanilla Islands Organisation witnessed by Alain St. Ange, Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture.

Air Seychelles Launches All-Cargo Domestic Service Air Seychelles has begun an all-cargo domestic service between the two largest islands of the Seychelles archipelago, Mahé and Praslin.

Operated by Shorts 360 aircraft and specifically timed to connect with flights from Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg, the once per week cargo service will target perishable commodities destined for hotels and other tourism establishments on Praslin.

All shipments destined for Praslin will be customs cleared in Mahé, and consignee trucks on Praslin will be given access to the airport ramp, facilitating fast off-loading and distribution to customers.

The Air Seychelles’ Shorts 360 aircraft has been retrofitted to operate as a mini freighter, and can now carry up to 3,500 kilogrammes of cargo with a volumetric capacity of 37 cubic metres (1,309 cubic feet).

The all-cargo service follows the recent launch of a cargo chiller and freezer facility at the newly refurbished cargo terminal at Seychelles International Airport.

Air Seychelles and Vanilla Islands Sign Partnership Agreement Air Seychelles has signed an agreement with the Vanilla Islands Organisation to increase visitor numbers to the Indian Ocean.

Under the strategic marketing agreement, the signatories will invest in a range of cooperative programmes and products to attract visitors to the Indian Ocean from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Air Seychelles and the Vanilla Island’s marketing messages will be maximised in the partnership and both organisations will benefit from the enhanced presence on each other’s marketing materials.

The Vanilla Islands concept, created in August 2010 under the aegis of the Indian Ocean Commission, aims to unify the islands of Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar, La Reunion, Seychelles, Maldives and Mayotte under one tourism brand while retaining each of the island’s unique selling propositions.

Air Seychelles, the region’s only four star airline, currently operates three services to Mauritius and Johannesburg each per week, seven services per week to Abu Dhabi, and three services to Hong Kong via Abu Dhabi.

Customers can find further details by visiting the cargo section of the Air Seychelles website, by calling Air Seychelles Cargo on +248 4 391 000 or by e-mailing CargoCS@airseychelles.com

Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, Manoj Papa and commercial staff in group photo with the trade partners.

Air Seychelles Celebrates Year of Achievement with Trade Partners Air Seychelles hosted a dinner of appreciation for Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and travel agents in recognition of their loyalty and support during a record-breaking 2013. The reception took place at the Hilton Northolme Resort and Spa. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of certificates and awards.

Air Seychelles’ General Manager Commercial, Justin Gosling, presented certificates to the travel agents and DMCs present.

Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, Manoj Papa, presented awards to the top performers. Winning for top performing travel agent was Mason’s Air Travel, followed by Seashell Travel. Mason’s Travel also secured top performing DMC honours with 7 Degrees South clinching second place.

Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, Manoj Papa flanked by Captain Gabriel and Captain Confait.

Two Seychellois Promoted as Captains Air Seychelles has promoted two pilots on its domestic operations to the rank of Captain. The airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Manoj Papa, presented commander’s bars to Captain Julius Gabriel and Captain Ashley Confait in a ceremony at the Air Seychelles headquarters.

The new Twin Otter Commanders have successfully completed the company’s rigorous Command Upgrade Programme which included training on aircraft technical elements, emergency procedures and Crew Resource Management (CRM), as well as leadership and decision-making.

Mr Papa said: “Attaining the rank of Commander is a major achievement in a pilot’s career, particularly for pilots so young. The Commander’s bars symbolise, for all eyes and for all time, that its wearers have attained the highest degree of airmanship, and we congratulate Captain Gabriel and Captain Confait on their accomplishment.”

• Silhouette • Vol 25 No 2 | 9

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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.

Photo courtesy of Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF)

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.

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Discover Seychelles Les Îles

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 crystalclear water that is especially calm and welcoming. Several hotels on Beau Vallon offer excellent watersports and diving facilities.

Photo courtesy of Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF)

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Discover Seychelles Les Îles

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.

Photo courtesy of Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF)

20

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 Les Îles

23

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 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 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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Ste Anne and its Marine National Park

Sainte Anne et le Parc Marin National

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.

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.

Round Island Praslin

Ronde de 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.

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.

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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

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 Cocode-mer 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.

Photo courtesy of Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF)

Curieuse

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Discover Seychelles The Islands

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.

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.

Photo courtesy of Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF)

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.

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 Fly-Catcher 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.

Ile Denis 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. Havre 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

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.

Les atolls d’Alphonse et de St François 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.

A business Paradise

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eychelles is well-known for having some of the world’s most exceptional scenery. In addition to this, the country has a stable political and social environment, skilled workforce and a modern legal framework that is conducive for investment, all of which makes Seychelles the ideal place to do business.

In 2013, Seychelles was ranked number one in Africa in the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Index, which is a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education, and standards of living for countries worldwide. Seychelles also received the top position for e-Governance in Africa and went on to receive the top spot for the healthiest marine environment among all sovereign countries of the world according to the Ocean Health Index.

Located in the heart of the financial district of Victoria, the Seychelles Investment Board (SIB), which was established in 2004, is the focal point for all investment-related activities, regardless of the amount of capital invested. The Board is known for its business facilitation and business promotion services.

The day-to-day operations of SIB include meeting with potential investors looking to learn more about the various investment opportunities available in Seychelles; receiving submissions of business investment applications and working in close collaboration with other government agencies to facilitate and coordinate the approval process and implementation of the investments.

To start or relocate a business in a foreign market can often be stressful, and it is with this understanding that the SIB has dedicated technical staff to advise and guide incoming investors through the entire process from the initial submission of a business proposal to the final stages of approval.

SIB also advises Government on strategies for investment policies, national investment marketing, economic and industrial planning. The Board also makes recommendations on increasing investments and attaining national economic objectives.

The Seychelles Investment Board also focuses on promoting the offshore finance sector and advises on laws and regulations, trusts, taxation, investment vehicles and company formation. The Board works closely with the Financial Services Authority, which is the regulator for the offshore finance services and Insurance.

The potential of the Seychellois economy is evident from increasing domestic competitiveness, growth and employment levels. The many areas of potential investment which remain largely untapped deliver a clear message: that Seychelles is ripe for further economic development and open to investors.

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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 per cent 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 JeanFrançois 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 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.

Photo courtesy of Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF)

Desroches

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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.

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 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.

Photo courtesy of Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF)

Frégate

Festival

C& arnival Vanilla Islands Air Seychelles helps to expand Seychelles’

by Glynn Burridge

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eychelles has just hosted the 4th edition of the Carnaval International de Victoria between 25th and 27th April 2014, an event to capture the imagination of an increasingly troubled and insecure planet for the way it showcases international goodwill and cooperation between a steadily increasing number of participants.

This year included not only old favourites Notting Hill, Brazil, Dusseldorf, Trinidad & Tobago and many others besides, but also newcomers from even further afield such as Sweden, Bhutan and Mozambique who made full use of this unique opportunity to demonstrate their cultural attributes on the international stage in front of 149 international members of the press, 34 international dignitaries including carnival co-hosts La Reunion island, Madagascar, Mayotte and South Africa KwaZulu-Natal, as well as a total of 26 international and 26 local float delegations. The 3-day spectacle has become a favourite with Seychellois who again turned out in huge numbers to enjoy the carnival extravaganza on offer: live music shows by a range of international artists; food stalls; the famous carnival procession itself and an opportunity to mingle and savour the carnival atmosphere, which this year even included a special Kiddies Carnival.

The carnival kicked off on the evening of Friday, 25th April with the official launch at Victoria’s Stad

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Popiler in the presence of President James Michel, foreign dignitaries, members of government, the local business community and members of the public. After addresses by Minister for Tourism & Culture, Alain St. Ange and the CEO of the Tourism Board, Sherin Naiken in which Seychelles was proudly announced to be in 5th position in the current international carnival rankings, the evening exploded into colour, sound and carnival spirit with lively performances by artists from China, La Reunion, Seychelles, USA, Kwazulu Natal and Sweden among others.

After a threatening start to the next day with storm clouds gathering on the horizon, the long-awaited carnival procession flooded the streets of central Victoria with a kaleidoscope of carnival colour in the form of 52 carnival floats, their members gyrating on the tarmac and returning the soul of the Carnaval International de Victoria to the capital arguably as never before. From Chinese giants on stilts, Alsatian dogs in phosphorescent sunglasses, Miss Seychelles contestants in Hawaiian grass skirts, and Germans parading in period costume to Bhutanese musicians, dazzling Brazilians and another amazing Notting Hill act, once again Seychelles’ carnival of carnivals told the world a story of diversity, harmony and international good will overcoming regional rivalry and blinkered a self-interest. This time around Minister St. Ange used the immortal words of John Lennon to great effect in promoting the carnival and widening its

Photos courtesy of Air Seychelles

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Festival

On the last day, Sunday, the traditional Family Fun Day was replaced by the newly- conceived Kiddies Carnival under the stewardship of international soca queen Lima Calbio in which Bel Eau Primary School came out on top of the competition only slightly

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marred by the rain. After the festivities, huge numbers of people convened in Freedom square to enjoy the twilight of the carnival ambiance and a feast of live performances.

The Carnaval International de Victoria is also acquiring an important international dimension as 2014 saw the event co-hosted by its Vanilla Islands partners, La Reunion and Mayotte as well as South Africa’s Kwazulu Natal. In this respect, the Carnival has become a catalyst for unprecedented regional cooperation, which is acquiring momentum through the Vanilla Islands’ partnership to market collectively the southwestern Indian Ocean region as a tourism

Photo © Seychelles Tourism Board

appeal: “You may say I am a dreamer, but I’m not the only one; I hope one day you’ll join us and the world will be as one.’’ After the carnival procession in which China and Raffles won respectively the contest for the best international and local float, the crowds peeled off to enjoy the many carnival pleasures on offer throughout Victoria in the form of great music, food and entertainment.

Photos courtesy of Air Seychelles

This exciting new dynamic promises to become a further catalyst of progress with the announcement of Air Seychelles’ intention to acquire a narrow-body Airbus A 320 aircraft, opening the door to new regional services to Mumbai, Antananarivo and Mauritius. Complementing this is the new codeshare deal between Air Seychelles and Air Austral on Air Seychelles’ Seychelles – Reunion flights with the possibility of expanding to Madagascar, Mauritius and Mayotte in the future, all of which bode well for the Vanilla Islands vision on this, the 30th anniversary of the Indian Ocean Commission held in Seychelles in January.

destination. This echoes a new tourism philosophy that in today’s highly competitive world, ‘even an island cannot afford to be an island unto itself.’

Showcasing the region, however, pre-supposes some kind of method of transportation that will allow visitors to enjoy the respective attributes of these beautiful islands and it in this respect that both the Vanilla Islands and their flagship event, the Carnaval International de Victoria, have both found a valuable partner in the ambitious Air Seychelles/ Etihad partnership which has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the former while becoming the preferred carrier of the latter.

Meanwhile, Air Seychelles is continuing to flourish, recently securing the coveted 4-star Skytrax rating, making it the only 4-star airline in the Indian Ocean and only one of 36, 4-star airlines globally. It is also growing the capacity with the purchase of three new Twin Otters DHC6-400s from Viking Air, refreshing its domestic product further make the wider suite of Vanilla Islands accessible via services to such renowned island jewels as Denis and Bird.

Powerful support by the Air Seychelles/ Etihad partnership is transforming transportation between the islands like never before and, true to the Creole Spirit which lies at the core of the airline’s identity, Air Seychelles is also helping to ensure the expansion of the spirit of carnival – one of the signature events on its calendar and one resonant with Creole identity, colour and zest.

Photo © Seychelles Tourism Board

The Carnival has become a catalyst for unprecedented regional cooperation.

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Destination

Copenhagen Th e H a p py Capi t al

For thousands of years the Danes were an unstoppable force of warriors, intrepid explorers and pioneering settlers – uniting Scandinavia, discovering America and bringing terror to the shores of Europe, says Peter Holthusen. oday Copenhagen’s history of fire and bloody battles lies hidden behind picturesque streets and colourful harbours.

As the days of conquest passed, Danish power was replaced with a rich cultural legacy of writers, artists and philosophers. The fairytale feel of the city where Hans Christian Andersen wrote is the home of incredible stories and unbelievably true histories: Viking adventurers; pirate-hunting Bishop Absalon; daring World War 2 resistance fighters and much, much more.

Copenhagen (København) has attractions and sights to suit every taste and interest – and most of them are within walking distance of the vibrant city centre.

The three most famous attractions in the city are most likely to be the Tivoli Gardens, the statue of The Little Mermaid, and the ‘freetown’ of Christiania. But Copenhagen has a lot more to offer.

Recently successful television programmes such as Borgen and The Killing may have shown Denmark to a larger audience, but its capital Copenhagen has long been popular with tourists. Although compact, the city centre contains a considerable number of excellent restaurants – not least Noma, often labelled the best restaurant in the world – and an array of regal attractions.

With a recent history that dates back to 1043 the city is full of historic landmarks, significant buildings and an abundance of interesting museums and art galleries. Be sure to visit Amalienborg Palace – the winter residence of the Danish royal family – and wander through the shopping district of Strøget, one of Europe’s longest pedestrian streets with a wealth of shops, from budget-friendly chains to some of the world’s most expensive brands.

The Tivoli Gardens are a must for all children and those who like to play. Located just a few minutes walk from City Hall, and with the Copenhagen Central Station as its nearest neighbour it is very easy to get to. Tivoli is the world’s second oldest amusement park and is one of Copenhagen’s most famous attractions. The gardens

There has never been a better time to visit Copenhagen, for this is one of Europe’s oldest and greatest cities, one that retains its historical and cultural charms

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Fly Air Seychelles to Abu Dhabi to connect on Etihad Airways for Copenhagen For more information visit: www.airseychelles.com

Photos © Peter Holthusen

are filled with wild rides, green oases, gourmet food, concerts and an array of exciting activities for the young and old alike.

In 2013, following a major expansion programme Tivoli opened its doors with the launch of three new rides in a Tycho Brahe themed area. The wildest new ride, Aquila (which is Latin for ‘Eagle’) lets you climb onboard the giant eagle’s back and experience Copenhagen upside down at breakneck speed. Danish amusement park expert Lars Nielsen rates the 4G experience 8 out of 10. The second new ride is not quite as wild. It is a 10 metre tall rotating Star Tower.

The third and last new ride is a redesigned and interactive version of the classic Tivoli ride, The Little Dragon.

At Langelinje Pier you will find one of Copenhagen’s most famous attractions: the sculpture of The Little Mermaid. This iconic landmark, unveiled on 23 August 1913, was a gift from the Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen to the City of Copenhagen and has now celebrated her 100th birthday.

The sculpture is made of bronze and granite and was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s charming fairy tale about a mermaid who gives up everything to be united with a young, handsome prince on land. Every morning and evening she swims to the surface from the bottom of the sea and, perched on her rock in the water, she stares longingly towards the shore hoping to catch a glimpse of her beloved prince.

Christiania, the famous free town of Copenhagen, is without a doubt one of Denmark’s most popular tourist attractions. This controversial area is loved by many, but has been a subject for strong debate, especially because of the locals’ relaxed view on hash and some unfortunate violent incidents.

At Langelinje Pier you will find one of Copenhagen’s most famous attractions: The sculpture of The Little Mermaid.

This iconic landmark unveiled on 23 August 1913, was a gift from the Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen to the City of Copenhagen.

The town was founded in 1971, when a group of people cut a hole in the fence to the military barracks in Bådmandsgrade. Soon the area was known for ‘Pusher Street’, where you could buy hash and pot – but no hard drugs – from various stalls. Today, many of the original settlers still live in the collectively controlled village, and the area has a distinct ‘70s’ feel to it. Around 1,000 people live in Christiania and every year more than 500,000 people come to visit.

Nyhavn (literally: New Harbour) is the popular 17th century waterfront, canal and entertainment district of Copenhagen. Stretching from Kongens Nytorv to the bustling harbour front just south of the Royal Playhouse, it is lined by brightly coloured 17th and early 18th century townhouses and bars, cafes and restaurants.

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Destination

Especially during the summer months Nyhavn is the perfect place to end a long day. Have dinner at one of the restaurants or simply do what the locals do, buy a beer from a nearby store and rest your feet by the quayside.

area is renowned for its shopping, with big international brands like Prada, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, Cartier, Max Mara, Hermès and Boss represented at the end of the street facing up to Kongens Nytorv.

However, Strøget is not just for shopping. Look up and down the side streets during your shopping spree, and you will see several of Copenhagen’s most beautiful sights and attractions, such as the famous Helligåndskirken, Church of Our Lady (Vor Frue Kirke), where Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary were married, behind Gammeltorv Square, the courthouse at Nytorv Square and the imposing Stork Fountain (Storkespringvandet) at Amagertorv Square.

Nyhavn was originally a busy commercial port where ships from all over the world would dock. The area was packed with sailors, ladies of pleasure, pubs and alehouses.

Today, the beautiful old houses have been lovingly renovated and classy restaurants dominate the old port. Nyhavn is buzzing with people enjoying the relaxed atmosphere by the canal, jazz musicians and great food.

Copenhagen has been described as the most liveable city in the world.

Copenhagen’s largest shopping area, centred on Strøget in the heart of the city and second only to London’s Oxford Street, is one of Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping streets. The stretch is no less than 1.1 kilometres long and runs from City Hall (Rådhuspladsen) to Kongens Nytorv.

Strøget is actually a nickname from the 1800s and covers the streets of Frederiksberggade, Nygade, Vimmelskaftet, Østergade and Nytorv Square, Gammeltorv Square and Amagertorv Square. This whole

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Above: There has never been a better time to visit Copenhagen, for this is one of Europe’s oldest and greatest cities, one that retains its historical and cultural charms.

Opposite top: With a recent history that dates back to 1043 the city is full of historic landmarks, significant buildings and an abundance of interesting museums and art galleries.

Just north of Copenhagen you will find Dyrehavsbakken – in short Bakken. This is the world’s oldest amusement park (now more than 425 years old). It is located in the lush, ancient woodlands of the Jaegersborg Dyrehave, a wonderful green area, where you will find yourself surrounded by 400-year-old trees and almost 2,000 free-roaming red deer, sika deer, and fallow deer. It is the perfect spot for a ride in a horse-drawn carriage or a relaxing picnic before you visit Bakken.

With 34 roller coasters, ferris wheels, drop towers, and many more exciting and extreme adventures Bakken

Fly Air Seychelles to Abu Dhabi to connect on Etihad Airways for Copenhagen For more information visit: www.airseychelles.com

Facts

offers more rides than any other amusement park in Scandinavia.

For those with an interest in Denmark’s history, The National Museum in Copenhagen has a variety of exhibitions, ranging from the Stone Age, the Vikings, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and Modern Danish history. The museum is located in The Prince’s Palace, which was built by Nicolai Eigtved between 1743 and 1744 for Danish Crown Prince Frederik V and Crown Princess Louise. It is no longer used by the royal family but the Great Hall still appears elegant enough to entertain princes and princesses.

Whenever I visit a city such as this I always try to find the local natural history museum. The Zoological Museum at the University of Copenhagen is one of the finest, and the collections are extensive. Here you can take a walk through time and experience Denmark’s animal life from the past to the present.

Take a walk among mammoths, woolly-haired rhinos, steppe bison, and giant deer once native to Scandinavia.

The museum has several exhibitions that are open to the public all year round: ‘Evolution’ is Denmark’s largest ever exhibition, devoted to Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution. The exhibition at The Zoological Museum explores one of life’s biggest questions – the origin of the millions of species on Earth.

Darwin’s path to his revolutionary theory guides you through a multitude of animals, skeletons, fossils, and the lines which connect all living organisms and have done so for millions of years. The exhibition continues where Darwin had to end his quest and you will be brought up-to-date with the discoveries made by science since Darwin’s time, and which time and time again have proven his theory right.

Copenhagen has been described as the most liveable city in the world, and with a reputation for also being the coolest, most cosmopolitan, most exciting, most wonderful city in Scandinavia, you’ll be well rewarded for paying her a visit.

Copenhagen Tourism Board: www.visitcopenhagen.com Visit Denmark: www.visitdenmark.com.au LOCATION: Copenhagen is located on the eastern shore of the island of Zealand, partly on the island of Amager and on a number of natural and artificial islets between the two. The city faces the Øresund to the east, the strait of water that separates Denmark from Sweden, and which connects the North Sea with the Baltic Sea. LAND AREA: With a total land area of 88.25 square kilometres (34.074 square miles), Copenhagen is the largest and most populous city in Denmark.

POPULATION: 1,230,728 million (2013) LANGUAGE: The official language in Copenhagen is Danish, although in this multilingual city English, German and French are widely spoken.

TIME: UTC/GMT + 1 hour CURRENCY: Danish Kroner, DKK 1 Krone = 100 Øre (DKK 5.9 = USD 1, 2013) ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passports for all visitors must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the length of stay in Denmark. Visas are not required

by EU nationals, but certain nationals outside of Europe require a valid Schengen visa, which can be obtained either on arrival or prior to departure.

RELIGION: The overwhelming majority of the Danish population are Evangelical Lutheran with small Roman Catholic and Muslim minorities.

WHEN TO GO: Summer extends from June to August, which are also the best months to visit.

NOT TO BE MISSED: Copenhagen has been selected to be the host city of the 59th Eurovision Song Contest 2014, which will take place on the 6th, 8th and 10th May 2014 BEST MEAL: A truly unique Danish food experience is the smørrebrød (literally spread bread, or openfaced sandwich). Invariably based on rye bread, smørrebrød can be served with an almost limitless number of different toppings, from herring, to raw beef, seafood and egg.

Fly Air Seychelles to Abu Dhabi to connect on Etihad Airways for Copenhagen

Fly Air Seychelles to Abu Dhabi to connect on Etihad Airways for Copenhagen For more information visit: www.airseychelles.com

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Photo © Camerapix/Duncan Willetts

Feature

Sunset casts a golden glow over nature’s granite sculptures on La Digue.

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Lovely LaDigue

by Adrian Skerrett

L

a Digue is special. The scenery, the people, the atmosphere are unmistakably Seychellois but with an individual twist that gives the island a distinctive feeling. Cares drift away the moment you step ashore. The lack of an airstrip and absence of very much traffic certainly helps and no one is in a hurry. La Digue has always had its own special quality since the earliest times. To trace the origins of the unique character of La Digue, we need to travel back in time to a seemingly minor event on another island a thousand miles away.

In 1798, on the French island of Réunion, a small group of rebels staged a protest against their government complaining about high taxation, wasteful financial management and rumours that Réunion was to be handed over to the English. Led

by Etienne Alexandre Belleville, a commander of the National Guard and Jean Lafosse, a priest, the rebels marched upon the capital of Réunion, St Denis.

On the border of the town they were met by a government representative who tried to reassure them that there was no cause for alarm.

But the mood was too ugly to be so easily diffused and the rebels

marched on, however they were quickly surrounded by loyal troops and surrendered with barely a scuffle.

Belleville and other ringleaders were arrested and sentenced to deportation, though the destination was unspecified in the sentence. Captain Loiseau of the brig Laurette was told simply to drop them somewhere on the coast of India. His passengers however had other ideas. Stories about what happened next vary. According to Loiseau, after a brief stop at Mahé, the deportees seized the ship and at knife point forced him to sail to La Digue where they went ashore, leaving Captain Loiseau and his crew to sail away unharmed. Another story suggests Loiseau was bribed or perhaps felt sympathy for their cause and was inclined to help them. Whatever the truth, the face of La Digue had been changed forever. Some of the rebels soon left but most remained and made it their own mini-republic. To this today, the ‘Digwa’ as they are known, regard themselves as a little different to the rest of Seychelles. The descendants of at least one of their leaders, Célestin Payet, remain a significant figure on the island to this day.

La Digue is the fourth largest island of the granitic group. It is less than half the size of Praslin but more

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Photo © Camerapix Ltd

used only on La Digue for the male Madagascar Fody, the most common land bird. This is one indication that the Digwa have grown up as a culture within a culture, and Mahé is almost like a separate country to them.

steeply inclined, rising to 333 metres at Nid d’Aigles.

The population is also less than half that of Praslin with around 3,000 inhabitants living mainly on the west coast between La Passe and La Réunion. La Digue is no longer the sleepy backwater it once was, but the small size of the local population in relation to the number of visitors from the outside world has given them a standard of living that allows them to retain a relaxed attitude to life while enjoying some of the fruits of the modern world such as televisions and washing machines.

All but a handful of visitors arrive at the jetty at La Passe, though a few now come by helicopter. It is possible to visit for the day from Praslin. The ferry from Baie St Anne follows the sheltered shoreline of Praslin before crossing a short stretch of open ocean and heading for an artificial concrete harbour jutting out to sea. Rounding the jetty, the ferry enters a sheltered haven where yachts and schooners shelter beneath the palm-fringed shore.

Passengers disembark and walk a short distance along the jetty to the shoreline. Here, there is a fish market on the left, generally quiet, but a hive of activity when the fishermen bring in their catches. On the right are the Tourism Information Centre and a small, inexpensive cafeteria, Tarosa Café. Even the name of the café is a clue to the different nature of this island. Tarosa is a name

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Once ashore, the best way to explore La Digue is by bicycle. Alternatively you can travel on the ox carts which have remained in use on this island long after they have been replaced by petrol-power on the other main islands. True, there are a handful of taxis and camions (open sided lorries with fitted seats), but there is no hire cars, no traffic jams and the bicycle is king. Standards of bikes are generally good but it is wise to test one or two before settling upon your final choice. The flat coastal plateau and its beaches as far as L’Union Estate can comfortably be explored on foot, but bicycle is quicker and will enable you to travel further afield.

Turning south at the jetty, there are several grand plantation style houses gracefully growing old at La Passe. Beyond these is the Veuve Reserve, named after the Creole for the most beautiful bird in Seychelles, the Seychelles paradise flycatcher. It is the very symbol of La Digue. In the face of development, the reserve was established to preserve some of the last remaining takamaka and Indian almond habitat, where the birds feed and build their nests. A Visitor’s Centre at the reserve entrance provides information on the birds and the warden can provide useful pointers on where to find the flycatchers.

A short distance inland from the bird reserve is Chateau St Cloud, a grand and enchanting building built at the height of the Napoleonic wars and once at the heart of a vanilla plantation. It is now a small hotel. In the main house the wooden flooring was laid using handmade nails of a pre-industrial age, and ruins of the slaves’ quarters may still be seen. There are remnants of the factory where the vanilla was processed nearby. The

Above left: Aerial view of La Digue, fourth-largest island in Seychelles, with the ‘capital’ of La Passe and its pier in the buy on the right.

Above and opposite: Port La Digue.

vanilla industry came to prominence in Seychelles towards the end of the 19th century and La Digue was the centre of production. In 1899, value of vanilla exports surpassed that of coconuts for the first time but in 1906 the industry crashed when artificial vanillin arrived on the market bringing hardship to the Digwa. coral sands. The palms sway the way palm trees are In the opposite direction, returning to the coast supposed to at just the right angle. Rising above the the road turns southward once more past the palms are taller trees, casuarinas and takamakas, in picturesque Roman Catholic Church of Notre Dame which pure white fairy terns, snowflakes on wings, de l’Assumption. Beyond these the track leads to lay their eggs on bare branches. The only sounds are L’Union Estate, an old plantation where there is a the breeze whistling in the treetops and the waves working kalorifer, which was used to process copra lapping the shore, where silvery ghost crabs dart along (dried coconut) and a coconut oil press. They still grow the tideline. The crystal clear water varies vanilla orchids here, and other attractions in colour from pale turquoise over the include the La Digue Rock, a gigantic shallow sands, to deep purple-blue granite boulder appearing like a The lack of over deeper waters. Where the natural sculpture, giant tortoises, traffic, easy pace of life, two meet, 100 species of coral, horse riding and a picturesque the perfect scenery and not a thousand species of colourful plantation house. the least, the complete reef fish and other bizarre abscence of tarmac, have creatures make their home. It Just beyond L’Union Estate is is a tough uphill cycle beyond the most famous beach of La made La Digue famous.

L’Union Estate but perseverance Digue, Anse Source D’Argent, as This is the epitome of an is rewarded with stunning views beautiful as its name, meaning Bay island paradise. as the road descends to wild and of the Source of Silver. There are no wonderful Grand Anse. facilities whatsoever here, just natural beauty. The silver white sands framed by giant granite boulders and perfectly positioned palms feature on many picture postcards. Countless TV adverts have been made here, as have films with a fantasy theme such as Emanuelle.

When Digwa say they have the “Best Beach in the World” on their doorstep, it is no idle boast. This is the accolade that has been given to Anse Source d’Argent in numerous surveys over the years, including by the respected American travel journal Condé Nast Traveler, the American TV Travel Channel, the Discovery Channel and Tripadvisor. Towering granite boulders rear up like gigantic film props above the soft, white

The lack of traffic, easy pace of life, the perfect scenery and not least, the complete absence of tarmac, have made La Digue famous. This is the epitome of an island paradise. Nevertheless, you cannot stop progress, even on La Digue. Some visitors who saw La Digue 10 years ago will say “Ah, La Digue has changed. It is not the same as it used to be”.

Indeed this is true. Once there were no vehicles but now there are a fair few, even if numbers are negligible by the standards of elsewhere. Once the women would wash their clothes in the stream and hang them to dry on the banks, but now they have washing machines. Once the Digwa were poor but thanks to tourism now enjoy a good standard of living and have a natural desire to enjoy what life has to offer.

The friendly, welcoming people of La Digue retain a relaxed attitude to life. You cannot imagine that stress is a major concern on the island. There is an acceptance that change is not only inevitable but to be welcomed. At the same time, strenuous efforts are being made to bring the benefits of progress in a generally benign and enlightened manner. It seems to be working. Houses and tourist accommodation blend in with the environment and retain characteristics of the more historic establishments so that the old blends seamlessly into the new.

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Arcology

MASDAR

The World’s Greenest City

by Peter Holthusen

Only this bird’s-eye view of the rapidly developing master plan of Masdar City, seen here from the east, shows the true extent of how much this former oasis has grown since oil was first found in Abu Dhabi in 1958.

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Air Seychelles flies daily to Abu Dhabi, UAE. For more information visit: www.airseychelles.com

Photos © Peter Holthusen

I

consider myself very fortunate to have lived and travelled in south eastern Arabia 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 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, forsaken and devoid of life.

But civilised life there was.

Some 40 years ago, Abu Dhabi was scraping a living from dates, fish and a little pearl-diving on a narrow, marshy spit of land, but has now become fortune’s darling, owing its new-found wealth entirely to those tiny creatures of the ancient seas that, around 500 million years ago, died just here and were transformed into that mixture of aliphates, phenols, naphthenes and other hydrocarbons that we call crude oil.

1n, 1971, Abu Dhabi and Dubai joined together in an alliance with five other smaller siblings to form the United Arab Emirates; with Abu Dhabi as the breadwinner, its oil income accounting for over 80 percent of the huge family budget.

When oil was first found in this Emirate in 1958, the capital was a tiny settlement, cut off from the mainland at high tide although at low tide it could be reached across the ‘sabkha’, the salt flats. It had around 5,000 inhabitants, mainly fishermen.

In his book on the search for the legendary port of Dilmun, the eminent British archaeologist Geoffrey Bibby (1917-2001) wrote: “We ploughed across the sand drifts in our Land-Rovers with underinflated tyres, using four-wheel drive. In front of us stood a line of ragged palm-trees, on the left was the white-painted fort, on the right a handful of barasti huts, a couple of skinny goats, some chickens and donkeys chewing indifferently on rubbish. There was no road, just tracks

in the sand winding between the huts towards the shore. There we found two concrete buildings: the police station and the office of the oil company.

Today, barely 50 years later, Abu Dhabi is an Arabian Manhattan, a veritable sea of skyscrapers criss-crossed by a gridline of streets, a palm-fringed Corniche, sprawling urban developments and a plethora of 5-star luxury hotels.

Abu Dhabi, the vibrant capital of the United Arab Emirates, is today one of the fastest developing capital cities on earth. Ideally placed at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, it is a city with a proud heritage and a growing reputation for the delivery of bold, ambitious and highly-successful world class projects of international distinction. Foremost among these projects is Masdar City.

Established in 2006, Masdar City is an emerging global hub for renewable energy and clean technologies that positions companies located here at the very heart of this global industry. A place where businesses can thrive and innovation can flourish.

Masdar City is an arcology project which is being constructed 17 kilometres (11 miles) east-southeast of the city, alongside Abu Dhabi International Airport. Its core is a planned city, where cutting-edge ‘cleantech’ research and development, pilot projects, technology testing, and construction on some of the world’s most sustainable buildings are all ongoing.

The city is being built by Masdar, a subsidiary of the Mubadala Development Company, with the majority of seed capital provided by the Abu Dhabi Government, a catalyst for the economic development of the Emirate. Designed by the renowned British architectural firm of Foster and Partners, whose innovative masterplans have included The Index in Dubai, the iconic Hearst Tower in New York, the Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe) in London and Hong Kong International Airport, they will be assisted in this initiative by Mott MacDonald, the Londonbased engineering and environmental development

Air Seychelles flies daily to Abu Dhabi, UAE. For more information visit: www.airseychelles.com

• Silhouette • Vol 25 No 2 | 49

consultancy. When completed Masdar City will rely entirely on solar energy and other renewable energy sources, with a zero waste ecology. It is also initially aimed to be a sustainable zerocarbon car free city.

The project was estimated to cost around US$22 billion and take some eight years to build, with the first phase scheduled to be completed and habitable in 2009. The first phase of construction began in 2008 and the first six buildings of Masdar City were completed and occupied in October 2010. However, due to the impact of the global recession, Phase 1 of the city, the initial 1,000,000 square metres (0.39 square miles), will now be completed in 2015. Final completion is scheduled to occur between 2020 and 2025. The estimated cost of the city has also declined by 10 to 15 percent, thus reducing the development projections to between US$18.7 and 19.8 billion. The city is planned to cover 6 square kilometres (2.3 square miles) and will be home to 45,000 to 50,000 people and 1,500 businesses, the majority of which will be commercial and manufacturing facilities specializing in environmentally friendly products and associated ‘green’ merchandise, with more than 60,000 workers anticipated to commute to the city daily.

Its first tenant was the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, which has been operating in the city since it moved into its campus in September 2010. This unique university has been behind the engineering plans of Masdar City and is at the centre of research and development activities there. The Institute, developed in cooperation with the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology, uses 70 per cent less electricity and potable water than normal buildings of similar size and is fitted with a metering system that constantly observes power consumption.

Masdar City will be the latest of a small number of highly planned, specialised, research and technology-intensive municipalities that incorporate a living environment, similar to the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudia Arabia or the Tsukuba Science City in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

The initial design considered that automobiles would be banned within the city as travel will be accomplished via public mass transit and personal rapid transit (PRT) systems, with existing road and railways connecting to other locations outside the city. The absence of motor vehicles in Masdar coupled with the city’s perimeter wall, designed to keep out the hot desert winds, allows for narrow and shaded streets, based on the traditional Middle Eastern wind tower concept that help funnel cooler breezes down into buildings and across the city. In October 2010 it was announced the PRT would not expand beyond the pilot scheme due to the cost of creating the undercroft to segregate the system from pedestrian traffic. Subsequently, an innovative test fleet of 10 Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric cars was deployed in the autumn of 2011 as part of a one-year pilot scheme to test a point-to-point transportation network for the city as a

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Photos © Peter Holthusen

complement to the existing PRT and the freight rapid transit (FRT), both of which consist of automated ‘podcar’ electric-powered vehicles.

Established in 2006, Masdar City is an emerging global hub for renewable energy and clean technologies that positions companies located here at the very heart of this global industry.

Below: Its first tenant was the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, which has been operating in the city since it moved into its campus in September 2010.

Below right: The initial design considered that automobiles would be banned within the city as travel will be accomplished via public mass transit and personal rapid transit (PRT) systems. The PRT, also called a ‘podcar’, is an innovative public transport mode operational in the city since 2010.

Under the revised concept, all public transport within the city will rely on methods other than the PRT’s.

Masdar will instead use a mix of electric vehicles and other clean-energy vehicles for mass transit inside the city. The majority of private vehicles will be restricted to parking lots along the city’s perimeter. Abu Dhabi’s existing light rail and metro line will connect Masdar City’s centre with the greater metropolitan area.

Masdar City will employ a variety of renewable power resources. Among the first construction projects will be a 40 to 60 megawatt PV solar power plant, built by the German firm Conergy, a leading PV solution and service provider, which will supply power for all other construction activity. This will later be followed by a larger facility, and additional solar panels will be placed on rooftops to provide supplemental solar energy totalling 130 megawatts.

As an additional power source to photovoltaics, concentrated solar power (CSP) plants are also being explored. For example, so-called “beam down” CSP plants have been constructed to test the viability of the concept for use in the city. Wind farms will be established outside the city’s perimeter capable of producing up to 20 megawatts, and the city intends to utilise geothermal energy as well. In addition, Masdar plans to host the world’s largest hydrogen power plant. Small wonder the project is supported by leading environmental agencies such as Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Water management has been planned in an environmentally sound manner as well. A solarpowered desalination plant will be used to provide the city’s water needs, which is stated to be 60 percent lower than similarly sized communities. Approximately 80 percent of the water used will be recycled and waste water will be reused “as many times as possible”, with this greywater being used for crop irrigation and other purposes.

The city will also attempt to reduce waste to zero.

Biological waste will be used to create nutrient-rich soil and fertilizer, and some may also be utilised through waste incineration as an additional power source.

Industrial waste, such as plastics and metals, will be recycled or re-purposed for other uses. Other renewable resources include the use of wood in the construction of Masdar City. The exterior wood used throughout the city is palmwood, a sustainable hardwood-substitute developed by Pacific Green Technologies using plantation coconut palms that no longer bear fruit.

This holistic approach keeps Masdar City at the forefront of this important global industry, while ensuring it remains grounded in the pursuit of pioneering technologies and systems that are also feasible. As a result, it delivers innovation to the market while deriving profits from its shareholders.

As one of Masdar’s integrated units, Masdar City makes a substantial contribution to the Emirate’s economic development goals by attracting knowledgeeconomy companies and organisations to Abu Dhabi.

This is the yardstick by which other developing cities must be judged.

Air Seychelles flies daily to Abu Dhabi, UAE. For more information visit: www.airseychelles.com

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History

The Little Chapel on the Hill There is a charming little sanctuary hidden high on a wooded hill far away from Victoria. TONY MATHIOT tells an interesting story ….

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t had been a stormy night. The sky above La Misère was hidden behind a massive nimbostratus that released torrents of rain upon the forested mountain, while blustering winds lashed at the old giant timber trees. The storm lasted until after dawn, and yet, around 300 inhabitants, men, women and children, trudged up the mountain footpath, grappling with fallen branches and wading across raging streams to attend the ceremony of the blessing of the chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Beauvoir, La Misère, on that Friday morning of 6 April 1883. In the inclement weather, Monsignor (Mgr). Symphorien Mouard performed two other blessings, one of the bell in the chapel’s belfry, the other of the cemetery below, the burial place of the Catholic Missionaries since 1873.

However, Mgr Ignace Galfione, Mgr Mouard’s predecessor was not buried in that cemetery.

In fact, few people know that the second viceprefect of Seychelles is actually entombed in the foundation of that little chapel on the hill …

Mgr Ignace Galfione arrived in Seychelles on Sunday the 30 October 1864. The Seychelles had been handed over to the Savoyard

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Capuchin Priests on 8 January 1863 and Galfione (de Villafranca) was appointed Vice-Prefect, representing the Apostolic prefect who resided in Switzerland and almost never visited his prefecture.

Mgr Ignace Galfione arrived at Mahè two years after the great Lavalas of October 1862, which had devastated the little capital town, killing scores of inhabitants including two sisters who had just arrived from Reunion, the year before, to establish the convent of St. Joseph de Cluny. In fact, the first religious ceremony that he officiated was the blessing of the chapel of the Sisters of St. Joseph de Cluny, in Victoria. But, his priority was the evangelization of Seychelles which his predecessor Jeremie Giantommaso de Paglieta had started a decade earlier. And that, of course, was a cinch. The population of about 8,000 inhabitants who were mostly descendants of African slaves was amenable to religious indoctrination, which encouraged the Catholic mission to expand its presence throughout the archipelago by the creation of more parishes. Galfione was blessedly grateful for the assistance of the few missionaries who had arrived in Seychelles before him and a little later after, among whom were Father Louis Noir, Father Theophile Pollar, Father Martin Christin

Photos courtesy of Tony Mathiot the Catholic faith of the inhabitants had been firmly instilled, the cross of the Catholic Mission had been firmly entrenched on Seychelles soil and more priests were coming to replace the old and tired ones, Mgr Galfione had one more, and his last, undertaking … the little chapel on the hill.

On the 16 June 1879, the Roman Catholic Church purchased a large property up at La Misère known as Rivière Sèche. Galfione, who had a special apostolic affection for the industrious disciples of mother Javouhey gave a portion of the land to the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny and proposed to build a chapel on another piece. Before the Catholic Mission had acquired the land, a portion of it had been allocated in 1873 to serve as a burial place for the Catholic Missionaries.

de Vinzier and Father Valentin de Reyvroz. During the first 12 years of his episcopacy he built Mission Schools for boys across Mahé. These were made of wood, thatched with pandanus leaves, pathetic little structures that nevertheless served their purpose eminently well. Churches of coral limestone and timber were erected in all the established parishes, and 1868 he created new ones at Anse Royal and Anse Boileau (and much later, one at Grand Anse Praslin in 1879). At a time, when there was much rivalry between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church, which for obvious reasons, got the unstinting support of the Civil Commissioner, Mgr Ignace Galfione confronted adversity with the characteristic Roman stoutheartedness of his ilk. It was difficult to acquire land for the many charitable projects that he had in mind because the Catholic Mission was French. However, the benevolence of some land owners who were descendants of the first French settlers enabled Mgr Galfione to achieve his aspirations.

With the sum of 60,000 francs that he received from the Apostolic prefect, Father Ambroise Tussot, and donations from a few wealthy inhabitants, he established the foundation of the Catholic Mission in Seychelles. He rebuilt the church of the Immaculate Conception in Victoria in such a majestic form that it was indisputably the first edifice ever to be erected on the soil of Seychelles. He had the statue of the Virgin Mary placed at the top of the ridge and a clock

on its facade. The fledgling education system in Seychelles, which was virtually governed by the Anglican and Catholic churches, saw a great advancement in 1867 with the opening of the St. Louis College. This institution was managed by the Frères des Ecoles Chrétiens until 1875. That same year saw the arrival of more Savoyard capuchin priests, including Marc Hudrisier who would later become the first Catholic Bishop of Seychelles. In 1875, Mgr Galfione allowed the sisters of the St. Joseph of Cluny to work as nurses at the newlyopened Hospital. His indefatigable spirit certainly

The place on the mountain where Galfione wanted to build his chapel abounded with hardwood trees and enormous granite boulders.

It was early in 1880 that work started to clear the land. The giant trees were lopped down and the wood was cut into sections and beams. It was laborious and strenuous work and painfully exhausting. The coolness of the La Misère altitude combined with the scorching sun created some discomfort that the workers had to become accustomed to. After all, this was the first construction of any kind to be done in the pristine forests of that part of Mahé. Nearly all the churches, chapels and schools that the Catholic Mission had built before were situated on the coastal plateaux and this was actually the first time that the hinterland of the island

To sightseeing foreigners, it is a quaint melancholy enigma of elegiac beauty. attested to the devout commitment of his vows.

His tasks were arduous. His responsibility was heavy. His ambitions were vast, but his health was failing.

His concern for his colleagues who were getting old and were suffering from infirmities induced him to construct a home and hermitage far away from Victoria in the salubrious mountain of La Misère. The place which eventually became known as Solitude, owing to its remoteness, was in the charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph de Cluny.

After 15 years in Seychelles, during which time

was being cleared for the erection of a house of worship. The granite rocks were heated and broken into pieces. These were used to construct a retaining wall for the knoll on which the chapel was to be built. Early in 1880, Mgr Ignace Galfione supervised the beginning of construction. It was to be a modest little structure made entirely of wood. The hammer-beam roof design had no intricate corbel or bracket. The local craftsmanship at that time could not afford such architectural ornament. Gradually, the chapel began to take shape until Mgr Galfione decided that he had to leave Seychelles for a visit to Europe.

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History On the 30 August 1880, Pope Leo XIII raised the status of the Catholic Mission in Seychelles to Vicariat Apostolic.

During his voyage, Mgr Galfione was informed that he was to become the Apostolic Vicar. He was not delighted at the prospect of assuming such a supreme position, given the state of his deteriorating health. He declined the offer, but Rome insisted.

So it was on the 19 September 1880 that the ailing 65-year-old Galfione was ordained the titular Bishop of Auréliopolis at the church of the Capuchins of Chambéry.

On the way back to Seychelles he had an acute cardiac arrest and had to remain at Aden to recuperate. He arrived at Mahé on Sunday 5 December 1881 aboard SS Dupleix, extremely weak. Aware of the ebbing of life from his tired body, Galfione asked for the extreme unction. The news of their dying Apostolic Vicar created consternation and tribulation across Mahé. Doctors tried their utmost … and succeeded. Mgr Galfione recuperated slightly and regained a little strength. At the end of January 1881 he was carried to the Hermitage at La Misére. For many months, he managed the evangelical and pastoral work of his priests through his diligent intermediary, Father Edmond d’Aix Bains who had come to Seychelles for that express purpose. From his bed or from his Palanquin, he directed the construction of his chapel.

Every day the sound of hammering resounded in the forest as the men persevered at their task. They were despondent to see their venerable Apostolic Vicar in such a pathetic state. Yet, his indomitable spirit drove them on and the chapel began to sprout. By the end of November the little Chapel was half completed. The men were sawing wood to make the rafters and the struts.

In mid-June 1881, Mgr Ignace Galfione left the hermitage to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi in the church of Victoria. Carrying the cross, he headed the traditional procession through the streets of Victoria followed by hundreds of inhabitants.

A few days later, he administered the sacrament of the Eucharist to dozens of children.

In early November, his health further degenerated and on Sunday 19 December 1881 Mgr Ignace Galfione passed away at the age of 66. A paragon in the history of the Catholic Church in Seychelles, his estimable mission was accomplished … yet his chapel was unfinished.

Seychelles mourned. Hundreds of grieving inhabitants accompanied his leaden coffin from Victoria up to the hills

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of La Misère. There he was placed in a small chamber in the foundation of his chapel, on the right side of the altar.

The fragrance of ripe cloves, blended with the scent of cinnamon that the mountain breeze brought down from the forest, mingled with the incense smoke to create a distinct aroma of a yuletide requiem, as the choir sang Venez Saint du ciel …

Weeks passed, months passed. Men worked intermittently to complete the chapel, while below, the little burial ground accommodated those who came to rest so far away from the altars where they took their sacred vows.

Finally, the little chapel was completed in early 1883. It had no transepts, no ornamental ecclesiastic feature. It was a simple rectangular structure with a pandanus roof, windows and pews, made entirely of La Misère timber.

In 1883, when he blessed the chapel, Mgr Mouard gave a new impulsion to the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in a bid to satisfy the wishes of his predecessor. From then on, every year in June, crowds of hundreds of inhabitants coming from all the districts of Mahé made the pedestrian journey to La Misère to celebrate the feast that Pope Pie IX had established on the 23 August 1856. In 1885, the provincial superior of Seychelles, Mére Marie des Anges (Antoinette Constance Granger) named the place ‘Beauvoir’.

In 1913, the chapel had succumbed to the ravages of time and weather and had become too small for the growing population of the Parish. Consequently, Mgr Bernadin Clark decided to reconstruct the chapel with stone, retaining the original design. It was much later, in 1956, that Brother Victor Golliard added the transepts during an extensive renovation. In 1964, Brother Victor built the Oratory.

Today, the chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus stands exactly where it was originally erected over100 years ago. To sightseeing foreigners, it is a quaint melancholy enigma of elegiac beauty. It is an important punctuation mark in the history of the Catholic Mission in Seychelles because, after all, it is the tomb of Mgr Ignatius Galfione de Villafranca.

It is an important punctuation mark in the history of the Catholic Mission in Seychelles.

A small hotel with a big heart

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Luxury

A Silk Tale Silk has been prized for centuries for its delicate and luxurious quality. This precious commodity, considered at one time more precious than gold, helped transform trade between east and west and gave rise to the Silk Road. Emily Boulter uncovers the story of this extraordinary fabric.

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ilk is considered to be one of the world’s finest natural fabrics, as unlike cotton or linen, its natural shimmer gives it an opulence that has proven attractive to both men and women. It is also considered to be one of the oldest fibres known to man. Silk is used to make luxury bedclothes, cushions, wedding dresses, tailored suits and upholstery for furniture. Its lightweight, but resistant quality also helps to ensure its popularity. It is perfect for both winter and summer conditions.

But where was silk first produced? Without question China is the home of sericulture or silk farming. The legend that has passed down through history is that the Empress Leizu, who was the wife of the Emperor Huang-Ti, also known as the Yellow Emperor, first discovered the fabric in approximately 2640 BC. One day according to the legend, Leizu was drinking tea in a garden when a cocoon from a Mulberry

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tree fell into her cup and began to unravel. She was fascinated by the shine of the threads and later learnt to harvest the silk worms and is accredited as being the inventor of the world’s first silk loom. Later during the Han dynasty the first imperial silk workshops were established.

The Chinese succeeded for years in preserving the secret of silk production; however their success lay in cultivating the humble silk worm or the Bombyx mori. The life of this little worm, or caterpillar is perfectly suited to silk production. A female worm can lay up to 500 fertilized eggs, each of which is roughly the size of a pin head. Once a worm hatches, it will spend the next four to five weeks eating leaves from the mulberry tree. They need to start eating immediately after they hatch, otherwise they run the risk of drying out and dying. During this time, the silk worm will increase its body size up to 25 times and will eat both day and night in order to build up the necessary energy to start building a cocoon to pupate.

It takes a worm three to four days to make its silk cocoon, which is composed of a jelly-like substance that comes from a gland located on its head. The silk substance hardens when it comes into contact with the air. The worm works to construct a figure 8 pattern and if it suffers any form of disturbance, the worm will abandon this cocoon and start again. The flightless moth that eventually emerges from the cocoon will

only live a few days as it is expected to mate, lay its eggs; thus starting the process all over again.

The colours of the thread will vary depending on the silkworm’s diet, as it is best they eat fresh hand picked mulberry leaves.

For the sericulturist, they must work to capture the cocoon, before the moth hatches. The cocoons are either dipped in water or are exposed to steam in order to kill the pupas inside. In the water, the thread starts to unravel and is attached to a spool. One cocoon can produce up to 900m worth of raw silk thread. However in order to produce strong thread, a number of strands must be twisted together; this is known as ‘throwing’. The colours of the thread will vary depending on the silk worm’s diet, as it is best they eat fresh hand picked mulberry leaves.

When silk was originally produced in China, it was preserved for the nobility, but later silk was used for musical instruments. During the time of the Han dynasty, it was used as a form of payment and also as a currency for foreign trading. The Chinese also became masters of silk dyeing and embroidery, and the fabric proved to be popular with calligraphers, in the days before paper was available. It was also considered to be more valuable than gold and understandably the Chinese worked to keep silk production a secret. There are tales of travellers attempting to smuggle silkworm eggs and cocoons out of China, but who were summarily executed.

Nevertheless, the monopoly over sericulture by the

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Luxury Chinese only lasted until 200 BC when Korea began to develop its own industry, soon after Japan and India followed. As a result, silk was the fabric of choice for kimonos and saris.

Gradually silk moved westwards, first to the Middle East and later to Europe. In the 6th century AD Byzantine monks working for the Emperor Justinian I placed silkworm eggs inside hollowed-out walking sticks and brought them to Constantinople. Venetian merchants helped to develop the silk industry by encouraging growers to settle in Italy. In the 13th century, silk became an important source of trade, as towns such as Lucca imported raw silk from China and developed an international reputation for sericulture, giving rise to the expression “Good silk is Lucca silk”. The town contained at the height of its fame, 3,000 weaving looms. Towns in France such as Lyon became renowned for silk production, which was aided by the invention of the Jacquard loom. This allowed producers to create intricate silk patterns. By the 1800s silk had become one of the most desirable fabrics in the western world, but through the era of industrialisation, Europe’s silk industries fell into decline due to the rise in Japanese silk imports. Towards the beginning of the 19th century French and European silkworms were struck by a disease known as pébrine. France’s renowned chemist Louis Pasteur was asked to investigate the cause.

While he developed a method to control the disease, European sericulture never fully recovered.

The Silk Road The famous trading route the Silk Road helped to connect the east and west. The German geographer Ferdinand von Richtofen originally coined the term in the 1870s. The road itself first emerged during the second century AD and stretched over 6.4 thousand km from the capital of the Han dynasty in Changan, today known as Xian, all the way to the city of Antioch on the Mediterranean Sea. There was no single road, but many which departed to the north and south, through the desert of Taklamakan and crossed what is modern day Afghanistan. Silk was not the only commodity to be traded along this

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route; caravans from the east carried various goods such as jade, furs, ceramics and iron, and from the west traders brought gold, precious metals and glass. It was along this historic path that men such as Marco Polo travelled to reach China in the 13th century and religions such as Buddhism were able to spread from India to China. Silk was by far one of the most prized commodities transported along the road, and it served as a useful tool for negotiations between warring tribes.

Today, numerous countries around the world produce silk such as Uzbekistan, Thailand, Brazil and India, although China is still the world’s leading exporter and producer of raw silk. However,

it now must compete with numerous synthetic materials that are cheaper for consumers; nevertheless the allure of silk has not diminished and continues to entice new devotees.

The texture of silk can also vary from country to country Thai silk is known for possessing firmness, while Chinese silk has a fluid quality.

Marianne Tuerlings who owns the textile gallery Shirdak in Amsterdam travels extensively across Central Asia gathering natural textiles and believes that silk remains popular as it is symbolic of quality. “Silk is chic and also very adaptable. You can easily blend it with other fabrics such as wool and linen”, she says. It is the element of luxury and romance that is associated with silk that has ensured its popularity throughout history.

Screen legend Audrey Hepburn once said that: “When I wear a silk scarf I never feel so definitely like a woman, a beautiful woman”.

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Mark Twain

An American in Mauritius Samuel Langhorne Clemens may not be a name that you’re familiar with but Mark Twain – Clemens’ pen name – is known to many people, writes Tony Smart.

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he author of such great novels as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain wrote profusely throughout much of his adult life. He also authored The Prince and the Pauper and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court and has been lauded as ‘the father of American literature’ by William Faulkner. One of America’s greatest authors, Ernest Hemingway, once said that “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn.”

Twain’s path to successful writing was not an easy one.

Born in the village of Florida in the US (United States) state of Missouri on 30th November 1835, just two weeks after the closest approach to Earth of Halley’s Comet, his family moved to Hannibal, a port town on the Mississippi River, when Twain was four. By the age of 12, he had started work as a printer’s apprentice and three years later he had become a typesetter and contributor of articles and humorous sketches for the Hannibal Journal, a newspaper owned by his brother Orion.

Two years later he left Hannibal and worked as a printer in New York City, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Cincinnati, educating himself in public libraries in the evenings. A couple of years later Twain’s career path took a radical change.

Whilst on a voyage to New Orleans down the Mississippi, steamboat pilot Horace E. Bixby inspired Twain to become a pilot himself. This appealed to Twain because it was a very well paid job and one that exceeded the steamboat’s captain in prestige and authority.

It was this change of job that gave Clemens his pen name because ‘Mark Twain’ was a shout the pilot would make

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to indicate the current river depth was two fathoms (one fathom equals 1.8288 metres). Twain worked as a pilot until the American Civil War broke out in 1861 and traffic along the Mississippi was stopped.

After a brief two week flirtation with the southern Confederacy at the start of the war Twain moved to Nevada to work for his brother Orion again who had become secretary to the governor of Nevada, but this was another brief job and Twain became a silver miner in Virginia City, Nevada. He quickly failed at this new career and started work on a Virginia City newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise, where he used his pen name Mark Twain for the first time.

After little more than a year here Twain moved again, this time to San Francisco where he continued to work as a journalist and where he achieved his first success as a writer when his humorous story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, was published in a New York weekly, The Saturday Press, on 18 November 1865. It brought him national attention. A year later he began his career as a travel journalist, travelling to the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii) and then the Mediterranean for local newspapers in California.

It was on this latter trip that Twain wrote a popular collection of travel letters, which were later compiled as The Innocents Abroad in 1869, and was shown a photo of his future wife Olivia Langdon by her brother Charles. Twain claimed to have fallen in love on first seeing the photo and when he returned to the US he began corresponding with Olivia who rejected his first marriage proposal but then changed her mind and in 1870 Twain and Olivia were married.

Air Seychelles flies three times a week to Port Louis, Mauritius.

For more information visit: www.airseychelles.com

History Initially they lived in New York but, after the birth of his first daughter, Twain moved his family to Hartford, Connecticut in 1873. The family, which quickly expanded to three daughters, stayed there for 17 years and it was during this time that Twain wrote many of his most famous novels including those mentioned above.

Twain made a substantial amount of money from his writing but whilst a great writer he was a lousy businessman and lost a great deal of that money and most of his wife’s inheritance through badly judged investments and in 1893 he had to file for bankruptcy.

Desperate to raise money to pay his creditors Twain accepted an offer from Robert Sparrow Smythe and embarked on a year-long, around-the-world lecture tour in July 1895, a long, arduous journey during which he was sick much of the time, which took him to Hawaii, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, Mauritius, South Africa and England.

Following this trip Twain wrote the 712page book Following the Equator which includes two chapters on the 10 days he spent in Mauritius.

In his notes from Curepipe Twain comments further on the island’s fascination with Paul et Virginie. “Apparently, there has been only one prominent event in the history of Mauritius, and that one didn’t happen. I refer to the romantic sojourn of Paul and Virginia here. It was that story that made Mauritius known to the world, made the name familiar to everybody, the geographical position of it to nobody.”

After five days on Mauritius Twain noted the horrific cyclone of 1892 that ‘killed and crippled hundreds of people,’ then moved on to further observations of the island. ‘The roads are hard and smooth; some of the compounds are spacious, some of the bungalows commodious, and the roadways are walled by tall bamboo hedges, trim and green and beautiful; and there are azalea hedges, too, both the white and the red; I never saw that before.’

Further notes in Following the Equator are on local foods of the time like ‘camaron’ and ‘palmiste’, lengthy observations on the devastation wrought by the 1892 cyclone, and the Mauritian monkeys of which Twain writes ‘The monkeys live in dense forests on the flanks of the toy mountains, and they flock down nights and raid the sugar-fields. Also on other estates they come down and destroy a sort of bean-crop – just for fun, apparently – tear off the pods and throw them down.’

Mark Twain was a truly amazing man, a real ‘fish out of water’ ...

After a three month stint in India Twain quickly fell in love with the Indian Ocean, noting whilst still on the boat taking him to Mauritius ‘We are far abroad upon the smooth waters of the Indian Ocean, now; it is shady and pleasant and peaceful under the vast spread of the awnings, and life is perfect again – ideal.’

He arrived in Mauritius in the early hours of 15 April 1896, the boat anchoring off Port Louis, and when it was daylight Twain quickly noted the island’s ‘inviting’ beauty in his journals, adding that the island was the ‘scene of the sentimental adventure of Paul and Virginia’, a romantic novel that still pervades Mauritian life to this day.

When he went ashore to Port Louis the next day Twain found ‘a little town, but with the largest variety of nationalities and complexions we have encountered yet. French, English, Chinese, Arabs, Africans with wool ...

East Indians ... and great varieties in costumes and colours.’ Nothing much has changed in Port Louis since then except that it’s no longer a little town and I think it’s safe to say that Twain, though a great lover of science, technology and time travel who developed friendships with Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison in his later years, would be astonished at what he found had he been able to travel forward in time and become A Connecticut Yankee in Port Louis in 2014.

After exploring Port Louis Twain took the afternoon train to Curepipe, a two hour journey then, and enjoyed what he saw along the way writing,‘What a contrast, this frantic luxuriance of vegetation, with the arid plains of India; these architecturally picturesque crags and knobs and miniature mountains, with the monotony of the Indian dead-levels.’

Twain left Mauritius enchanted by the island. ‘What there is of Mauritius is beautiful,’ he wrote. ‘You have undulating expanses of sugar-cane – a fine, fresh green and very pleasant to the eye; and everywhere else you have a ragged luxuriance of tropic vegetation of vivid greens of varying shades, a wild tangle of underbrush, with graceful tall palms lifting their crippled plumes high above it; and you have stretches of shady dense forest with limpid streams frolicking through them,....and here and there and now and then a strip of sea with a white ruffle of surf breaks into view.”

Upon his return to the US Twain continued to write and was also much in demand as a guest speaker at men’s clubs and society dinners.

But he sank into a deep depression after the death of his daughter Susy from meningitis in 1896 and the death of his wife in 1904, and he eventually died of a heart attack on 21 April 1910. The previous year he was quoted as saying “I came in with Halley’s Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it. It will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I don’t go out with Halley’s Comet. The Almighty has said, no doubt: “Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together.” And sure enough his death was just one day after the closest passing of the comet to earth.

Mark Twain was a truly amazing man, a real ‘fish out of water’ who found his place in life and society through his great writing and his adventurous spirit. He will always be remembered as one of America’s greatest writers.

Air Seychelles flies three times a week to Port Louis, Mauritius.

For more information visit: www.airseychelles.com

• Silhouette • Vol 25 No 2 | 61

1

Don’t Pay To Take Your Clubs On Holiday With You. Many airlines now charge you for checking in any hold baggage, let alone golf clubs. Indeed some airlines charge up to US$100 each way for carrying a golf bag, which seriously increases the cost of your golf holiday. But there are still some good airlines that let you take your clubs with you for free, including Air Seychelles. Check before booking your flights if the airline will carry your golf clubs for free.

Alternatively see if there are any companies like Paul McGinley’s ClubstoHire.com, which rents full sets of new clubs from the likes of Callaway and TaylorMade for as little as €35 a week in many European countries, at your chosen golf destination. Or just rent a set at the courses you’ll be playing.

10 TIPS For Getting the Best out of your Golf Holiday

By TONY SMART

62 | Silhouette • Vol 25 No 2 •

2

Choose All-Inclusive Golf Destinations.

Another way of making your golf holiday extraexpensive is by having to pay green fees every time you play. However many resorts with courses have ‘Stay and Play’ packages which allow you unlimited free golf on their courses, or at least a certain number of free rounds. The Constance Lemuria in The Seychelles offers free golf to all hotel guests. Costa Navarino in Greece offer an Experience Golf package which includes seven nights’ accommodation and five rounds of golf on either of their two great courses. www.golfasian.com offers ‘Stay and Play’ packages all over Asia. You can find hundreds of deals on the internet.

Sports

3

Make Sure The Courses You’ll Be Playing Will Be In First Class Condition.

Try and pick good quality courses that you know will be in good condition for your golf vacation. Nothing ruins a golf holiday more than having to play golf courses that look and play like cow pastures. Ways to avoid this include going to championship venues, looking closely at the latest photos on your chosen courses’ websites, picking venues that are fairly new and need to establish a good reputation, choosing courses that are in your chosen destination’s top ten (www.golfdigest. com lists the top courses in 203 countries around the world), or even phoning/e-mailing your chosen destination and asking them what condition their courses will be in when you visit (you’d be surprised at how many honest answers you get!).

4

Choose Famous Courses/Destinations.

Choose a destination that has lots of great, famous golf courses like St Andrews, Pebble Beach, Mission Hills in China, or Dubai. Bragging rights are surprisingly important at golf clubs and telling an opponent on the first tee that you just played the Old Course at St Andrews, Pebble Beach, the World Cup Course at Mission Hills or the Emirates Golf Club (where Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els and the late, great Seve Ballestros have all won the Dubai Desert Classic) can put you one or two up before a stroke has been played.

5

Use A Sturdy Golf Flight Bag. This may be obvious to regular golf travellers but you’d be amazed at how many golfers I see just checking in their golf bags without a sturdy flight bag cover. With the way that baggage handlers toss baggage around this can result in broken club shafts or even missing/stolen clubs if your bag is not covered with a sturdy, lockable flight bag. Arriving at your chosen destination with missing or broken clubs is definitely going to ruin your golf holiday. Recommended golf flight bag covers include the Bag Boy T-2000, Nike NG141 and the Ogio Monster. Flight bag covers are usually roomy and you can put extra bits of luggage inside that won’t fit into your suitcase.

6

Locks.

A few years back I went on a golf trip to the US (post 9/11) with a brand new suitcase and lock. When I retrieved the suitcase from the baggage carousel in the US the lock had disappeared and inside my suitcase was a polite notice from the US Customs saying they’d had to cut the lock to check inside the suitcase for dangerous materials. No compensation was offered. Use TSA locks for your suitcases and golf flight bags. These combination locks can be opened by all country’s customs officers with a special tool and then relocked by them. They’re also extraordinarily difficult for bag snatchers to open.

7

Check If Your Chosen Courses Allow Buggies.

The world’s number one golf resort, Bandon Dunes in Oregon, US, does not allow buggies, which is fine if you’re young and fit enough to walk 18 or 36 holes every day. But for those of us who are older and not as fit as we’d like to be, buggies are an important, enjoyable part of holiday golf. So, unless you’re happy walking, check before you book that your chosen courses allow buggies.

8

If Money is Tight Choose an Emerging Golf Destination For Your Golf Vacation.

Golf will usually be much cheaper in new emerging golf destinations desperate to establish a reputation for themselves in the global golf market.

Accommodation and dining may also be significantly cheaper in the resorts in these countries as they fight for a slice of the golf tourism market. Some great courses have recently opened at resorts in emerging golf countries like Vietnam, Bulgaria, Greece, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, and Cambodia. Also try China and India.

9

Take In A Tournament.

For a keen golfer there is nothing better than to watch the game’s greats playing a major tournament at a course and then playing the same course a couple of days later. At the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s you could have watched Ernie Els win the tournament on the Sunday and played the same course on the Tuesday. Amazing. This is not possible at Augusta National of course, nor at most US Open or US PGA Championships courses as they’re ultra-exclusive. But you can do this every year at the Open in Britain and you can do it at most other tournament courses. Just call the course as far ahead of your chosen tournament as possible, book a tee-time for as soon after the tournament finishes as possible, and have the golf holiday of a lifetime.

10

Treat Yourself To A Caddy.

Most of us can’t afford a caddy every time we play golf and they’re also very expensive if you’re playing golf in Ireland, the UK or the US. But if you’re playing golf in a country where caddies are cheap (frequently they will only cost between US$5-10 a round, cheaper than a buggy) then treat yourself.

They’re usually very good, can show you the right places to aim for off the tee, help you to find lost balls, give you the right club for your approach shot after a couple of holes of learning how far you hit the ball, and are great at reading putts on strange greens.

And they’re usually very positive about your game no matter how badly you play. Plus you get extra exercise from walking. It’s a win-win situation! And, if you can afford to, tip them well. If they’re only getting US$510 for humping your big golf bag around for 4-5 hours then they must be poor.

10+1

Look After Yourself.

Nothing ruins a golf holiday more than getting sick. Be careful what you eat. If you’re in a country where you can’t drink the tap water then don’t have ice in your drinks because it’ll only be frozen tap water and freezing doesn’t kill the germs. If you’re going to a hot, humid, tropical country make sure you have a wide brimmed hat and take lots of high factor sunscreen and mosquito repellent. Wear shorts where possible but don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your legs. Ask before you play if there may be snakes or other nasty things in the rough. And make sure you drink plenty of bottled water during your round to stay hydrated.

• Silhouette • Vol 25 No 2 | 63

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 Mile Redemption feature, fly once and enjoy instant rewards.

• Anytime availability - all seats on a flight, including the very last seat, are available at any time. Redeem open seats at a mileage cost equivalent to the commercial price of the seat on any Etihad flights.

• 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 15 airline partners.

Seat selection upon availability 25% Tier Bonus Miles

Gold Tier Guest Enjoys • 15 kgs excess baggage • Priority Check-in • Lounge Access • Priority Boarding • Fast track immigration/baggage • 50% Tier Bonus • Earn Etihad Guest Tier Miles for journey • Redeem Etihad Guest Miles for journey

/Upgrades/kilos • Seat selection upon availability

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 • Redeem open seats at a mileage cost equivalent to the commercial price of the seat on any Etihad flights.

Gold Elite Tier Guest Enjoys • 20 kgs excess baggage • Priority Check-in • Lounge Access • Priority Boarding • Fast track immigration/baggage • 75% Tier Bonus • Earn Etihad Guest Tier Miles for journey • Redeem Etihad Guest Miles for journey/Upgrades • Seat selection upon availability

Silver Tier Guest Enjoys • Waitlist priority • Lounge access • 10 kgs excess baggage • Earn Etihad Guest Tier Miles for journey • Redeem Etihad Guest Miles for journey

/Upgrades/kilos.

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

John David Turner

John David Turner

John David Turner

John David Turner

1167 2695 6467

1167 2695 6467

1167 2695 6467

1167 2695 6467

Valid Thru 05/2014

Valid Thru 05/2014

Valid Thru 05/2014

Valid Thru 05/2014

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 1 Mile Redemption, voyagez une fois et de profitez des récompenses immédiatement.

• Disponibilité à tout instant - tous les sièges sur un vol, y compris le dernier, sont disponibles à tout moment. Échangez vos miles pour les open seats à un coût equivalent au prix commercial du siege par kilométrique sur n’importe quels vols Etihad Airways.

• 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 • Échangez vos miles pour les open seats à un coût equivalent au prix commercial du siege par kilométrique sur n’importe quels vols Etihad Airways.

Silver Avantages • Liste d’attente prioritaire • Accés au salon • 10 kgs 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 Tier Avantages • 15 kgs d’excédent de bagages • Priorité au Check-In • Accès au Salon • Embarquement prioritaire • Trace rapide immigration/bagage • 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 Gold Elite Tier Avantages • 20 kgs d’excédent de bagages • Priorité au Check-In • Accès au Salon • Embarquement prioritaire • Trace rapide immigration/bagage • 75% 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

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

Green Corner

Vallée de Mai

30 years of discovery

Text courtesy of Seychelles Islands Foundation in collaboration with Air Seychelles.

Photo © Camerapix

S

ince the arrival of the early explorers to the Seychelles, the Vallée de Mai has inspired wonder and amazement in all those who visit. Named the ‘Garden of Eden’ by General Gordon in 1881, this prehistoric forest has long been a place of discovery and adventure. Part of a global network of natural and cultural heritage sites under the umbrella of UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) the majestic Vallée de Mai was recognised as an area that needed protection as early as 1966 when it was declared a nature reserve by the Seychelles government. 2013 was a historic year for the Vallée de Mai when it celebrated its 30th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 9th December.

Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), a public trust, manages both Seychelles UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the Vallée de Mai has been under the protection of SIF since 1989. Known as the ‘Green Heart’ of Praslin, the Vallée de Mai has literally stepped out of the shadows in the past 30 years. Although famed for the Coco de Mer and Black Parrot, this ancient forest’s secrets are starting to be unearthed with ongoing research finding many treasures. In 2009, a new species of frog was uncovered in the Vallée de Mai which occurs only on the island of Praslin. In the same year a forgotten species of chameleon, that was lost to science for nearly 200 years, was re-discovered in the forest. One of the largest gecko species in the world, the Giant Bronze Gecko, was described just 10 years ago and is found only in this palm forest, making it one of the world’s rarest reptiles. In addition to this, an array of plants and animals has been studied increasing our knowledge of the many unique species that make up this mysterious palm forest.

There have been many achievements over the past 30 years but despite this the Vallée de Mai is still in danger. Poaching of the beautiful and valuable Coco de Mer nuts puts With the future regeneration of the forest in peril, and enhanced visitor services and effective endemic plant species fight for space with virulent invasive plants threatening the native biodiversity conservation management the Vallée of the site. Firm action has been taken against these threats with an EC funded project tackling de Mai has become a world class tourist the invasive plant species and an expanded environmental education programme growing the attraction. conservationists of the future. With enhanced visitor services and effective conservation management the Vallée de Mai has become a world class tourist attraction. Seychelles’ number one visitor attraction, a visit to the Vallée de Mai is like a step back in time, to a world where dinosaurs roamed the earth.

A ‘must do’ for any visitor to Seychelles!

After 30 successful years, what is next for the Vallée de Mai? With such a rich wealth of biodiversity that we are only just beginning to understand, the next 30 years will surely bring a great deal more research to help us to protect and manage the splendour of this forest. Alongside this, collaborative projects with the local community will ensure that there are ‘forest custodians’ for many years to come.

66 | Silhouette • Vol 25 No 2 •

Green Corner

Photos courtesy of S4S

Clean Keeping Seychelles

Contributed by Uvicka Bristol for Sustainability for Seychelles

V

isitors to Seychelles often comment on the natural beauty and cleanliness of our small island country. Seychellois are also proud of the beauty of our islands, and of our commitment to environmental protection. According to international environmental consultant Steve Raaymakers, Seychelles has one of the best organised waste collection systems of all small island states in the world. Most roadsides and beaches are cleaned by contractors on a daily basis.

However, as Seychelles continues to develop to accommodate the growing population and tourism industry, waste management is becoming an increasingly challenging problem. More goods are being imported into the country than ever before and all of these goods arrive well-encased in packaging: plastics, polystyrene, carton boxes, glass bottles, plastic bottles etc. Most of the packaging ends up in the landfill, and the goods themselves do too, once they come to the end of their useful life.

The government of Seychelles, recently launched a new waste policy to address this growing mound of waste; the policy vision is that ‘solid waste is sustainably managed and results in an improved quality of life for the population, protection of the environment, and increased economic activity.’ This can only be achieved with the full participation of all sectors of society: government, the private sector and civil society. The tourism sector also needs to be fully engaged – not only the hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related establishments, but even visitors to our islands.

The major challenge faced in regards to waste management for small islands like Seychelles is the limited space for landfills. The best way to properly manage waste is to control the amount and type that we import and produce. There are several types of rubbish that are collected and exported to be recycled such as PET bottles, aluminium cans and scrap metals. Other than that, most of our waste goes to the landfills. This is why the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle implementation is given so much importance.

Even if your stay in Seychelles is a short one, as a visitor, there is so much you can do to help in our aim to sustainably manage waste! Here are some simple eco tips that you can follow to reduce the amount of waste that you send to our landfill.

1 When travelling, a lighter load is always better!

The lighter the load, the less the waste.

2 Be diligent! Recycle your plastic bottles and aluminium cans (you can just place them next to the normal bin and someone will collect them for recycling).

3 Avoid plastic bags, buy a reusable bag and use it for all your shopping.

4 Take your batteries home with you if you have a hazardous waste program back home.

5 Get involved! Ask your hotel if they are participating in any local waste management programs and advise them on how they could adopt more eco-friendly practices! Tell them to check out www.s4seychelles.com for tips what can and cannot be recycled in Seychelles.

6 When out exploring or on the beach, use the bins along roadsides and beaches to dispose your rubbish. If you don’t see a bin, hang on to your rubbish until you find one.

Seychelles is a popular tourism destination and to keep it beautiful, every effort counts! If you notice any littering or illegal dumping please contact our Greenline on 2722111. Contact Sustainability for Seychelles on info@ s4seychelles.com if you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can better reduce, re-use or recycle waste.

• Silhouette • Vol 25 No 2 | 67

Guest Feedback

1

“We found Meryl and Williana extremely helpful and friendly.

What a joy to have these hostesses serving you.Yes, Friendly doing what they have to do with an open friendly face that clearly states that they enjoy serving you. Nice hostesses, explaining and telling you all you want to know, creating a very positive and happy atmosphere in the plane.”

2

“We are so sad that we cannot fly with Air Seychelles anymore.

Air Seychelles was the best airline in the past to get to Mahé. The service onboard has been very chic and very good. The staffs were friendly and kind. The partnership with Etihad is good but the service Etihad BerlinAuh Dhabi was bad. The service AUH-SEZ was very good. My opinion is that it would be better in the future to fly from Frankfurt directly to Mahé only with Air Seychelles.”

3

“We had a great flight and some wonderful crew. Very nice and helpful. Hope to be back onboard soon.”

4

8

“I am back in Seychelles after a long business trip and I hasten to say thank you for the excellent service and attention I received from your cabin crew during my previous travel from Abu Dhabi to Seychelles on 6 March 2014 on the Air Seychelles A330-200 Flight HM 019. I reckon passengers are often more prone to report shortcomings and incidents but I feel that when the job is neatly done, it warrants a word of appreciation. The entire crew was so affable and cordial during a long waiting time on the Abu Dhabi airport tarmac and during the travel on that day that I must commend all its members to you. This solicitude was even more appreciated as the airport had a crisis day due to failure in the landing systems which caused much delay.

In such a combusted atmosphere, the crew members responded with a very professional and friendly posture. As a frequent traveller and Gold Card holder on Air Seychelles, I thought it was my duty to share these feelings with you. I have even taken the pain to search for the names of the entire crew and I am pleased to list them. Cynthia Berlouis, Jemmy Edmond, Natasha Pillay, Meryl Jean, Julia Gamatis, Juan Nourrice, Verma Mondon, Vanessa Emile and Teressa Balisa.

9

“We find your service always friendly helpful and very accommodating. I had the privilege of getting very schanmangled and flabbergasted by your awesome service. Congratulations to the happy couple you assisted in getting engaged. I am really looking forward to flying with you guys again.”

“I would like to compliment the team who was working onboard HM061.The service provided was excellent and as a Seychellois flying with the Air Seychelles Airline I feel proud. I would like to make a special mention for Kevin Laporte for his Excellent Service and I am forever grateful for his exceptional service and treatment. Keep up the good work.”

5

10

“Nous tenons a vous remercie pour la grande gentilesse du personnel de bord pendant tout le vol et la grande qualite du service et en particulier de Anielle.merci encore. A bientot nous esperons..”

6

“Air Seychelles has definitely improved. Great service.Great flight. Great hospitality. Hoping that the next flight will be enjoyable.”

7

“Just two lines to let you know that I’m very happy with the outcome of the meeting I had with your ground staff recently. I’m pleased to see that the ground staff can match the professionalism of the Pearl Class cabin crew on board the airline we love to fly.”

68 | Silhouette • Vol 25 No 2 •

“Service was done with professionalism with an air of friendliness prevailing at all times. Keep up the good work.”

11

“Hello Air Seychelles. Thanks for the great service especially from Lisa, Andrya, Nicollette, Joella and Sabrina.

They were all super. Thanking all your Cabin Crew as they are the best.”

12

“Just a short note to say how much we enjoyed flying Air Seychelles, having the extra sports allowance was with another airline from Cape Town, and their method was not client friendly or helpful. We had the extra bonus of being upgraded, and we flew business class to the Seychelles. What an early Christmas Present!”

13

My wife and I would like to express our thanks and appreciation for the high quality in-flight service experienced on flight HM061/11 Feb’14 and HM061/16 Feb’14. As internal customers travelling J/Class, we were impressed with the performance of your cabin staff. The professionalism in combination with creole warmth service delivered by the team of Mervin Arrisol on HM061 notably Michael Agathine is commendable. On the return flight HM060, Mona Henri and team were very professional and tactful in their approach to sort out a catering issue which could run out of hands and seriously impact on the service. They remained connected with their guests throughout the flight and I was proud to note and felt the true creole warmth in the service. Please extend our thanks and appreciation to both team members as they made us proud in truly saying “Air Seychelles is a 4 Star Airline”. Keep up the good work! ”

14

“Having flown with Air Seychelles for many years, it is such a great pleasure to be able to experience the remarkable improvement in the airline.

I must make mention of the fantastic service experience onboard a recent flight HM 60 on 21 November 2013. In particular, Vanessa Emilie and the entire crew have delivered a truly world class service, comparable to the very best possible service in the airline industry.

Congratulations on creating a truly remarkable turnabout on the entire experience onboard Air Seychelles “

15

“The Seychelles was an exceptional holiday, apart from the physical beauty of the islands. We were so impressed by the civic pride of each individual. We also got the impression, that other’s people possessions were respected. Our son, so concerned, with getting his fishing equipment onto the aircraft, he left an envelope of dollars on the counter, of the passport control, only to realize his mistake later. He went back to the counter with a quaking heart, only to find it had been safely kept untouched for him.We will certainly recommend Air Seychelles, and the Seychelles for a very special holiday.”

Your garden of Eden

Be there in 15 minutes

Praslin Start your forever today when you fly to one of our Island’s most idyllic and charming location - Praslin. Say “I do” to getting there faster with over 20* daily departures.

Charter services are also available upon request.

For more information and bookings call +248 439 13 66 or contact your travel agent.

Mahé

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.

International Route Map Codeshare Route Network

Fleet Airbus A320 Wet-leased from Etihad Airways Business Class seats: 16 Economy seats: 120 Mauritius route only

Airbus A330-200 (VallĂŠe de Mai, Aldabra) Aircrafts: 2 Business Class seats: 18 Economy seats: 236 Maximum range: 4200 nm at maximum payload

Bird Island

Denis Island Praslin Island

Fregate Island

Mahé Island

Domestic Route Map Route Network D’Arros Island

Desroches Island Alphonse Island

IN DIAN

OCEAN

SHORTS 360-300 Aircraft: 1 • Seat Capacity: Total 36 Range: 630 nautical miles (1,165.5 km)

DHC-6 (TWIN OTTER) Aircraft: 4 • Seat Capacity: Total 19 Range: 490 nautical miles ( 907.5 km)

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, 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 Email: airseychelles@ludowell.co.za

Mauritius

Capital: Port Louis Languages: French, English, Creole Currency: Rupees Area: 2,040 km2 Population: 1,243,000 Air Seychelles destination: Plaisance Airport

Rogers & Company Ltd, Rogers House 5 President John Kennedy Street PO Box 60, Port Louis, Mauritius Tel: (00230) 202 6671 Fax: (00230) 208 3540 Email: hm@rogers-aviation.com

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

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

Hong Kong

Capital: Hong Kong Languages: Cantonese, English Currency: Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) Area: 1,104 km2 Population: 7,173,900 Air Seychelles destination: Hong Kong

Walshe Group Suite 906, Orient Tower 33 Lockhart Road Wan chai Hong Kong Tel: 00852 3979 3488 or 00852 3979 3489 Email: airseychelleshkg@walshegroup.com

Wo r l d w i d e O f f i c e s Seychelles

Air Seychelles Ltd, PO Box 386 Victoria MahĂŠ, Seychelles

Tel: +248-439 10 00 Fax: +248-439 1005 Email: info@airseychelles.com Web: www.airseychelles.com

Dubai

Asian Air Travel and Tourism PO Box 65006 Dubai

Tel: +971-4 286 8008 Fax: +971-4 283 2115 Mobile: +971-50 2244713 Email: info-ae@airseychelles.com Email: airsey@emirates.net.ae Email: asttrvl@eim.ae

Qatar

Qatar Tours PO Box 1683 Doha

Tel: +974-4411414/ 4436002/ 4419753 Fax: +974-4433 197/ 4351926 Email: info-qa@airseychelles.com Email: qatartours@dtco-qatar.com

Taiwan

Aviation Travel Services Co Ltd 8fl.-1 no. 146 Sung Chiang Road Taipei, Taiwan r.o.c.

Tel: +886- 2 2567 8956 Fax: +886- 2 2563 7596 General email: info-ta@airseychelles.com

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 ?

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.

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

Clothes

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 Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday Labour Day

Liberation Day National Day Corpus Christi Independence Day Assumption Day, (festival on La Digue) All Saints Day Immaculate Conception Christmas

Tipping

January 1 April 18, 20 & 21 May 1 June 5 June 18 June 19 June 29 August 15 November 1 December 8 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

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 janvier Vendredi saint, Dimanche de Pâques 18, 20 & 21 avril Fête du travail 1 mai Jour de la Libération 5 juin Fête Nationale 18 juin Fête Dieu 19 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

A LA CARTE Al Mare Restaurant Beau Vallon Tel: +248 462 02 40 / 251 21 17 / 251 21 13 Email: almare@email.sc

INDIAN Mahék Indian Restaurant Coral Strand Hotel Tel: +248 462 10 00 Email: info@coralstrand.sc

CREOLE Anse Soleil Cafe Anse Soleil, Mahé Tel: +248 436 17 00

Berjaya Beau Vallou Tel: +248 428 72 87

Boat House Beau Vallon Mahé Tel: +248 424 78 98 Mobile: +248 251 0898 Email: richardmancienne@live.com Cap Lazare Tel: +248 428 01 00 / 252 46 42 Email: info@creoletravelservices.com Chez Batista Restaurant Takamaka, Mahé Tel: +248 436 63 00 Email: batistas@seychelles.net Domaine Du Soleil Restaurant Tel: +248 428 55 55 Email: sun@seychelles.net Katiolo Anse Faure Tel: +248 4375 453 Fishtail Restaurant Tel: 4322214 Email: fishtail@seychelles.net Le Marinier Restaurant Inter Island Quay Victoria, Mahé Tel: +248 422 49 37 Le Reduit Restaurant Tel: +248 436 61 16 / 436 62 25 Email: 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 Tel: +248 428 72 87 Email: bhrseysm@berjayaseychelles.com The Wok Chinese Restaurant Coco D’or Hotel Tel: +248 424 73 31 Email: reservations@cocodor.sc GOURMET Cyann “Signature Cousine” Constance Ephilia Resort Tel: +248 4395 001 Maia Restaurant Luxury Resort Spa Tel: +248 4390 000 Email: reservations@southernsun.sc Chilli Bar & Steakhouse La Louise Tel: +248 4344 155 Zez Restaurant Four Seasons Resort Tel: +248 4393 000 ext. 1902 Email: Restaurants-Reservation.SEY@fourseasons.com

Maharajas Restaurant Tel: +248 434 68 69 Email: rm@themaharajasseychelles.com SOUTH ASIAN Kannel Four Seasons Resort Tel: +248 4393 000 ext. 1902 Email: Restaurants-Reservation.SEY@fourseasons.com

JAPANESE Teppanyaki Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Beach Resort & Casino Tel: +248 428 72 87 Email: bhrseysm@berjayaseychelles.com INTERNATIONAL/CREOLE Anchor Cafe Anse a la Mouche, Mahé Tel: +248 437 12 89 Email: keith@seychelles.net Au Jardin D’Epices Banyan Tree Seychelles Tel: +248 438 35 00 Email: reservations@banyantree.com Aubergine Restaurant The Wharf Hotel & Marina Providence, Mahé Tel: +248 467 07 00 Email: thewharf@seychelles.net Le Jardin des palmes Tel: 248 438 91 00 Email: jardindespalmes@email.sc Baobab Pizzeria Restaurant Beau Vallon, Mahé Tel: +248 424 71 67 / 258 38 68 Beach Side Bistro Coral Strand Hotel Tel: +248 429 10 00 Email: mail@coralstrand.sc Bel Air Restaurant Tel: +248 422 44 16 /46 16 Email: belair@seychelles.net Bravo Eden Island Tel: +248 4346 020 Email: bravo@seychelles.net BoardWalk Bar & Grill Eden island Marina Tel: 248 251 57 86 Email: boardwalk@email.sc Carefree Guesthouse & Restaurant Anse Aux Pins Mahé Tel: +248 437 52 37 Email: honey@seychelles.net Chez Plume Resturant Tel: +248 435 50 50 Email: plume@seychelles.net Docklands Pizzeria New Port -Victoria Tel: +248 4610 888

Doubleclick Seychelles Maison La-Rosiere Palm Street Tel: +248 461 05 90 Email: bureau@seychelles.net

La Voliere Mahé Beach Resort Tel: +248 438 53 85 Email: bmbsm@seychelles.net

Helios Restaurant Constance Ephelia Resort Tel: +248 4395 140 Email: info@epheliaresort.com

Lazare Picault Restaurant Lazare Picault Hotel Tel: +248 436 11 11 Email: lazarpco@seychelles.net

Kaz Zanana Revolution Avenue Tel: +248 4324150

Le Bourgeois Restaurant Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove Tel: +248 467 70 00 Email: reservations.fishcove@lemeridien.sc

Konoba Restaurant Bar Launge Angel Fish Bayside Marina Tel: +248 4345 400, Email: contact@konoba.sc La Scala Restaurant Tel: +248 424 75 35 Email: silscala@seychelles.net The Sea Shell Port Launay Tel: +248 4324026/2523968 Uncle Will’s Pizzeria Coco D’or Hotel Tel: +248 424 73 31 E-mail: reservations@cocodor.sc Lounge 8 Vista bay Glacis, Mahe Mobile: +248 2746808 Green Valley Anse aux Pins Tel: +248 437 1670 The Hilltop Restaurant Hilton Seychelles Tel: +248 429 90 00 Email: reservations@ thenortholmehotel.com Jolie Rose 2 Restaurant Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market Tel: +248 422 54 51 Kaz Kreol Restaurant Anse Royale Mahé Tel: +248 436 16 80 Email: chefinparadise@hotmail.com La Belle epoque Eden Plaza Tel: +248 434 67 65 Email: labelleepoque.seychelles@gmail.com La Cocoteraie Restaurant Le Meridien Barbarons Hotel Tel: +248 467 30 00 Email: reservation.barbarons@ lemeridien.sc

Le Cardinal Restaurant Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove Tel: +248 467 70 00 Email: reservations.fishcove@lemeridien.sc Le Jardin du Roi Domaine de L’enfoncement Anse Royale Tel: +248 437 13 13 Email: brymich@seychelles.net Le Mangrovia Restaurant Le Meridien Barbarons Tel: +248 467 30 00 Email: reservation.barbarons@lemeridien.com Le Rendez Vous Restaurant Tel: +248 432 35 56 Email: lerendezvous.seychelles@gmail.com Le Surmer Restaurant Le Surmer Hotel Pointe Conan, Mahé Tel: +248 424 18 11 Email: prgpalms@seychelles.net Les Cocotiers Restaurant Tel: +248 429 90 00 Email: reservations.seychelles@hilton.com Maia Luxury Resort & Spa Tel: +248 4390 000 Email: reservations@southernsun.sc Manresa Restaurant Manresa Small Hotel Tel: +248 424 13 88 Montezuma Restaurant Mahé Beach Resort Tel: +248 438 53 85 Email: bmbsm@seychelles.net The Parrot Berjaya Beau Vallon Tel: +248 428 72 87 Email: bhrseysm@berjayaseychelles.com The Board Walk Lounge & Bar Eden Island Tel: +248 443 63 03

La Palma Restaurant Coco D’or Hotel Tel: +248 424 73 31 Email: reservations@cocodor.sc

The Havana Eden Plaza Tel: +248 441 13 18 Email: havana.edenisland@gmail.com

La Plaine St Andre Tel: +248 4372010 Email: reservations@laplaine.sc

Pirates Arms Tel: +248 422 50 01 Email: pirates@email.sc

La Plage Restaurant Beau Vallon Beach Tel: +248 4620240 Email: info@laplage.sc

Pizzeria Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino Tel: +248 428 72 87 Email: sales@berjayaseychelles.com

La Perle Noire Restaurant Beau Vallon Tel: +248 462 02 20 Email: laperlenoire@seychelles.net

Porto Cervo Eden Plaza Tel: +248 261 20 25 Email: vesta7525@mail.ru

Diner a l Extérieur Saffron Banyan Tree Seychelles Tel: +248 438 35 00 Email: reservations@banyantree.com Sam’s Pizzeria Tel: +248 432 24 99 / 32 34 95 Email: samad@samspizzeria.sc Seselwa Bar Constance Ephilia Resort Tel: +248 4395182 Email: info@epheliaresort.com Sea View Restaurant Coral Strand Tel: 248 421000 Email: Mail@coralstrand.sc Sey si bon Eden Plaza Tel: +248 434 6833 / +248 251 5591 Email: sesibon@gmail.com www.sesibon.com Silhouette Restaurant Sunset Beach Resort Tel: +248 426 11 11 Email: sunset@seychelles.net Skychef Ltd Seychelles International Airport Tel: +248 438 17 63 Email: skychef@seychelles.net Sundown Restaurant Port Glaud, Mahé Tel: +248 437 83 52/ 25 88 999 Surfers beach restaurant Anse Parnell Tel: +248 278 3703/ 437 11 00 Email: surfersbeach@seychelles.net Takamaka Restaurant Tel: +248 437 20 10 Email: infobox@seychelleshotel.com The Sea Shell Port Launay Tel: +248 4324026/ 2523968 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 Zez Lounge Four Seasons Resort Tel: +248 4393222 Email: Restaurants-Reservation.SEY@fourseasons.com

RESTAURANTS – PRASLIN CREOLE Capricorn Restaurant Islanders Guesthouse Anse Kerlan, Praslin Tel: +248 423 32 24 Email: 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 Email: lechevalierbay@seychelles.net

Les Lauriers Restaurant Les Lauriers Petit Hotel Cote D’or, Praslin Tel: +248 423 22 41 Email: laurier@seychelles.net INTERNATIONAL/CREOLE Acajou Hotel Restaurant Cote D’or, Praslin Tel: +248 423 24 00 Email: acajou@seychelles.net Beach Bar and Grill Lemuria Resort Anse Kerlan, Praslin Tel: +248 428 10 91 Email: fnb@lemuriaresort.com Beach Bar Restaurant Acajou Hotel Cote D’or, Praslin Tel: +248 423 24 00 Email: acajou@seychelles.net Black Parrot Restaurant Black Parrot Suites Tel: +248 429 05 55 Email: cocodeme@seychelles.net Bonbon Plume Anse Lazio, Praslin Tel: +248 423 21 36 Bonm Ange Hotel L’Archipel Anse Tel: +248 428 47 00 Email: archipel@seychelles.net Britannia Restaurant Britannia Hotel Grand Anse, Praslin Tel: +248 423 32 15 / 423 39 15 Email: britania@seychelles.net Chateau de Feuilles Pointe Cabris, Praslin Tel: +248 429 00 00 Email: info@chateaudefeuilles.com Feuille d’Or Hotel L’Archipel Anse Gouvernement, Praslin Tel: +248 428 47 00 Email: archipel@seychelles.net The Fregate Berjaya Praslin Beach Tel: +248 428 62 86 Email: praslin.rsvn@berjayahotel.com The Britannia Grand Anse Tel: +248 423 32 15 Email: britania@seychelles.net Hibiscus Restaurant Coco de Mer Hotel Tel: +248 429 05 55 Email: cocodeme@seychelles.net Indian Ocean Lodge Grand Anse, Praslin Tel: +248 423 33 24 / 23 34 57 Email: iol@seychelles.net The Jetty Restaurant La Reserve Hotel Anse Petite Cour, Praslin Tel: +248 429 80 00 Email: 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 Email: paradise@seychelles.net Le Dauphin Hotel Le Duc de Praslin Tel: +248 429 48 00 Email: leduc@seychelles.net Le Kato Noir Palm Beach Hotel Grande Anse, Praslin Tel: +248 429 02 90/429 02 92 Email: palmbeach@seychelles.sc Legend Restaurant Lemuria Resort Anse Tel: +248 428 10 88 Email: fnb@lemuriaresort.com Octopus Diving Center Berjaya Praslin Beach Hotel Anse Volbert, Praslin Tel: +248 423 22 22 Mobile: +248 271 54 41 Email: bpbfc@seychelles.net Pool Deck Restaurant Lemuria Resort Anse Tel: +248 428 10 88 Email: fnb@lemuriaresort.com Pool Grill Restaurant La Reserve Anse Petit Cour, Praslin Tel: +248 429 80 00 Email: resa@lareserve.sc Port Side Cafe Baie Ste. Anne Jetty, Praslin Tel: +248 277 35 18 Sea Horse Restaurant & Bar Lemuria Resort Anse Kerlan, Praslin Tel: +248 428 12 81 Email: resa@lemuriaresort.com Tante Mimi Restaurant Cote D’or, Praslin Tel: +248 423 25 00 Email: desisles@seychelles.net Touchdown Restaurant Amitie Airport Praslin Tel: +248 423 36 55 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 Email: patatran@seychelles.net Tournesol Tournesol Guesthouse La Passe, La Digue Tel: +248 423 41 55 Email: tournesol@seychelles.sc

Zerof Restaurant Anse Reunion, La Digue Tel: +248 423 44 39 INTERNATIONAL/CREOLE Cafe Le Monde Grand Anse Tel: +248 278 11 21/ 252 03 11 Cafe Le Monde Baie St Anne Tel: +248 423 21 11 Chateau St Cloud La Passe, La Digue Tel: +248 423 43 46 Email: 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 Tel: +248 429 25 25 Email: reservation@ladigue.sc Pecheur Restaurant La Digue Island Lodge Tel: +248 429 25 25 Email: 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: +248 429 43 00 Email: patatran@seychelles.net Tarosa Restaurant La Passe, La Digue Tel: +248 423 44 07 Email: patatran@seychelles.net PIZZERIA/CAFE-BAR Gregoire’s comples Tel: +248 429 25 25 SEA FOOD Cafe Des Arts Cote D’or Tel: +248 429 48 00 Email: café@seychelles.net RESTAURANTS OTHER ISLANDS CREOLE Jolly Roger’s Moyenne Island Tel: +248 429 70 00 Email: info@creoletravelservices.sc INTERNATIONAL/CREOLE L’habitation Restaurant Tel: +248 432 31 11 Email: habicerf@seychelles.net

Villa Authentique Restaurant & Bar Villa Authentique La Passe, La Digue Tel: +248 423 44 13 Villa Mon Reve Anse Reunion, La Digue Tel: +248 423 42 18 Email: vmonreve@hotmail.com

Please send updated information to creative@camerapix.co.ke

Crossword & Sudoku

Take time and relax ... have some fun testing your wit!

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2

5

6

7 9

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Clues across 1. Call off (6) 7. Everything’s ok (4,4) 8. Operatic lady (4) 10. Rubbed out (6) 11. Scratch (6) 14. ‘Game xxx and match’ (3) 16. Was unwell (5) 17. Requests (4) 19. UK unit of currency (5) 21. Grizzly, or polar, for instance (5) 22. Long for (5) 23. Market (4) 26. Taxes (5) 28. Buddy (3) 29. Representatives (6) 30. Dairy spread (6) 31. This German goes both ways! (4) 32. Person marooned on a desert island (8) 33. Dash (6)

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11

10 15

14 17

19

18

12

13

16 20

21 22 26

23

27

24

25

28 30

29

31 32 33

Clues down Answers down 1. Camera 2. Crises 3. Laid 4. Ash-cans 5. Pedal 6. Bleed 8. Mask 9. Met 12. Rid 13. Peter 15. Board 18. Scrag 19. Pea 20. Urn 21. Best man 22. Yen 23. Matter 24. Alto 25. Turbot 26. Ranch 27. Terse 28. Put 30. Boys Answers across 1. Cancel 7. All’s well 8. Mimi 10. Erased 11. Scrape 14. Set 16. Ailed 17. Asks 19. Pound 21. Bears 22. Yearn 23. Mart 26. Rates 28. Pal 29. Agents 30. Butter 31. Otto 32. Castaway 33. Sprint

1. Photographic apparatus (6) 2. Major problems (6) 3. Eggs are produced this way (4) 4. Dustbins (old name) (3-4) 5. Push this with your foot (5) 6. Cut yourself and you will do this (5) 8. Facial disguise (4) 9. Encountered (3) 12. Did away with (3) 13. An important Saint (5) 15. Directors sit on this (5) 18. Lean end of neck of mutton (5) 19. Green vegetable (3) 20. Vase (3) 21. Important person at a wedding (4,3) 22. Japanese unit of currency (3) 23. Substance (6) 24. Singing voice (4) 25. European fish (6) 26. Cowboys are here (5) 27. Abrupt (5) 28. Place (3) 30. Young males (4)

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!

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1

6 7

1 3 2

6 1

7 8 2 5

3 9 4

4 4 9 6

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3

5

7

9

1

3

6

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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.

80 | Silhouette • Vol 25 No 2 •

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

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