Sesel Sa! 5th issue Oct to Dec 2014

THE VOICE OF SEYCHELLES TOURISM

MAIA

an exclusive paradise

Eden Plaza's Sey Si Bon It truly is

Cheers to a local brew a whale of an experience

FR EE

the story behind Takamaka Bay

Miss Seychelles…Another World 2014, Camilla Estico is a young woman who is deeply concerned with the issues of healthy living and how to curb obesity in young children.

The 23 year old Beau Vallon resident, also hopes to pursue her performing arts career and complete her Business studies degree in the near future. So far, her proudest moment was being accepted in at the Alvin Ailey dance theatre – one of the top ranking performing arts schools in the States. Well-travelled, places she has visited so far include Cuba, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Paris, England, Rome, Mauritius and Ethiopia. Having lived in the United States for the last nine years, Camilla would love to meet the US president, Barack Obama. If crowned at Miss World, Camilla says she will promote healthy lifestyles, which she believes is key to a beautiful life.

Her project called “Back 2 basics –healthy living” was launched on the 30th of July and follows four families aims to transform the lifestyle of these four families through healthy eating and living with the help of nutritionists and fitness experts.

Miss World final in London is on the 14th December 2014 with the countdown starting on the 20th November as the girls arrive in London. To follow our own Camila, in the final days, go to www.missworld.com

Cover Details; Marsha Dine Photographer | Miss Seychelles 2014 Camila Estico Model | Joel Rose Stylist Maia Luxury Resort and Spa, Anse Louis, Mahé Location - www.maia.com.sc Jewelry: Ring and necklace from Portofino; Earrings from Rodyann Clothes: Tunic from Folies Des Iles; Trousers; Trendy Jacket from Rodyann; Shoes from Trendy Leather suitcases: Vintage - Models own; Hard Case suitcase: Home to Office, Premier Building, Victoria

Foreword by Sherin Naiken CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board It has already been a full year since the first edition of Sesel Sa! has graced the local tourism scene – and what an eventful year it has been. Many have seen the Seychelles Tourism Board’s efforts to lure more visitors from the Indian market with the first SeychellesIndia Day while the annual Carnaval International de Victoria grows bigger and better.

As our tourism evolves, the range of products and services available to travellers becomes more extensive. True to form, STB has done its utmost to keep up with the constant changes and to adapt its products accordingly. This magazine has therefore borne witness to this evolution in the Seychelles tourism industry and the many new alliances the country has forged with its partners in the Indian Ocean region and beyond.

This month is no exception to the many milestones the tourism and culture officials are continually establishing, as the country is holding its first ever Creole Month in October.

This edition will give you the reader a tour of the many facets that constitute the Seychellois Creole culture.

You will learn of the early beginnings of Takamaka Bay and how it has established itself as the country’s favourite rum. George Camille, local artist is also featured – providing a glimpse of the Seychellois creative mind.

Traditionally, Festival Kreol has been a week-long affair, celebrating the Creole culture through festivities, workshops and general merriment. By extending festivities to one month dedicated to celebrating the Creole culture, we are offering visitors

to our shores the chance to truly experience the unique melting pot of culture that is the Seychellois Creole way.

Looking at this edition of Sesel Sa! I can see that the production team has managed to keep its promise of bringing the excitement of Seychelles closer to its more than 500,000 readers! Keeping to its mantra of being a carefully crafted publication containing interesting articles and breath-taking images, Sesel Sa! has indeed become an invaluable asset in promoting our idyllic islands.

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CEO foreword/editor Mystical Maia Takamaka STB’s new brochure George Camille Four Season resort Eden Bleu Seychelles's Edgy new hotel 31.. .. .. .. .. . A family holiday on Mahé 34.. .. .. .. .. . Quench your thirst Juices from Sey Si Bon

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Crown Beach - Dining Coral Reef restoration in Seychelles Moutya Mission Lodge National Heritage Treasure Trail Whale Sharks Maps Contacts STO Contacts

Sesel Sa! is a joint collaboration with STB and Paradise Promotions Ltd.

For more information with regards to advertising and editorial, please contact; Managing Editor | Ineke Camille | E: ineke@seychellespublications.com | Tel: +2482520937 Marie France Watson | E: marie-france@seychellespublications.com | Tel: +2482512477 Graphic Design and Layout | Olivia Michaud | E: info@angelcreativedesign.com Photographer | Suzanne Verlaque | E: studio@seychellespublications.com Published by Paradise Promotions Ltd. P.O Box 1539, Mahé, Seychelles Printed by ATLAS Printing Press LLC.

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Sesel Sa Magazine

Flying you to the city of

light & love

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Mystical Maia

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Picturesque and pristine, Maia has been enticing tourists to the Seychelles since 2006. In November, they will introduce another dimension in luxury service Legend has it that when Vasco da Gama discovered the Seychelles it was labeled on Portuguese maps as the Seven Sisters archipelago, relating to the close granite islands, while the other 108 coral islands were known as the Amirantes. There is also a star constellation in the area known as the Seven Sisters that was used by seafarers to navigate their way.

Each of the stars in the constellation was named after the daughters of Atlas and Pleione (from Greek mythology) and the eldest and most beautiful of the seven sisters was known as Maia, The Great One. So it

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is perfectly apt that one of the island’s most majestic and exclusive resorts is named after this mythical goddess.

Set on 30 acres of lush vegetation and alongside a private peninsula, Maia Luxury Resort and Spa opened in 2006 and has won a string of awards since its launch.

Most recently, the resort has won Best Luxury Resort Spa in Seychelles for two years consecutively (2013 and 2014), which has yet again set it apart from other resorts on the island. Maia’s boutique spa comprises of three lavish open-air treatment rooms and a meditation pavilion where guests can enjoy complimentary, as well as private, yoga and qi gong classes. All massage treatments have been exclusively designed for Maia including the Maia Signature Massage and the 20-Dancing Fingers Massage, where two therapists perform the treatment. At the end of 2013, the spa introduced a new spa menu, with the inclusion of the exclusive treatments

by Omorovicza, a Hungarian spa brand that dates back over 2 000 years. Most notable of the new treatments (which include five facials and three massages) is the Gold Apres Soleil Facial, which is available exclusively at Maia – you can’t experience it anywhere else in the world.

The high concentration of gold in the newly developed Gold Hydrating mask helps to repair micro-damages and gives skin a beautiful glow, while simultaneously soothing, hydrating and plumping skin with the help of hyaluronic acid.

But the spa is most definitely not the only draw-card of Maia; the 30 luxurious and perfectly appointed villas leave even the most discerning of guests impressed. Each villa comprises of two separate pavilions and a private, infinity-edged pool. All rooms are fitted with air-conditioning, interleading bathrooms with walk-in showers, dual vanity areas and a deluxe outdoor, double sunken bath tub. The bedrooms are spacious and equipped with a privately stocked bar, flat screen TVs, DVD players, iPod docking stations, ceiling fans and full-sized Hermès amenities. A secluded, outdoor area comes standard with ensuite dining facilities and an extremely comfortable, oversized day bed. A private butler, standard with each villa, can prepare light dishes, meals and refreshments throughout the day, including items not listed on the menu, barbecues and freshly caught fish.

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In November Maia will introduce ‘Beyond AllInclusive’, a new concept that allows guests an allinclusive rate so that they don’t have to worry about signing bills and adding up costs during their holiday.

Allowing them to completely relax, take their mind off the stresses of daily life and soak up the paradisiacal setting that they find themselves in. The Beyond All-Inclusive rate includes: Daily meals, soft drinks and premium alcoholic beverages; welcome Champagne; a dedicated butler service; unlimited introduction and

exploration scuba diving – including equipment hire; Yoga & Qi Gong classes; non-motorised watersports (like snorkelling, kayaking and canoeing); Wi-Fi and laundry as well as access to VIK (Very Important Kids), a bespoke programme for children including excursions to see rare birds and turtles, mini spa treatments and swimming lessons.

More reasons to stay at Maia • Easy access to Anse Louis’ long sandy beach • The award-winning gardens, as voted by the South African Landscape Institute, as “The most beautiful hotel gardens in Africa 2008”.

Tours of the garden can be arranged to view more than 300 species of exotic plants set on 12 acres of land.

• Closely located to national parks and tropical forests for hiking • Customised excursions to the outer islands can be arranged via private boat or helicopter • The Tec-Tec Restaurant specializes in Mediterranean cuisine with an Asian Creole take • The magnificent sunset Pool Bar, surrounded by granite rocks and overlooking the majestic Indian Ocean Whether with family, friends or on honeymoon, Maia tailor-makes experiences that are perfectly-suited to your individual needs Contact details: Maia Luxury Resort & Spa Tel +248 4 390 000 Fax +248 4 355 476 reservations@southernsun.sc / www.maia.com.sc

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a k a m B a k a a y T

By Nathalie Hodgson

On the south east coast of MahÊ, in the Au Cap district lies La Plaine St Andre, a 250 year old property listed on the National Heritage Foundation of Seychelles, which is also the home of the Takamaka Bay Rum Distillery. From its pristine surrounds, the distillery is a collection point for the island’s signature rum elements of sugar cane, granite filtered water, coconut and spices. The Takamaka label is certainly unique among distilleries in capturing the flavors and mystery of the Seychelles. But now the rest of the world are discovering its smooth and exciting blends, with Takamaka products racing up the hot lists of local and international rum connoisseurs alike.

La Plaine St Andre, is a beautiful property, originally owned and run as a colonial plantation house since 1792. Fully restored four years ago with exquisite trimmings, this elegant vintage building is now a favourite MahĂŠ tourist attraction for the visitors and locals. As you enter the gates

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you are greeted by the view of La Grande Mansion which has been transformed into a cocktail bar and modern Creole restaurant, and then to the left is the distillery which was originally a horse barn. At the entrance of the distillery is the ancient sugar cane crusher which is fully operational and marks the start of the 40 minute distillery and rum tasting tour.

Aurelie Etienne, the Events Coordinator, speaks enthusiastically and in detail of the different blends and flavors that make them one of the most sought after

of local brews. She also pays due regard to the history and different phases of the plant, as well as hinting at some of the secrets behind these methods. One of those being that all the water used in the distilling process is sourced from Seychelles’ natural springs, making it as local and pure as it gets. Aurelie also talked about the coconut infusions, ‘for the Coco rum we use a natural coconut extract directly from Seychelles supplies. This is added to a blended sweetened rum spirit.

All the sugar cane is also sourced locally so it’s as fresh as possible. They now have over 50 farmers for their cane supply to ensure its locally sourced’.

The distillery was built and developed by brothers Richard and Bernard d’Offay back in 2002. The brothers are no strangers to making rum. Watching their grandfather and father distill in their backyard for many years, their skills honed through hobby and passion perfected their desired taste without even knowing that this would one day be their life’s work and dream job.

‘We loved creating our own blends and had many favourite recipes from our grandfather on hand’ says Bernard d’Offay. ‘It was only after coming back to Seychelles, as we were living in South Africa at the time, that we realized that there was indeed an opportunity. So we decided to put our heads together and seek out the professionals for training to make it a viable business. I dragged my brother, who was working as a banker in London at the time, to come and invest and we took the original recipe and gave it a name and with a shoe string budget, starting our production from a small warehouse in Providence, Mahe’.

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However the location for the distillery was the tricky part for the brothers as they did not want your typical distillery in an industrial suburb. They wanted a location where people felt at home, where you can sit back and sip your rum or cocktail with friends or where you would enjoy bringing new friends. After passing La Plaine St Andre, every day to work for two years, the passing land mark became their target and it took another five years to make it their home.

It is evident from talking to the brothers, the success of their international award winning rums is from their sheer determination both at the cooper stills and in navigating their place on the Seychelles tourism landscape. ‘For years we provided samples and site visits as we worked closely with the necessary tourism bodies and Seychelles Bureau of Standards to not only accredit our rum, but also to allow us to function as a top class tourism attraction. It was a new concept, which was and still is the first of its kind in Seychelles’ explains Bernard.

‘It was not hard to restore the historical colonial plantation, as its beauty and history is seen in every brick foundation and the 40 year old Bilenbi trees scattered throughout the property. We just enhanced its splendor and gave it some TLC (tender loving care).

We knew from day one that our rum was ‘a winner’, it was just a matter of how far we could take it.’

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The Takamaka Rum range now includes white, coco, vodka and an 8 Year old Rum all distilled in Seychelles.

‘Our most consistent drive and vision to date, is to continually provide a world class range from branding, packaging, distributing and of course taste. We are not only Takamaka Rum, and since exporting to over five countries we have become a Seychelles Ambassador and flagship’ states Richard d’Offay.

This has proven to be the case with the brothers winning several medals (Gold and Silver) at various prestigious international spirit competitions such as The Spirit Challenge and the International Wine & Spirit Competition over 2011 to 2013. They also attend prestigious events for showcasing and rum festivals in many different parts of the world.

The secret to their success is clearly that they are the ‘brand pushers’ and very much behind the workings of each bottle. The passion and love is crystalized with each new product and the smile behind each of the 75 staff members. The story of each bottle starts and ends with them, making it a unique and interesting composition. Visitors to the distillery may even have the chance to meet them and enjoy a rum on the rocks while discussing the various cocktail variations on offer.

They also hold weddings, functions, private corporate events and other special occasions. Visitors not only experience the pleasures of the palate but an educational one that also ends with a little psychological release at the gift shop. No trip to Mahé is complete without a visit to Takamaka Bay Rum Distillery, La Plaine St Andre.

Tasting Notes of Dark Spice Rum, from Dave Russel, Rum Expert, from Rum Gallery.com ‘Smooth. A first sniff of this cinnamonorange colored rum reveals mild aromas both fruity and spicy (vaguely like juicyfruit gum), as well as vegetal scents and bananas. Next come milder, cinnamon, spice, vanilla, butterpecan and spearmint. The initial taste is a refreshing, inviting complexity of cinnamon, caramel, banana and vanilla, balanced atop a medium body. A semi-sweet finish begins with simple pleasing vanilla, then introduces a candy sense at mid-point, and ends a little warm as you would expect from an unaged rum’.

For more information contact: La Planie St Andre, Takamaka Rum Distillery: +248 437 2010, La Plaine St. André, Mahé.

The D'Offay brothers

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STB brochure

goes funky Gone are the days of the dry, impersonal brochure, trying in vain to entice future visitors to Seychelles, now that the Seychelles Tourism Board has worked hard to design new literature aimed at painting a refreshingly different and less formal picture of the islands.

After months of hard work, and constant consultations with members of the local tourism industry, finally, a 60 plus page little handbook is finally being sent to the printers – due to hit the shelves in November.

“We wanted to move away from the larger and heavier brochures we have produced in the past, and produce something that is small, compact and can easily fit into a potential visitors purse,” explained the Seychelles Tourism Board’s chief executive officer, Sherin Naiken.

True to form, the publication is filled with an assortment of photos showing everything from

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the exotic blend of the Seychellois race to mouthwatering dishes that the locals enjoy.

In addition to the reduction in size, the writing in the brochure is also more informal and consumer-targeted – designed in a font that would convince even the most reluctant visitor that Seychelles is indeed the place to visit to let your hair down.

For those wishing to truly blend in while here, a list of must-know phrases will definitely have them chatting away to the friendly Seychellois people in no time!

Maps of the islands including Mahe, Praslin, La Digue and even one of central Victoria will help visitors find their way around while lists of important facts about the destination and easy-to-read, straight-to-thepoint text will help orientate them towards a truly memorable holiday.

Š Frog974 Photographies

By Nathalie Hodgson

Local Seychelles Brews

For centuries the Seychellois have mastered the arts of fermentation of various fruit and vegetables to make alcoholic beverages affordable for all. Engrained in the history and culture stemming back from the plantation days, the slave workers would relax by the fire with their homemade concoctions to relieve the aches and pains of the labour intensive days.

Today these same brews are still alive, and are still very much a part of the Seychellois wind down or celebratory routines. Although there are many other imported options available today, the local brews are still as popular as ever and even make it to the international buffet tables of various hotels around the islands.

Toddy (kalou) is made from the coconut palm; the fermented palm sap and is readily available. It is also known as palm wine. This brew at its weakest is 60% alcohol so just a small amount is suffice. It is a strong sweet flavour to begin however leaves a bitter lasting taste.

Bacca rum (baka) is fermented with sugar-cane juice mixed with other additives and it tastes very sweet however depending on who makes it and how long it is fermented can also be very potent.

Lapire (lapuree) is fermented juice of various vegetables such as lentils or potatoes and sometimes fruit like pineapple and golden apple. They are often enriched with commercial sugar. This has various tastes due to which main ingredient is used.

All home-brews are usually consumed within days of the fermentation being completed due to their potency. One must be aware where they receive the local brews from, and take note that obtaining them from non-licensed producers is prohibited.

Days gone by.

On a more commercial note, the local brew, Seybrew Lager, is not made in backyards, but rather produced on a much larger scale. Brewed and bottled in Seychelles since 1972 this beverage has become as much as a national icon to the islands as the Coco De Mer. Most Europeans compare it to a light German beer, however it has a very distinct taste unlike any other in the world. Very pleasant on the palette this beer must be served ice cold. Brewed with only the finest malt and hops combined with water from our rivers, and put together with the skills of our very own Seychellois brewers, this brew is the ideal beverage for even those non-beer lovers. For more information go to www.diageo.com.

The last local commercial brew, unique to Seychelles is Takamaka Bay Rum. For more on this go to page 10.

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Out And About Calendar of Events 2014

If you’re after more sun, sea and sand, with two exciting events this October, be sure to note the dates. The underwater festival in November will also surely rock your boat.

Festival Kreol Month of October

October sees the festival changing course this year and rather than a 3 day period as previously celebrated, we will now celebrate our culture with a month long affair where we promote the Seychelles islands culture by remembering our influences; being the African, Asian and European heritage. Merged together over the years coupled with island-living influences, the Seychelles culture was born, thus creating a unique people.

The festival will look at all aspects of our diverse culture and will showcase this in food festivals, musical and theatrical shows as well as numerous other activities. Please look for Sesel SA on facebook for more details.

Seychelles India Day 3rd to 5th October

The festival spans over 3 days and is packed with fun. In fact the photography and sporting competitions started weeks ago with the weekend marking the closing and announcing of winners.

Packed with activities showcasing the diverse culture India offers, there is something for everyone with dancing, painting, sports, music, arts. It is an occasion not to be missed.

Subios 21st to 23rd November

This Festival of the Sea is an annual activity that celebrates our marine life showcasing its diversity in a series of activities including school competitions, film shows, presentations and other activities to support the event.

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George Camille

Voice of Nature

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By Nathalie Hodgson When George Camille was in primary school his teacher, Pat Monty, would repeatedly tell him ‘George, your future is in your hands’. Back then he was just enjoying sketching comics and selling them to his classmates. George always drew, and as long as he can remember he just knew how to draw. He would just look at something, take a pen and it would naturally flow. His prospects in the art industry were inevitable, he really did not have choice, and it was his calling.

Many people go through life ignoring their passions, which are seen clearly in childhood, and then spend most of their adulthood reading self-help books, longing to rekindle or change their lifestyle to fit it in again. George never gave up his love for art, and through the many obstacles that lay in front of him he marched on and made it happen. ‘I was never forced or pressured to become an artist’ George explains.

My brothers were also talented, and our parents were entrepreneurs and wanted us to succeed in whatever we wanted to pursue. Growing up in an environment where we worked for the family business on the weekends, allowed me to develop business skills that has greatly assisted me in my career’.

After requesting to add on art studies as an extra subject, and then with another friend taking art at ‘O’ levels, he graduated with top marks and went on to study at Blackheath College and then Goldsmiths College in London in the 70’s. Up to that point George was self-taught and although enthusiastic, his appreciation of the art world was subconscious and unstructured. These studies brought George to another level and he returned with some very ambitious goals. ‘I knew I would own my own studio and gallery in Seychelles. I did not want to go anywhere else to do this, even though I could have’.

Upon returning home from his studies, Camille found it very hard to get a full time job as an artist, so decided to take a loan from his Mum, and established Sunstroke Studios in 1987 together with his partner Jane. This provided him an outlet and starting point for his designs and craft activities. He worked mostly on his craftsman’s skills which proved to be a lucrative decision, and within a few years was able to purchase and restore a colonial house, Kaz Zanana in Victoria, Mahe, which opened as his first gallery in Seychelles.

His emphasis then shifted from t-shirts and crafts to his original fine work and personal drawings. ‘I draw a lot of my inspiration from Seychelles’, George remarks.

‘It is already a very creative environment, you just have to nurture this, as an artist. You have to have a lot of discipline, commitment, work ethic and support to make it a career’, he continues. ‘Many Seychellois artists are very talented however are not business savvy, so have to take on another job to pay the bills’.

George Camille

As the first Seychellois to achieve a full time art career in Seychelles, George has exhibited overseas in Mauritius, Martinique, London, Paris, Reunion and China as well as continually participating in collaborative Seychelles artists’ international exhibitions. He is well known in Indian Ocean region for his very personalised and unique styles and this has given him a reputation as one of the leading artists in the region.

Camille’s work incorporates a wide range of materials and processes in the development and articulation of his personal visual mythology. He loves to experiment with heavy canvases of metal, resin and wood in his paintings and drawings, giving them an element of surprise. George states that ‘most of my work is dominated by natural form and rhythm. The Seychelles permeates, drives and informs everything I do. Looking over the bulk of what I have done to date, I recognise a consistent synthesis of a personal journey; its marks, memories and mantras. Through them can be seen not only Seychelles in all its astonishing beauty, but also traces of all of you' Camille is currently the Chairman of the Pan-African Arterial Network, an association with its branch in Seychelles. Its mission is to assist the dynamic network of individuals, organizations, companies and institutions engaged in the African creative and cultural sector to develop and sustain a qualitative practice in the arts in their own right. One of their current projects being the ‘Public Art Project’ which will be unveiled by the end of 2014 on Mahé, has involved mentorship of various young artists from the Seychelles’ School of Art and Design, to participate in an international art initiative. “I have taken many students and assistants under my wing over the years, to mentor and give guidance. Some of which are doing very well today as artists with their own style and technique. I understand how hard it is for Seychelles students to pursue art, as the curriculum tailored to more mainstream courses and careers ’, he

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continues.’ There is a noticeable generation gap and not enough young artists and this is worrying. The majority of us are all in our 50s or 60s and there is not a large group to follow suite. It is not easy to begin your artistic career, especially in Seychelles, however if you are talented, unique, ethical and a hard worker then you will succeed’, George concludes.

You can visit his gallery at Kaz Zanana, Four Seasons, Ephelia Resort or Le Rocher on Mahe, or at Anse Gaulette on La Digue. For more information visit: www.georgecamille.sc

George has been busy over the last five years with commissioned work and opening up his new studio in Le Rocher, Mahe. He recently opened up his studio doors to host a few ‘Wine and cheese information evenings’. These exclusive evenings include a tour of the studio, where you learn all about his different styles, peak into his work area and see the etching machines run their magic. He talks about his inspirations and future work and you have an opportunity to purchase originals on the spot’. A treat for art lovers.

George one day hopes to seek further inspiration while travelling around the globe for a few months at a time and be able to take a back seat from the daily tasks of the business and concentrate on new designs and creations. ‘You need to have a complete collection to exhibit solo, it takes a lot of planning and time to incorporate a theme and tour several countries to promote your work’. This is what I hope to do later on’ George concludes.

Nature Weeps

Pti Lakaz dan Kanton

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B I O S E C U R I T Y Our defense against invasive species, pests and diseases Seychelles is a country of outstanding natural beauty with lush tropical vegetation that supports an array of unique native flora and fauna, and surrounded by turquoise clear waters rich in marine life. Its relative isolation has enabled Seychelles’ exceptional biodiversity to evolve over time and sustained its communities through fishing and agriculture. However, in today’s global environment characterized by increasing levels of trade and movement of people, this ecosystem is threatened by the introduction of animal and plant pests, diseases or invasive alien species (IAS) that can have a devastating impact on our natural environment, agriculture, economy, communities and way of life.

the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA) who hold primary responsibility for implementing biosecurity in Seychelles,

In spite of the many biological invasions faced by Seychelles in recent years, the country has thus far been lucky to remain free of many of the world’s more threatening animal and plant pests, IAS and diseases, which could have potentially catastrophic consequences. While the world’s press focuses on threats to human health, such as ebola virus, there are many equally potent threats to our animals and plants. A recent scenario discussed in the formulation of an Emergency Response Plan for Seychelles looked at the very real possibility of an extremely dangerous organism, the Chytrid fungus, getting to Seychelles; this is not dangerous to humans but threatens Seychelles unique amphibians (frogs and caecilians). This is really serious since only last month the fungus was confirmed as having reached Madagascar, literally on our doorstep! A recommendation from the planning exercise was that Seychelles consider banning the importation of live aquarium fish and live eels by high end restaurants – these could carry the fungus into Seychelles.

The front line in preventing the introduction and controlling the spread of these biological threats is the biosecurity system established by the Government of Seychelles.

‘Biosecurity’ is a set of preventive measures designed to prevent the entry and establishment of animal and plant pests, diseases and IAS, and to minimize their spread and impact on a country’s environment and health. This is no mean feat given that the Seychelles is focussed on becoming a member of the WTO, and the increasing number of regional air links, etc.

In 2008, the Government of Seychelles together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Program (GEF) initiated a US$2 million Biosecurity Project ‘Mainstreaming Prevention and Control Measures for Invasive Alien Species into Trade, Transport and Travel across the Production Landscape’ that is helping to strengthen Seychelles’ biosecurity system by increasing institutional capacity to prevent the introduction and spread of IAS, and enhancing knowledge and learning capacities. In particular, the project is supporting

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controlled from one island to another.

• Refrain from bringing in plant cuttings, seeds, propagative materials, fresh fruits and vegetables, animal parts, eggs and other organic or biosecurity risk materials from overseas travels.

Declare it!

Visitors and returning residents are given a Passenger Disembarkation Card before arriving in Seychelles. This is a legal document.

Customs and other partners in applying Biosecurity measures at our borders (airport and seaports).

To date the project has supported the introduction of passenger disembarkation cards, installation of x-ray machines at the airport, economic analysis of the impact of IAS in Seychelles, confirmation of the absence of several very serious palm diseases in the country, development and use of a biosecurity operations manual for border control staff, and development of the national Biosecurity Policy, all of which are aimed at reducing the risk of unwanted pests and diseases entering the country.

The effectiveness of Seychelles Biosecurity System relies on government, businesses, industries and communities working together - it is everyone’s responsibility. We can all contribute to protect, conserve and preserve Seychelles the way it is.

You must tick YES on your card to declare if you are carrying certain food, plant material or animal products. You can take these declared items with you to the clearance point where they will be assessed by a Customs or Biosecurity officer.

Alternatively, you may dispose of food, plant material or animal products on arrival in the quarantine bins located in the airport terminal.

On arrival your baggage will be checked by x-rays that can detect organic materials, and will be inspected by a biosecurity officer if organic materials are detected. If you fail to declare or dispose of any biosecurity risk items, or make a false declaration: • •

You will not be penalised if ALL items are declared, even if they are not allowed in Seychelles.

For further information contact: Seychelles Agricultural Agency Plant and Animal Health Services: Plants Section: (248) 461 1475, Animals Section: (248) 428 5950 or the nearest Embassy of the Republic of Seychelles

As a major tourism destination, Seychelles is especially vulnerable to pests and diseases arriving in the country. Visitors too can help minimise this risk, and maintain Seychelles natural environment, wildlife and the well-being of its people.

What you should do?

Visitors to Seychelles – and returning residents - should ensure they do not introduce pests, diseases or IAS inadvertently through their baggage, personal effects and other materials.

• Adhere to the laws and procedures when bringing in Biosecurity risk materials, products and goods.

• Refrain from moving plants and animals which are restricted or

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You will be caught.

You will then face heavy penalties: you could be prosecuted, fined more than R75,000 and/or risk a jail term and a criminal record.

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A honeymooner’s dream

Lynette Botha shares five reasons why Four Seasons Resort Seychelles should be on every couples’ destination shortlist Tree-house villas dotted in between lush greenery, a pristine private beach, world-class service and a hilltop spa with the most breathtaking views are all factors that make a holiday at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles hard to surpass. And not just any holiday, a more idyllic location would be hard to come by for a honeymoon. Let’s elaborate…

The Location

Four Seasons Resort Seychelles is located on the southwest coast of Mahé, a short 30-minute drive from the airport. The 67 villas are perched on a hill, alive with greenery, above the sandy white beach of Petite Anse, which runs along the length of the resort. Petite Anse currently holds the title of TripAdvisor’s 10th Best Beach in Africa, not least for the fact that it is a great beach to visit year-round. Private and secluded, the resort is perfectly situated to allow couples an escape from everyday life and a place to enjoy their downtime and eachother’s company, whiling away the warm days.

The accommodation and dining

Couple’s who are looking to spend their honeymoon privately will love the seclusion of the villas – each tucked away in thick jungle-like surrounds and spaced far away enough from each other that when you’re

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in your villa you feel completely alone. Besides the positioning, the villas are huge, each with their own indoor and outdoor living areas, private rim-flow pools that are spacious and offer glorious views of the surrounding nature. Each suite has its own wrap-around verandah, a large day bed, an outdoor shower and dining area. The rooms are large and comfortable, decorated in a local Creole style with an extensive use of wood and stone in indoors and outdoors, the walls are furnished with amazing local art and the beds are large and luxurious. The living space is so wonderful and all inclusive that you need not leave your villa at all, bar for a sunset walk on the beach. Romantic dinners can be arranged for you in your suite – no request is too small or too big. If you’d prefer to experience all the resort has to offer in terms of dining, there’s Zez, which is where the delicious breakfast spread is enjoyed every morning, and in the evenings offers Mediterranean-inspired dishes, with a view out over the ocean. Zez lounge is adjacent and offers Asian-inspired cuisine – think miso soup, fresh sushi and tempura, as well as amazing sake and sake cocktails. Kannel restaurant is more laidback; located close to the main pool and a few steps from the beach, it’s a smart-casual indoor-outdoor dining space with lots of fresh seafood on offer and local Creole-inspired meals. Some nights there is local dancing and live bands singing to get you into the true spirit of the Seychelles. Unwind first with a cocktail or two at the beach bar just in front.

The spa

Undoubtedly a spa with one of the best locations in the world, you absolutely have to see the view from its position high up on the hill – whether you’re enjoying a treatment or not; but trust me, you’ll want to. Every double treatment room is equipped with changing facilities, a restroom, indoor massage beds, an outdoor bathtub and a rain shower, making it a private pavilion perfect for couples to enjoy privacy and a little pampering away from anything and anyone else. Start off with a couples massage to relax and melt away any stresses and end off with an in-spa bath ritual for two, where you’ll be left to soak in an oversized tub filled with flowers, cinnamon leaves and orange slices (add in a bottle of champagne and a glorious Seychelles sunset and you’re guaranteed a memory of a lifetime).

The activities

Privacy does not mean boring – Four Seasons Resort Seychelles offers a plethora of leisure activities to keep you both busy and enjoying new experiences together on your honeymoon or romantic escape. Included in the accommodation rates are activities such as Kayaking, snorkeling, catamaran sailing, windsurfing, paddle boating, beach volleyball and badminton. To ensure you enjoy the holiday of a lifetime, the Guest Experience Manager is an expert in creating special itineraries, like a surprise dinner on the beach for two or an intimate beach picnic in a secluded spot.

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THE ROMANTIC PACKAGE OPTIONS Ultimate Romance (4 nights)

The Ultimate Romance from Four Seasons Resort Seychelles is the perfect choice for couples looking for moments of unsurpassed luxury during their romantic getaway. This option includes; • Daily breakfast for up to two guests in ZEZ restaurant • A romantic dinner for two with private chef and server on the white sands of Petite Anse beach • Blissful Connection couple’s treatment in the hilltop spa (150 minutes) • Creole cookery class for two guests • Romantic bath experience, including champagne and strawberries and four products from Yi-King’s romantic range, all blended in the Seychelles • VIP arrival service and round-trip airport transfers in a BMW • A bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne on arrival • Luxurious villa accommodations

Honeymoon (4 nights)

Set the stage for an unforgettable honeymoon with romantic experiences for two. This option includes; • Daily breakfast for up to two guests in ZEZ restaurant • A romantic dinner for two in ZEZ restaurant (excludes beverages) • Bespoke in-villa cocktail experience • Tropical floral bath set-up • One bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne on arrival • Round-trip airport transfers in a BMW • Luxurious villa accommodations

Awards and accolades

For the second year running, Four Seasons Resort Seychelles has received a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award and been honoured in their list of Top 25 Hotels in Africa. Traveller reviews ranked the Resort as the top pick in Seychelles. The category includes hotels and lodges in mainland Africa, as well as resorts in other islands such as Mauritius. The Resort has received numerous accolades in the past 12 months, including #6 in Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards The World’s Top 100 Travel Experiences, as well as runner up in their Overseas Holiday Hotels – The Middle East, Africa and the Indian Ocean and Overseas Hotel Spas sections; achieving second overall in both categories. The 6th place ranking in The World’s Top 100 overall meant the Resort ranked above whole countries, including Italy (7th) Maldives (10th), and were the highest positioned hotel, resort or spa in Seychelles.

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Seychelles’ Digitally Advanced Eden Bleu Hotel

provides much more than meets the eye

A stone’s throw from the international airport, Seychelles’ newest hotel is distinctly different.

Situated equidistant between Seychelles International Airport and the capital, Victoria, the 87-room Eden Bleu Hotel is modelled on a city centre hotel rather than the resorts typically associated with the islands.

It is built on Eden Island, an integrated resort development 100 metres off the coast of Mahé, to which it is linked by bridge as well as being easy to access by road, the Eden Bleu’s proximity to the island’s international marina, makes it the ideal point of departure for many other islands or yacht charters.

For visitors to Seychelles it’s a good place to start or end a holiday, picking up a few essentials or lastminute gifts in the adjacent Eden Plaza or exploring Victoria, a 10-minute drive away.

What differentiates it in a destination renowned for tropical holidays is that with its conference and meeting facilities and exceptional digital technology,

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the Eden Bleu Hotel is perfectly able to combine business and pleasure.

“The Eden Bleu is probably best described as edgy.

It’s somewhat different and slightly provocative for Seychelles,” explains Peter Smith Sales & Marketing Director for Eden Island.

The palm-lined entrance, leads into an airy reception area beyond which a sun deck and rimflow pool offer captivating views over the marina and Mahé’s granitic mountains. The setting and ambiance suggest an upmarket holiday hotel, but it’s a deceiving impression because the Eden Bleu offers much more.

The guest floors are accessed by lift or an exquisite, handcrafted staircase zigzagging up from opposite reception. There are three room types, including 74 luxury rooms, 12 luxury suites and a presidential suite.

The well-appointed rooms, offering views of the marina and Eden Island, come with all the usual comforts associated with a contemporary hotel room including a workstation with international plug sockets, a tea and coffee station with a Nespresso machine, fridge, large bathroom and separate shower, lounge area and 24-hour room service.

The furnishings are modern, yet elegant and understated, but what’s not immediately apparent is a WiFi system offering the fastest connections on the island and in-room Apple TV. This special hospitality version enables guests to play music, videos and other material from their devices on the 42-inch LED television, as well as access online content, the internet and hotel services. The televisions are mounted on extendable, hinged brackets so they can be viewed from anywhere in the room. iPad minis are available for guests who require these.

Another hi-tech innovation integrated to the Apple TV system is a digital concierge. This interactive interface can be downloaded to a smartphone or other mobile device before arrival and provides a full-spectrum of hotel services, island activities and everything else a guest could conceivably need to know. It isn’t just a repository for information, but a dynamic tool that can be used for everything from booking boat charters or beach trips to ordering room service or even more towels.

“Of course, if you choose, you can also access all our services from the in-room intercom. Flexibility and being able to adapt to our guest’s needs is a hallmark,” explains Smith.

The digital innovation isn’t confined to the rooms. Leading off the entrance foyer is the most technologically advanced conferencing space in the Indian Ocean islands. It has no conventional drop-down screens or data projectors. Instead the conference centre is equipped with three highdefinition LED screens, to which presentations, HD video and other content can be broadcast wirelessly.

Besides the visual quality the other advantage of this technology is that unlike normal projectors, the screens aren’t light sensitive, so delegates don’t need to sit in the dark. It also means plenty of natural light can be used, enhancing the capaciousness of the high-ceilinged space, making it a versatile venue for anything from a product launch to a wedding reception.

The conference centre can accommodate 340 guests, theatre style and is sufficiently large to seat 250 banquet style, with space for a dance floor. It can also be divided into two separate, soundproof rooms, allowing different events to take place simultaneously.

Across a large public area, suitable for registration,

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bistronomique the menu seeks to deliver the relaxed, flavoursome dining and generous portions of a bistro with gourmet refinement. Dishes include creoleinspired vegetarian, meat, poultry and seafood.

Diners are also able to select from a fresh seafood display, choosing the type, quantity, cut and sauces they prefer. The fresh seafood is prepared in front of them and priced by weight. Most of the fish are sourced from Mahé fresh fish markets; including Eden Island’s own market, built so local fishermen have somewhere to sell their catch.

The seafood theme extends to the restaurant’s feature dish, a celebration of seafood; with the generous French-style seafood platter sufficient to feed four diners.

displays or serving cocktails and canapés, is a business centre with workstations as well as four meeting rooms. There is a small boardroom that seats eight, two others which can accommodate 14 and a large boardroom that can comfortably take 18 people.

Again the technology is state-of-the-art with a touchpanel, smartboard which can be interfaced with a laptop or other devices. Any notes taken on the smartboard can be e-mailed directly from the screen.

The ground floor area is also home to the Marlin Bleu Restaurant and Bourgeois Bar which lead out to the Empereur Terrace; all of which take their monikers from Seychellois favourite fish. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Breakfast is served from 07:30 until 10:30 and comprises a buffet selection, which includes a cold display of fruits and other healthy options, cereals and pastries as well a hot menu served à la minute from the show kitchen, designed by celebrated South African chef, Luke Dale Roberts.

The à la carte all-day menu is available from 11:00 until 18:00 and includes favourites such as club sandwiches and burgers. The all-day dining menu is served on the terrace, which runs the length of the front of the hotel and accommodates a sun deck, two gazebos, a jacuzzi, infinity pool and children’s splash pool.

The dinner menu is unashamedly Seychellois, using as many local ingredients as possible. Described as

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There are also extensive conference and banqueting menus with buffet lunch and dinner options including choices of up six starters and salads, six main courses, four vegetables and nine desserts. The selection ranges from traditional favourites such as cold cuts to locally sourced ingredients such as banana and mango. Banqueting options can include a ceviche bar or action buffets, where chefs cook to order.

The Eden Bleu is different in that it complements rather than competes with the existing hospitality offerings in the Seychelles, says Smith.

“Our location together with the facilities and technology we offer make us an ideal venue for conferences and events. The association with Eden Island means we’re able to provide additional accommodation for delegates if we need to. Being on an international marina, with the Seychelles’ only shopping plaza next door, means we’re just as comfortable hosting a yacht crew as we are welcoming a family starting a holiday on the islands or wishing them au revoir before they head to the airport.”

For more information visit: info@edendbleu.com or call +248 439 9100

Mahe Family Holiday You don’t have to rob a bank to afford a family holiday in the Seychelles. The clichés of the Indian Ocean islands being primarily a honeymoon, luxury destination is no longer true. No matter what time of year you plan to take a family budget-conscious getaway, the Seychelles Islands is all within reach and your hammock strung between leaning coconut trees awaits you.

The Seychelles should be experienced by everyone.

The rich and famous do not have a monopoly on stresses from school runs, work and the kids. The Seychelles is the perfect rejuvenating antithesis to city life, where a family can take a short or long getaway filled with adventure and educate the children in its nature, its culture or just simply relaxing, winding down and reconnecting with each other.

The archipelago encourages visitors to discover worlds within a world. Just as visitors immediately distinguish the granite island beauty of the Seychelles from its peers in Mauritius and The Maldives, the characters of Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette (to name a few) beg to be experienced. However if you are tight on time, you will find plenty of wonderful things to keep the family occupied on the main island Mahe. There are several

small, owner-run, inexpensive guest houses and beach retreats scattered all over, catering for families with small children or you can book a holiday home where guests can live like locals – use the same shops and restaurants and meet people on the street –sharing the real life and culture. Depending on your time and budget, you can choose what suits you and can always come back for more!

WHAT TO DO

Mahe is the largest island and capital, home to over 78000 people. Its mountainous interior is largely covered with dense forests with peaks shooting up into the clouds, whilst the coastline has beautiful, white powdery beaches and lovely coves making it an ideal place for kids that love to run and explore. Hire a car to tour around and make as many stops you want.

Starting on one side and making your way around can be a two day affair, or you can spread it over one week, depending on how energetic everyone is. We have listed some of our favorite stops:

Capital Victoria

Stroll around the quaint streets, exploring the small shops, book stores, restaurants and pick up some souvenirs. Take a picture in front of Little Big Ben or wander further down the main street to Kenwyn House, the Natural Library and

Photo credit; www.indian-ocean.com

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Art Gallery both home to the vibrant art scene, showcasing many artist’s works and even an exhibition or two.

A little way out of Victoria’s main hub is Marie Antoinette, one of the oldest restaurants in Seychelles where the children can view rabbits, guinea pigs and local bats (housed and pets) before devouring a three course set menu of local dishes, owned and run by Seychellois.

Sir Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market Open from 6am daily, the stalls are stacked with colorful fruit, vegetables, spices and locally produced delicacies such as jams, savory condiments and pure coconut oil.

Upstairs you can find more souvenirs and art-work. Great educational visit for the kids if they are not used to these types of tropical foods.

A lovely restored traditional plantation house, originally built in 1792, offers a tranquil setting and a tantalising menu (as well as stunning bespoke cocktail list for the non-driver). The grounds of the plantation house also beg to be explored by little adventurers. For older kids a visit to the Distillery and Heritage Room can be a nice history tour or to just enjoy a meal with a good book undisturbed while the children play among the hundred year old local trees and of course taking home some Takamaka Bay Rum, the famous Spirit of the Seychelles.

The restaurant and bar are open from Monday to Saturday, 10 am until Midnight.

The Distillery and Garden Tours followed by a Guided Rum-Tasting are SR 250 per person from Monday to Friday (twice a day).For more information go to: www.laplaine.sc

Tempio Hindu

Domaine de Val des Près

Just outside the market is the largest Hindu temple in Seychelles. Open from 8am for anyone to visit, it makes a great addition to the holiday album and a treasured memory for a non-Hindu child to acknowledge another religion with the decorated figures of gods, gifts on display and often live music from traditional instruments with chants. Be sure to reflect respect and be aware of any prayer times.

The National Botanical Gardens

A perfect way to spend the afternoon with the family, particularly if you want to see one of the islands’ giant tortoises. Check out the colony of fruit bats feeding and roosting in the trees, then while away the afternoon exploring the beautiful tropical gardens, reading all the information posts at each stop so the kids learn more about the endemics of the most colourful tropical plants in the world.

Beau Vallon Bay

Here you are amidst the hustle and bustle of locals and tourists with the most condensed stretch of restaurants, bars, craft shops, pizzeria and beach restaurants.

Water sports abound and the cafés have a great selection of ice creams and smoothies to keep the kids happy. The best time to visit is on a Wednesday when the evening Bazar Labrin market brings fresh food stalls, live music and an authentically local vibe to the beach.

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Takamaka Bay’s, La Plaine St Andre

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Try some traditional local crafts at Gran Kaz Plantation House which is also a National Heritage Site. See how a Seychellois household used to look like and get involved with the series of craft workshops for the whole family.

Call in advance for workshop timings.

Anse au Cap, Victoria, Mahé; Phone: 437–6279; 437–6100

Mission Lodge

Around 30 minutes up the mountain called Sans Souci, the lodge is not a lodge at all, but a lookout. Perhaps the most famous vantage point in all of Mahe, offering spectacular sea and mountain views looking southward across the island. This is a good stop over when you are driving from one side to the other.

Michael Adams Studio

Michael is one of the Seychelles' best known artists, and was given an MBE by Queen Elisabeth in 2001 for his services to art in the Seychelles. He specialises in colourfast watercolours and silkscreen prints of people, land and seascapes. This is a nice stop when travelling around the south of Mahé.

Michael Adams studio & gallery, Anse aux Poules Bleues. Opening hours: weekdays 10am – 4pm, Saturdays 10am – 12pm; Tel: +248 361006 or +248 361513; www.michaeladamsart.com

Zip-Lining

Experience a thrilling zip line ride, through the jungle canopy on southern part of Mahé;

at the stunning Port Launay beach. Based at Constance Ephélia Hotel, this is a real treat for children (from four years old). Operated by SMAC Adventures the adventure sports include zip lining, rock climbing and abseiling. Whether or not you have experienced zip lining before this excursion it is truly unique. You also get to a viewpoint overlooking one of the most beautiful bays on Mahé. Then treat your family for a meal and enjoy the amenities of a family orientated five star hotel.

Port Launay, Mahé ; Open Mon - Sun: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm; Tel: (248) 2 536 029; www. smacadventures.com; Constance Ephélia Hotel; Tel: (248) 4395 000; www.epheliaresort.constancehotels.com

Anse Major

This is maybe for families with older children.

Anse Major is a beach bordering the preserved Morne Seychellois National Park on the northern coast of Mahé. To get to the beach you must either hike the nature trail along steep granite slopes or hire a boat from the nearby Beau-Vallon Bay. It's an easy one and a half hour walk from the bus stop at La Scala, (Bel Ombre), through shaded valleys and across weatherbeaten granite rock faces, ending in a good descent on to white sands.

The result is well worth the effort with amazing scenic views. Take plenty of water and a picnic, for the other side. You can also take a guided tour or a yacht charter (stopping for lunch on board and snorkeling), with the local destination management companies.

On The Seas

For those wanting to get off land, there are a number of boating excursions available for families. We recommend the Sainte Anne National Park day tour. The Marine National Park consists of six little islands and ten square kilometres of ocean just out off the Mahe port, adjacent to the capital Victoria. The snorkeling is spectacular and it’s a wonderful day out on the boat for the children.

For more information please contact a local tour operator once you have arrived in Seychelles.

Paradise Des Enfants

A perfect outing for a family in the centre of town Victoria. There are two entrances, one from behind the Casino 777 and the other opposite Cavier building (where Emirates HQ is located). Upon entrance there is an indoor playroom for toddlers, but the real fun lies in

the playground itself. You purchase your swipe card for SCR25 and place as much funds for the day. The rides are from SCR10 for video games to SCR25 for larger more noisy ones. With two Merry Go Rounds and two different play areas with swings, climbing gyms and slides, all age appropriate, there is fun to be had for all. The outdoor area is surrounded with large takamaka trees, giving plenty of shade and benches to rest. The other attraction for the older kids is the ice rink and the electronic games rooms. There are your usual video games but also bumper cars and soft play area from 3 to 10 years. Public toilets are close by as well.

Kids Clubs

Of course you can always spend a lovely day at a resort and let the fully trained and enthusiastic coordinators lead trips of island exploration, local crafts, culinary activities and scavenger hunts to name a few. The Kids Clubs take children ranging from toddlers to teenagers with relevant activities for all age groups. What is so nice about these clubs is that you can book for one hour (to indulge in a massage) or the full day to really go off on your own little adventure.

You do not have to be a hotel resident, however you need to book in advance and you may pay a premium. The clubs are located at the five star resorts such as Ephelia Resort, Kempenski, Four Seasons on Mahé, Lemuria Resort and Raffles Club on Praslin and on many of the one island resorts such as Desroches, Denis, Silhouette and North.

RECOMMENDED FAMILY FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION ON MAHE: In With the Locals Chalets D’Anse Forbans, Anse Soleil Beachcomber, Val Mer Resort, Southpoint Chalets, Clef des Iles, Beach Cottages Seychelles and L’Habitation de Cerf.

Spoilt rotten Constance Ephelia Resort, Four Seasons, Kempenski, Sainte Anne Resort.

For more information on where to stay visit; www.seychellestravel.com

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Quench Your Thirst

By Alexandria Faure

The abundance of exotic fruits and vegetables in Seychelles means that we can make some truly yummy and refreshing juices and smoothies.

Juices can be both nourishing and healthy, providing an array of health benefits for the body and the mind. Each fruit has its specific colour and specific health benefits; be it for the skin, the hair, the digestive system, for an energy boost and even for weight loss. You can quench your thirst, and at the same time your body will thank you

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Photography; Dominic Elizabeth

for all the goodness what you are drinking will bring. Remember – you are what you eat…and drink too!

Turn these next pages for some great additions to your recipe book. These juices are great as refreshments for parties, BBQ’s, a quencher on a hot day, and what’s more, an excellent addition to your healthy regime or clean living lifestyle.

Get your blenders ready and remember to chill and shake before pouring!

Juices courtesy of Sey Si Bon, Eden Island.

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Jous Papay– Papaya Juice A tropical fruit that has a smooth texture and an exquisite aromatic taste, the Papaya makes for a unique juice filled with a healthy dose of nutrients.

Health Benefits:

A rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Folate.

Contains special enzymes called Carpain that is good for the heart and Arginine, which is good for fertility.

Packed with dietary fibers making it excellent for the digestive system.

Excellent for the skin and has an anti-inflammatory effect.

Is very low in saturated fats and is zero in cholesterol making it a great fruit for promoting weight loss.

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Ingredients ½ of a medium sized papaya (not too ripe) Sugar (to taste) Cold Water Crushed Ice

Making the juice

Peel the papaya and remove the black seeds and cut the fruit into small pieces.

Place the papaya pieces along with ½ a cup of cold water into the blender and blend until it becomes a smooth puree. Check it is not too thick and then add more water to dilute until your preferred texture. Add some sugar as to your desired taste and add some crushed ice to make it slushy.

Chill and shake before pouring!

Jous Mang – Mango Juice

The favourite fruit on the island, the mango juice is thick, rich and mouth watering.

Health Benefits:

Rich in glutamic acid that has been shown to boost concentration and memory.

Polyphenolic Anitoxidant compounds in the mango provide protection against certain cancers.

High in copper making it good for the red blood cells.

Helps to maintain the alkalinity of the body.

Improves digestion High levels of Vitamin E that boosts sex drive and helps to regulate sex hormones.

Ingredients 2, Mangoes Sugar Cold Water Crushed Ice

Making the Juice

Wash the mangoes, remove the skin and chop into chunks. Add the chunks to a blender and add 2 cups of water and blend until smooth. Check the thickness and add water accordingly. Add sugar to your desired taste and add some crushed ice and blend together to make it slushy.

Option: Add more water if you wish to dilute it more or strain and discard the pulp.

Chill and shake before pouring!

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Jous Karambol – Starfruit Juice Definitely the star of all the fruits, the Starfruit is highly nutritious, is pleasantly sweet and fragrant.

Health Benefits:

High fiber content making it great for improving the digestion.

Reduces levels of bad cholesterol Great source of Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Excellent for the skin and boosting the immune system.

Known to cure hangovers.

Stimulates the flow of breast milk Contains vitamin B, B5 and Folic Acid.

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Ingredients 3, Starfruit Cold Water Sugar

Making the juice

Cut the star fruit into pieces and pour into a blender. Add 3 cups of cold water and blend until the mixture becomes a smooth liquid paste. Add some more cups of water and add sugar as to your desired taste and blend together.

Chill and shake before pouring!

Jous Gro Limon – Local Lime Juice

The local lime fruit of Seychelles, that has a tart but pleasant taste. Be warned! Be sure to add enough sugar to balance the acidity.

Health Benefits:

High source of Vitamin C making it excellent for the immune system.

Rejuvenates the skin Rich in flavonoids that improves digestion Reduces cholesterol levels and is good for the hearts health.

Making the Juice

Peel the lemons carefully and cut in half and be sure to remove the seeds. Squeeze the halves letting the liquid pour into a jug. To extract more liquid strain the halves to reveal some pulp. Squeeze the pulp with a spoon to extract additional juice.

Add 7 cups of water depending on how concentrated you would like the juice and add sugar as to your desired taste. Add some ice cubes.

And stir with a spoon.

Ingredients 6-7, Gro Limon Sugar (to taste) Cold Water

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Jous Fri de la Pasyon – Passion Fruit Juice The passion fruit is highly nutritious fruit that is high on the list of tropical fruits! It’s packed with vitamin C and other nutrients, not to mention its full of aromatic flavour and tanginess.

Ingredients

Health Benefits:

Making the juice

Very high in vitamin C making it excellent for boosting the immune system.

Good levels of Vitamin A, which is good for the skin, the vision and cell growth.

A rich source of Iron.

Improves sleep as it was found that eating passion fruit relaxes the nervous system and improves sleep quality.

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6, ripe passion fruits Cold Water Ice Sugar

Cut the passion fruits in half and scoop the flesh into a blender. Add about three times the amount of water and run the blender for a minute or so.

Don’t over blend as the seeds will break up and create grit. Pour the mixture into a large jug or bowl through a sieve to catch the seeds. Rub the mixture into the sieve to get every drop. Add about three times as much cold water again and add some sugar as to your desired taste. Use a teaspoon to taste the juice until you get the right amount.

With the recent boom of new restaurants and cafes opening throughout Seychelles, there has been a reinvigorated interest in great meals, unique drinks and tantalizing sides. Like anything, though, the cream rises to the top and because of that, a few of the islands' more understated contenders in the 'Restaurant Game' (as I like to call it) have really blossomed, becoming one-stop-shops for so many of us during working lunches and weekend stop-overs.

Sey Si Bon, a small, Eurocentric cafe on Eden Island, is one of the relatively new establishments that have really made a name for themselves over the past year.

Marketed as a smoothie, crepe and juice bar, Sey Si Bon truly is a big gift in a small package. Unassuming and tucked away, the 10-seater cafe boasts a truly staggering menu. Their fresh fruit smoothies are considered by many to be the best in the land, with every flavour combination that you could imagine, and then some. For the people who struggle to make up their minds, I would suggest that you go for anything berry-based to truly experience a revelation of taste. If you're looking for something a bit heavier (perhaps an on-the-go liquid lunch), fret not – Sey Si

Photo Credit; Suzanne Verlaque

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Sey Si bon Sey Si bon Sey Si bon Sey Si bon Sey Si bon Sey Si bon

Sey Si Bon – A Review

Sey Si bon Sey Si bon Sey Si bon Sey Si bon Sey Si bon

Bon's incomparable frozen yoghurt mixes are just what you need. Created by combining fresh fruit, ground nuts and sweet bites with fresh, frozen yoghurt, any choice in the dairy category at Sey Si Bon will set you up for the day, guaranteed.

The hype isn't limited to non-solids, though. If you're a fan of crepes and wraps, you'd do well to visit Sey Si Bon as soon as humanly possible; their savoury crepes have arguably set the perfect middle-ground between a fully fledged meal and an energy-boosting snack. Made with fine ingredients offered in a range of mixtures, the crepes will fill you up but won't leave you with that standard 'I shouldn't have had so much' feeling when you're done with lunch which, if you're like me, is a far-too-common cause of premature napping. I would suggest trying the BBQ chicken and cheese crepe, which is served with Jalapeno peppers. Over and above the crepes, you can also order really great hot-dogs (which share no qualities with the street-meat hot-dogs that you'd get at any market festival or street party), Mexican-influenced wraps and even nachos and cheese!

To top it all off, your dessert options are practically endless. You can tell that the guys behind the counter at Sey Si Bon really enjoy feeding people the food that they make but above that, they love seeing the look on your face when you try one of their unique milkshakes. Order a vanilla milkshake topped with chunks of your favourite chocolate bar or a chocolate shake adorned with mini Oreo cookies. You won't be disappointed.

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the child in everyone. It could be somewhere along the Californian coastline just as easily as it could be a small corner shop in central Paris. Thankfully, it's right here on sunny little Mahe.

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Sey Si bon Sey Si bon Sey Si bon Sey Si bon Sey Si bon

Sey Si Bon's greatest attraction, however, is its atmosphere. From the moment you walk into the cafe, whether you're staying for a while or grabbing something to go, you're transported from Eden Island to a place where colours and taste collide to bring out

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CROWN BEACH HOTEL

Chef's platter of Grilled Prawn served with Steamed Rice Crown Beach hotel is aptly named - situated on the corner before Fairyland, before a blue sea and a soft sandy beach, in the quiet town of Point Aux Sel, only 15 minutes from the airport and close to some fantastic snorkeling spots.

The sea bed runs wide, making it a safe place for the family with post lunch swims or for a family holiday stay. The hotel offers endless advantages but today we’re going to talk about the restaurant.

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With tables placed both inside and outside, with views of the beach and an inviting pool, the venue is an ideal location for dinner parties, weddings and birthday parties.

Buffets run some weekends, but its best to book ahead because it depends on in-house bookings, however if you are able to sample a range of dishes, it is indeed your lucky day.

The menu is an endless delight but what you see on the menu

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does not limit your options. If you have something specific in mind, do call ahead and make the request. As a small establishment, they have the great advantage of being flexible and when they can honour a request, they will do their best. It’s this personalized service that sets them apart from their competitors.

This stands true across all aspects of the business.

The kitchens are led by chiefs Damien Michaud and Elbert Zialor who create delicious meals. We got to sample a few

Grilled fillet Beef served with Mushroom & Herb Mashed Potato

Grilled Fish of Job served with Creole Risotto

of their fares and each was beautifully presented and tastier then the one before but the absolute winner was a divine passion fruit mousse which was a delight to the taste buds and a refreshing end to the meal.

Crown Beach hotel is a must stop for tourists and locals alike!

Damien Michaud

Elbert Zialor

Passion Fruit Mouse View from Garden

Poolside

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Coral Reef Restoration In Seychelles

By Elke Talma yet despite being widely practiced it is still considered experimental, as scientist are still trying to understand how the reef ecosystem dynamics works.

A range of restoration techniques have been employed over the years and include passive or indirect management measures to remove impediments to natural recovery (control of coral predators such as Crown of Thorns starfish, establishing no-go zones in marine parks to eliminate destructive actions such anchor damage, regulating land-use practices or restoring neighbouring mangrove habitats to reduce sedimentation from land run-off ) as well as active or direct interventions such as transplantation of coral fragments and creating artificial reefs. Surprisingly though, there is little to no evidence for the effectiveness of said restoration practices, but is fair to say that these actions will continue despite our lack of understanding the processes involved in restoration and its related benefits.

Photo Credit Chris Mason-Parke

Coral reefs are among the most complex and biologically diverse ecosystems on earth, generally being considered as ‘tropical rainforest of the sea’ with over 25% of ocean species occurring in an area of less than 0.2% of the ocean floor. Often associated with mangroves and seagrass beds, these tropical systems are considered critically important to humankind because of the ecosystem goods and services they provide, particularly to coastal communities, amounting to over US$375 billion per year with most of this coming from recreation, sea defence services and food production. Yet coral reefs are deteriorating at an alarming rate, suffering from large scale decline in abundance, diversity and habitat structure as a result of overfishing, destructive fishing practices, pollution and other anthropogenic disturbances as well as climate change and natural disturbances.

This has led to worldwide initiatives to improve the state of impacted reefs. The primary aim of coral reef restoration, therefore, is to help remedy the negative impacts of human activities on coral reef ecosystems,

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Coral reef restoration in Seychelles Following the 1997/1998 mass bleaching event, more than 90% of shallow corals were killed on most Indian Ocean reefs. In Seychelles, coral cover was reduced to less than 5% on most reefs in the inner islands and for the most part recovery has also been slow at many locations. Some effort has been made to assist recovery, ranging from predator control (crown of thorns starfish and sea urchins), installing mooring buoys to reduce anchor damage at sensitive sites, creating artificial reefs from ship wrecks and even transplanting coral fragments where funds and manpower permit.

Photo Credit Chris Mason-Parke

One of the first coral transplantation projects was in 1999, in an attempt to mitigate the impacts of the East Coast Reclamation Project. Fragments of coral were collected from the shallow reefs around the Victoria harbour and relocated to the neighbouring Ste. Anne Marine Park. Similarly, in 2006, coral fragments were collected from the east coast of Eden Island and relocated to the north side prior to developers re-designing the artificial island. More recently, Nature Seychelles received funds from US Aid for the ‘Seychelles Reef Rescuers Project’ which is being piloted on reefs surrounding Cousin Nature Reserve using a two step approach, namely generating a pool of farmed coral colonies which is then transplanted onto the degraded reef along the east coast of Cousin.

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The project has trained a pool of local restoration technicians, who will hopefully spawn a small-scale coral reef restoration industry and generate revenue from an alternative live-hood. One such beneficiary has been Octopus Divers, who together with the Seychelles National Parks Authority (SNPA) and trainee divers from the Vijay International School have set up three additional pilot sites near Praslin, trialling various artificial substrate and transplant attachment techniques.

For more detailed information on best practices, please read: •

The Coral Reef Restoration Handbook edited by William F. Precht and published in 2006 by CRC Press (ISBN 0-8493-2073-9).

• The International Primer on Ecological Restoration by the Society for Ecological Restoration which is available online www.ser.org/content ecological_restoration_primer.asp.

• Reef Restoration Concepts & Guidelines: Making sensible management choices in the face of uncertainty by Alasdair Edwards and Edgardo Gomez which is available online http://www gefcoral.org/Portals/25/workgroups/rr_guidelines rrg_fullguide.pdf

Photo Credit Chris Mason-Parke

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Before embarking on a coral reef restoration project, there are some important considerations: • Coral reefs can often recover naturally from disturbances without human intervention provide that the area is relatively unstressed by anthropogenic impacts • Although restoration can enhance conservation efforts, restoration is always a poor second to the preservation of original habitats.

• The goals of restoration projects should be formulated at the outset (biodiversity conservation vs. fisheries enhancement vs. coastal protection vs. recreational attraction) and measurable indicators or targets should be set that allow regular assessments of the progress over time towards the restoration goals.

• Restoration should not be a one-off event but rather considered as an ongoing process over a time-scale of years which is likely to need adaptive management.

• Successes, failures and lessons learnt should be widely disseminated so that others can benefit from your experiences.

Why are reef ecosystems important?

They have been described as “tropical rain forests of the ocean” with 25% of ocean species occurring in an area of less than 0.2% of the ocean floor.

They provide a temporary habitat to 1/3 of all marine fish species, with 40% of commercial fish using reefs as a breeding site

Photo Credit Chris Mason-Parke

•

•

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• They provide 6 million metric tons of fish catch annually • They contribute an estimated US$30 billion annually to economies worldwide, through fishing, tourism and recreation, biodiversity and coastal protection from extreme weather events such as tsunamis and storm surges.

• They regulate carbon dioxide in water, thus acting as a carbon sink for climate change • They are a possible source of new pharmaceuticals curing Cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer’s.

The major threats to coral reefs • Anthropogenic disturbances • Pollution • Overfishing • Destructive fishing (dynamite, cyanide, trawling) • Coastal development (sedimentation, eutrophication) • Physical destruction (anchors, scuba diving, ship groundings) • Invasive species • Climate change • Increased ocean temperatures resulting in coral bleaching • Ocean acidification due to atmospheric CO2 • Increased storm surges (cyclones) • Natural disturbances • Coral disease • Coral predators • Tsunamis

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I n Th e N e w s Cat Cocos launched it’s ‘Zolie Seychelles’ documentary on the 1st August 2014 on the first ferry leaving Mahe that morning. However a lucky few were able to enjoy a private viewing the evening before in the charming setting of La Plaine St Andre, where we were able to enjoy a pre viewing, while sipping cocktails and enjoying pleasant company.

Rock it , a media company showcasing the latest technique and styles being used in filming, has Enchanted Island Resort, the first international property managed by UAE-based hospitality group JA Resorts & Hotels, hosted its inaugural event on 29th August 2014. Home to ten boutique style villas, the island paradise opened in January 2014 within one of the Indian Ocean archipelago’s protected National Marine Parks. Located just a 15-minute motorboat ride to the main island of Mahé, the resort is spread over five acres with the villas designed to reflect the island’s

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collaborated with Cat Cocos to produce ‘Zolie Seychelles’ and will showcase high quality filming with a refined sense of style. Advertising opportunities are also being offered between the features.

The company will produce a series of documentaries running through each quarter, filled with insights to holiday ideals, with suggestions about what to do, where to stay and places to eat. Hosted by Miss Seychelles 2012 Miss Sherlyn Furneau - who did a beautiful job in presenting this first episode - ‘Zolie Seychelles’ has successfully captured our attention and we’ll look out for it on our screen on our trips to Praslin.

traditional Creole-Seychellois architecture, just steps away from white sand beaches. Each villa has a private infinity pool, outdoor deck, gazebo, rain shower, French bathtub, king-size bed, complimentary Wi-Fi, a dedicated 24/7 butler service and more besides.

The resort has been created around the original environment of the island, making each villa merge and flow with the natural landscape.

La Scala is a much loved, well established Italian restaurant, based in the North of Mahe, in Bel Ombre, overlooking the ocean. Opened over 30 years ago by Silvana and Gianni Torsi, they have built a reputation as a fine dining establishment known for their traditional Italian fare as well as offering other European and Creole meals. Continually recognized by both international and local organizations for their high standards, the most recent acclamation is by TripAdvior.

Fisherman's Cove The Eclair Launch On Saturday the 26th of July, Le Meridien Fisherman's Cove resort held an afternoon tea launch party for their latest and arguably most tantalizing endeavour to date; A New Perspective on the Parisian treat - Éclairs.

Upon arrival guests were greeted by a team of chefs and hotel executives, who welcomed each person with a custom-made chocolate eclair. The rest of the event moved as you would expect, dominated by how many of the gourmet desserts each guest could eat in one sitting, with the limit being set only by how much time they had to spare. A selection of sweet

and savoury eclairs, ranging from Salmon-topped treats to finely dressed triple chocolate bites, was presented across both sides of the famous hotels foyer, generally causing as much of a stir as I've seen any culinary experience create. To all the dessert fans and sweet-tooth owners out there – you haven't had an eclair until you've had a Le Meridien Fisherman's Cove signature Éclairs.

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Acajou re-opening in November The Acajou Hotel on the Seychelles island of Praslin re-opens this November under the new name “Acajou Beach Resort,” following an extensive refurbishment of the entire property.

The renovation has seen the creation of a brand new infinity pool overlooking the sea and an adjacent beach-side deck, pool bar and restaurant. Each of the existing 32 rooms have been refreshed in line with the 20 new units that have been built. The resort now features 14 Standard rooms, 16 Superior rooms, 14 Deluxe beachfront rooms, 2 open-plan Family rooms, and 6 new self-catering apartments.

A large part of the renovation has revolved around technology to bolster the resort’s already impressive ‘green’ credentials: the first phase of a new photovoltaic solar energy system – which will power the vast majority of the resort’s lighting and air conditioning systems – is just one of a range of new eco-friendly initiatives established by the resort.

Contact: Joanise Doway, General Manager Tel: +248 4 385 300 Fax: +248 4 385 301 E-mail: acajou@seychelles.net

Go to www.seychelles.travel

and download your own digital copy

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Seychelles Islands E-Travel Guide The Seychelles Islands E-Travel Guide developed by the Seychelles Tourism Board provides information about the Seychelles Islands, plus Events, Activities, Traveller Essentials, Monuments and Attractions, Interactive Maps and addresses of both Local and Overseas Offices and Representatives.

The E-Travel Guide now has new features such as 360 degree virtual tour gallery with a vast selection of tours ranging from beaches to city views, mountain views and attractions on MahĂŠ, Praslin and La Digue .

The guide additionally features an online interactive map of the islands.

Download the E-Travel Guide Today on your Ipad or Tablet for FREE, available on the Apple App store and on Google Play. In just its first 2 months of being launched the guide has been downloaded over 6,000 Times from over 36 countries with no Marketing. The online version of the guide is also available on the Seychelles tourism website (www.seychelles.travel) under Media Centre.

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The Seychelles Pitcher plant

By Mma Metsi Often called “lalyann potao” by the locals this is a carnivorous plant that is endemic to the Seychelles.

It can only be found growing on the islands of Mahe and Silhouette. It is a climbing plant that can be found along rocky mountainous areas.The plant has leathery, green leaves that are broad at the base and then taper into a pointed tip. The leaves form rosettes along the reddish-brown stems of the plant. The middle vein of the leaf can form either a tendril or a pitcher. Pitchers are goblet-shaped flasks that are either, red, green, yellow or orange and have a circular lid. The flowers for this plant are brownish-cream flowers. The most common way to view these amazing plants is to follow the “Congo Rouge”/“Copolia” mountain trail at La Misere on Mahe and hike to the top of the mountain.

A tiring venture but well worth it.

Mr Ferdinand Vidot, one of the Seychelles’ foremost herbalists, has over 60 years of experience both growing medicinal plants in his vast garden at Baie Lazare, then using these plants to make homemade herbal medicine. Mr Ferdinand uses this plant to treat what he refers to as the stomach issues which includes diarrhoea, constipation and gas. He says that

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(Nepenthes pervillei)

boiling the leaves makes an infusion that can “settle the upset stomach”, the concentration and dosage he administers depends on the severity of the problem.

His treatment is supported by modern medicine in that it has been found that the Pitcher plant contains tannins and other chemicals that are thought to help with some digestive tract problems. These chemicals are currently in use to treat digestive disorders and constipation.

Modern medicine however has also identified the chemical sarapin from the plant which is used for treatment of urinary tract diseases, fluid retention, smallpox, preventing scar formation and pain, when given by injection. There is also a protein in the plant’s gastric juice that is thought to have anti-fungal properties.

Mr Ferdinand also advocates using the plant for impotence. He makes a potion which requires boiling the pointed tip of the leaves in the juice from the pitcher. He cheekily adds, “It smells and tastes disgusting but an erection is guaranteed.” However, research has yet to be made into this area but to quote Mr Ferdinand, “If they keep coming back for more, it must be working.”

The Vallée de Mai a world class experience

Photo Credit; www.jameswarwick.co.uk.jpg

Photo credit; L Chong-Seng

The Vallée de Mai welcomed over 83,000 visitors last year alone and is the most visited natural site in Seychelles. Under the management of Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) since 1989, the Vallée de Mai became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Famed for the opportunity to see the towering Coco de Mer and the enigmatic Seychelles Black Parrot, the Vallée de Mai offers a distinctive and world class experience. But what is it that attracts an increasing number of visitors and makes this place so special?

We spoke to SIF Visitor Management Coordinator Ms Evadney Lafortune to find out.

The Vallée de Mai has welcomed many distinguished guests including H.R.H Prince Edward

WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES THE VALLÉE DE MAI SUCH AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR VISITORS? I think that visitors are amazed by the beauty of this World Heritage Site and the diversity of life that is found here. The Vallée de Mai offers a unique opportunity to see the endangered Coco de Mer in its natural state, this is not something that can be replicated anywhere else!

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES DURING THE TIME YOU HAVE WORKED AT THE VALLÉE DE MAI, INCLUDING THE RE-DEVELOPMENT OF THE VISITOR CENTRE. Yes this is true. When I first started working here in 1990, there was only a small shelter to welcome visitors. Since it’s redevelopment in 2009 we now have an excellent visitor centre with a cafe, souvenir shop, bathroom facilities and an education and information centre. We also have a small part of the forest accessible by wheelchairs. I think the expansion of these facilities and improvement in customer service has really enriched the experience for our visitors and firmly placed us as world class tourist attraction.

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YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING AT THE VALLÉE DE MAI FOR 24 YEARS, YOU MUST HAVE SEEN SOME INTERESTING VISITORS COME THROUGH THESE GATES?

The home page of the app for the Vallee de Mai

Inside the Vallée de Mai

Photo credit; www.jameswarwick.co.uk

We receive visitors from all over the world – Russia, Germany, China, France, Kenya, Singapore - young and old. We have also had the pleasure of welcoming some very distinguished guests such as H.R.H Prince Edward of Great Britain, H.R.H Princess Anne of Great Britain, the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of Cape Verde Jorge Carlos Fonseca, the former President of France Francois Mitterrand and French international footballer Paul Pogba. I think the important thing to remember is that the Vallée de Mai is a place that everyone can enjoy and appreciate, irrespective of where they come from or their age.

Last year the President of Sri Lanka visited this UNESCO World Heritage Site

Photo credit; SIF

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WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ASPECT OF WORKING AT THE VALLÉE DE MAI?

Evadney Lafortune, Visitor Services Coordinator at the Vallée de Mai

My favourite part of working at the Vallée de Mai is meeting our many international visitors on our guided tours. I enjoy sharing my passion for this forest with them and showing them the wonderful animals and plants that make this place so special and valuable.

HAVE YOU GOT ANY TIPS OR ADVICE FOR PEOPLE VISITING THE VALLÉE DE MAI?

Photo credit; SIF

To make the most out of any visit to the Vallée de Mai you should certainly take a free guided tour with one of our SIF visitor attendants. These tours are available twice a day and provide a much more detailed insight into the forest and the plants and animals you will find there. Afterwards you will still have time to explore the forest for yourself, armed with the knowledge you have gained on the tour.

You can also download our electronic guide for the Vallée de Mai which is available in the iTunes store or on Google Play. This guide is an excellent accompaniment both before and during your visit to the Vallée de Mai and gives information on the wildlife you can expect to encounter and the facilities available.

The Seychelles flag The flag of the Seychelles was adopted on June 18, 1996.

The oblique bands symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future.

The colour blue depicts the sky and the sea that surrounds the Seychelles.

Yellow is for the sun which gives light and life, red symbolizes the people and their determination to work for the future in unity and love, whilst the white band represents social justice and harmony. The green depicts the land and natural environment.

Source: wikipedia.org

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Moutya A Dance Rooted with Origin

Created 200 years ago, forbidden by the church, and bursting with African influences; the drums of Moutya are still beating and the songs still being sung today. Imagine it! A fiery dance immersed in emotion and freedom through dance.

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By Alexandria Faure With Special thanks to the Seychelles National Archives, Norbert Salomon, Maria Léon, Joe Laurence & Aselma Woodcock.

There are very few material objects or written documentations that can testify for the life of the slaves during the colonial era of the Seychelles. The existing testimonies are kept alive through the Oral Traditions; Songs, Stories, Riddles, Dances, Proverbs and most importantly the Kreol maternal language.

In the Indian Oceans’ historical discourse, it is thought that as early as the times of the Phoenicians that the islands of the Seychelles were transformed culturally by 3 different continents; Asia, Africa and Europe.

Almost like an early example of globalization, these three continents, bursting with culture met together in a historical encounter that has created a nation of who, todays people pride themselves in being called Seychellois-Seselwa.

Many cultural practices, traditions, genres of dance, music and art emerged as a result of these cultural exchanges. And thus we have today- the Seychellois Kreol identity.

The Seychellois Kreol identity is performed and celebrated in many cultural practices in Seychelles, however it is richly represented in dance, music and oral practices such as the Moutya and many others.

The Moutya was created by the slaves about 200 years ago, and these very slaves were of African descent.

The rhythm of the Moutya is of African origin but the lyrics are specifically of the Seychellois Kreol language. Hence we can see the start of a Kreol society forming through the use of language. Most of the African influenced dances in Seychellois culture are performed in the open air and involved much less structure of the dance steps. This is probably due to the working conditions that the slaves and lower working class were exposed to during the colonial times. Working on the plantations, the fields and beaches; these open air areas were the only places they could entertain themselves during their breaks.

'Whilst the white European masters danced in their great halls, the slaves created their own dance to declare their suffering.’ ~ Norbert Salomon In the colonial Seychelles, Moutya was not just a dance. After a hard days work laboring on the plantations under the scorching sun – the Moutya was the perfect playing field to let go of the pressures of a harsh life, entertain oneself, sing, lament and socialize.

Moutya was a creative tool for survival; for voicing the stories that the masters tried hard to silence. A tool of emancipation from slavery; even if it was just for a Sunday night or a Saturday afternoon.

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Art forms are thought to be a storytelling mechanism where society can face itself, question and determine its identity. Moutya is an example of this not only in the way it is performed, but the importance it had in the lives of the people during the colonial era.

The preparation for the Moutya started well in the day when the women would gather palm leaves for the bonfire. The lighting of the bonfire was to heat the Tanbour instruments, and because Moutya was performed in the evenings and since there was no electricity the bonfire was a tool for lighting. Today it is used for the same, but is also adds a visual and dramatic element to the dance. In some instances the performance of Moutya served as a platform to confront social issues that the community of slaves were facing at the time.

What’s the story behind the songs of the Moutya?

What’s the message? Many of the songs chanted during the Moutya were used as an anti-system manifestation- as way for the masters not to understand what was being said. Some groups insulted their masters, some sang of lost loves and some of suffering and hardships. It even became similar to a news forum – sunken ships, accidents and gossip also became part of the narrative of the songs.

Hence during these times, the Moutya circle was the place to be if one wanted to know what was going on in the community. There are songs that ridicule people, and funnily enough, there were instances

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where the person present didn’t notice that the song was about them because the song was sung in proverbs and metaphors.

Today it is rare that new songs are created, and ironically songs that were created during the colonial times are still being sung today at Moutya events – a wonderful example of embracing a rich ancestry and keeping alive the words of those that lived these moments before we came to be. An embodied archives!

Although Moutya is now a popular dance form and a very important feature of the Seychellois Kreol identity during the colonial and plantation labour era, in the past the dance itself was an integral part of the communities’ forum for freedom of speech in an environment where they were oppressed.

In todays modernizing world, globalization has changed the confines around culture that were drawn on maps, making them blurred and obscure.

By placing ourselves at the center of our culture and society, we can begin to see this progress and begin to take the steps to preserve what is left. It is a concern as to whether modernity is taking precedence, and there is a major risk in losing what our ancestors fought so hard to create. Luckily enough, Moutya has taken back its place amongst the people and its practice has once again reappeared on our beaches and in our communities.

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Seychelles is more than just a sun, sea & sand destination. Look a little deeper and you will find a complex culture bursting with elements that will leave the observer in awe. There is more to Seychelles than the beautiful beaches and the charming island hospitality. On a Wednesday evening at Beau Vallon, the Bazaar Labrin plays host to a fiery Moutya dance. From a distance you can hear the melody of the drums and the sounds of singing and shouts, as you get closer you see a group of women in beautiful long skirts dancing around a bonfire. The Moutya is a mesmerizing cultural dance practice, but its story is an epic historical one indeed. There is no denying that people of Seychelles are heirs to cultural elements that have derived from distant lands on the continent of Africa; the Moutya is a living testimony of that.

Sources Interviews with Norbert Salomon Marvelle Estralle, Research: Tradisyon Oral Dan Kiltir Seselwa Norbert Salomon, Lanmizik Lesklavaz, Seychelles National Archives Penda Choppy, Research: Memwar Lesklavaz Dan Sesel, Dan Lekspresyon literer e artistik, (Mahé Seychelles: The Kreol Institute Archives, 2006) Jean Claude Mahoune, Lesklavaz, Seychelles National Archives Jean Barnabé and Patrick Chamoiseau, In Praise of Creoleness, (France: Gallimard, 1993), Osita Okagbue, Culture and Identity in African and Caribbean Theatre, (London: Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd, 2009),

‘Africa will, therefore, always excite an echo of recognition in her children, irrespective of where they are located on the face of the earth’.

Prof. Osita Okagbue

Robin Cohen & Paola Toninato, The Creolization Reader: Studies in Mixed Identity and Culture, (Routldge: London & New York, 2010) William McAteer, The History of Seychelles: Rivals In Eden, (Mahé Seychelles: Pristine Books, 2001)

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Venns Town & The Mission Viewing Lodge

By Alexandria Faure A special thanks to the Seychelles National Archives.

Up in the mountains of La Misere on Mahé Island one can discover a hidden gem- one of the oldest sites in the Seychelles; Venns Town.

In 1972 her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II came to Seychelles to open the Seychelles International Airport but also visited the ruins of Venns Town and also opened the Mission Viewing Lodge.

The Mission Viewing Lodge is definitely the place on Mahé with one of the best views! Later, in 1984 Venns Town was declared a National Monument.

Take a trip to the Venns Town, we promise you won’t regret it. The Viewing Lodge showcases a spectacular panoramic carpet of green rainforest that leads down to the fined sand beaches of the East Coast of Mahé. The Lodge is a great place to take some amazing landscape shots and to take a moment to be at one with nature. But there is more to this eclectic place then the view and the beautiful forest. The stories of the slaves are rarely told, however Venns Town is marked in a good light – it was the home of the children of liberated slaves.

During a time when the slave trade was ruthless

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During her stay she made several paintings that today gives the viewer a vivid and beautiful impression of what the settlement was like at that time. There was also a small cemetery at Venns Town where some of the children who died of incurable diseases were buried. Sadly, Venns Town closed in 1894, because more and more schools were being built on MahĂŠ giving children access to education where people were living and working. Thankfully so, the slave trade had ceased by that time.

With such a rich and delightful history of charity, liberation, hope and compassion, Venns Town remains a symbol of goodwill.

Enjoy the view, but also remember the story behind the location!

Marianne North's painting as seen on a board at Mission Lodge

and seemed to be ceaseless, Venns Town displayed exemplary goodness and harmony.

The site was established by the Church Mission Society as a sanctuary for the children of liberated slaves, and it was officially opened on the 20th May 1876. The sanctuary was named after Henry Venn, who was an Anglican Evangelist and was the Secretary of the Church Missionary around 1841 to 1873. Venns Town became known as a charitable institution and sanctuary for the children, where the children were encouraged to be enriched and inspired to learn.

The children at Venns Town learned many skills that included Carpentry, Gardening as well as being taught bible stories and Hymns. By the year 1877, Venns Town had become a secure and comfortable little settlement with two dormitories- one for the boys and one for the girls. As well as the dormitories, there was a large cottage for the schoolmaster and his family, washrooms, kitchens and a few out-houses, a store room and a dozen or so huts for the labourers of whose responsibility it was to clear the land. Venns Town was also an independent settlement, water was collected from a nearby river by using bamboo pipes and was later stored in small basins made of stone. In November of 1877 it was recorded that 55 children, with 35 boys and 20 girls were staying at Venns Town and during its existence many visitors trekked up the mountain path to visit and discover how the African children were doing and the serenity of the settlement. One of the most famous visitors was a Victorian lady called Marianne North who was a painter and traveller. Marianne arrived in Seychelles on the 13th October 1882 and stayed for three months of which three weeks were spent at Venns Town.

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(Above and below) Today's remains of the Old Settlement

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Aviation

This July, Air Seychelles was proud to welcome two new DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft to its fleet – ‘Isle of Bird’ and ‘Isle of La Digue’.

The aircraft flew 9,175 nautical miles on their way to Seychelles, from Victoria, British Columbia, stopping at several airports along the way in Canada, Iceland, Europe, and Africa.

The deliveries are a win-win for Air Seychelles and the thousands of passengers who island hop on the airline’s domestic services every year - a satisfying reflection of the airline’s successful turnaround strategy, which began in 2012, with a 40% equity investment

by Etihad Airways.

Cote D’Or Cote D’Or beach or Anse Volbert is like an image taken out of a tourist magazine, with dazzling clear blue seas and soft sandy beaches. Found on the North East coast of Praslin, the beach is one of the longest on the island and stretching 3 km – with L’Achipele on one end and Paradise Sun on the other – you are certain to find a private spot, despite the beach being popular. There are a number of hotels and guest houses along this stretch, with shops and restaurants collected around a side street behind Village Du Pecheur roughly in the center of the bay.

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The President, Mr Michel with CEO, Mr Manoj Papa

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The beach is ideal for soaking as the waves are gentle and calm. The beach is perfect for families and high energized children have plenty of space to run and play without bothering other holidaymakers. Small fishes can be seen if one keeps still and there’s nothing like a bit of bread to tempt them your way. A way out in the bay Chauve Souris Island and St Pierre islet offer excellent snorkeling opportunities.

Photo credit; Gerald Lafortune

Iles Des Palmes

National Heritage Treasure Trail

By Darrel Antat There have always been stories and talk of pirates that used to sail our clear blue waters, plunder other ships for their treasure and hide out on our islands. To those more curious than others, seeking out evidence that will turn these stories into actual facts is a thrill in itself. But even to those don’t usually pay much attention; it’s always interesting to see with your own eyes and to know that there is proof that many years ago it was all happening in the places that we know about and are accessible to us today.

The National Heritage Treasure Trail at Iles Des Palmes Eco Resort, Anse Takamaka on Praslin is one such place. The trail has rare evidence of pirate presence and according to the owner Mr. Gill, “this is proof of activities that took place before our (recorded) history that starts with Seychelles under the provisional French government in 1840, a time before which there were no official buildings and plantations.”

Though the area is teeming with mystery and unanswered questions, some logical conclusions have been drawn from its setting. Mr. Gill told us that The French government in La Reunion had a warrant out for the arrest of notorious pirate, La Buse, because he was in cohorts with the English pirates,

raiding and looting any ships and not sharing it with the French government. He then came to Praslin to hide. Therefore bearing in mind that the bay at Anse Takamaka is deep enough for big ships to moor, the hard timber in the area is suitable for making reparations, all of the structures that date back to that time, it all suggests that pirates could have been hiding there for a good while.

The Treasure Trail was fittingly named because in addition to all of the treasures you find along the way, it is an actual treasure site where treasure was discovered in 1971 and the hunt is still ongoing. With new state of the art equipment in metal detection and a famous treasure hunter heading the hunt, it is only a matter of time before more treasures are found.

The first guided tour for guests of the Treasure Trail started on the 15th May 2014, on the occasion of the international family day and has been a five year effort in collaboration with the National Heritage Foundation. It has since received very good reception with travel agencies and especially with locals who say they never even knew that there were such artifacts on the island even if they pass by the area every now and again.

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ON THE TRAIL First stop is at an outdoor lounge at the resort where guests can view artifacts found by Mr. Gill over the years and get a short introduction about them and their history. You get the chance to hold a cannon ball, part of a revolver, whiskey bottle and other items all from the 17th century.

Your guide will then take you to the Copra house at the entrance of the resort. Copra houses were used for the storage of copra and manufacture of coconut oil; a vital asset back in the period when the production of coconut oil was high. It is an impressive structure, built by hand out of red granite rocks with ‘Laso’ (melted choral) used as the mortar, which has proved to be more durable and longer lasting than cement. The rooms and doors are all intact and the building effortlessly holds the resort’s reception and art gallery on top of it.

The trail breaks onto the main road and continues out to the Cinnamon distillery that was made a heritage site two years ago. This is where cinnamon leaves were distilled into cinnamon essence for the perfume houses of Paris and is the only one found on the coast of Praslin. The scene is that of a green, not-so-ancient, ruins with the boiler still in place; a

bit weathered but sturdy looking foundation and some mechanical parts like gears that can still be found lying around. Fruit trees are everywhere you turn and add an exotic look to this historical site. You’ll see mango, local apple, soursop, santol, golden apple and banana trees, and even a kapok (java cotton) tree.

A second Copra House can be found along the trail after the cinnamon distillery which is of similar architecture and style to the one at the entrance and has had an upper floor added that serves as housing for the staff of the resort.

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The most important ecological feature of the trail is a marsh that is found further up the road where you can lose yourself in the natural state of the flora and fauna. Depending on time of year it is home to many different species of birds including some endemic ones like the Poul d’eau and some long necked migratory birds. The guide tells us that they are constantly on the lookout and clear out invasive plants that can be a danger to the marsh by creating a lack of oxygen and affecting the fish and other species living in there.

Leaving the marsh we then followed a narrow dirt trail into the woods for a few minutes, that has been cleared out to lead you to the Old 17th century Pirate Oven. Discovered in 1994

by Mr. Archange Leon (deceased), the oven, also built with Laso, is irrefutable proof that many pirates were concentrated in the area. It is right under the natural shelter on a massive granite rock that arches over it protecting it from extreme weathering, so much so that the oven is practically intact. Mr. Gill informed us that there are only three of these ovens in Seychelles.

Coming from the oven we were led back to the main resort to the Tortoise pen where we found 12 tortoises. These majestic reptiles can live for decades with the oldest in the pen being 76 years old. The resort had started with about 6 of them that were already here and the others were brought in over time. The group is very sexually active in the morning, before lunch and in the early evenings.

As a special treat for the conclusion of the trail, guests are offered a taste of the Kalou a local spirit which is made from the nectar of the flowers from the coconut tree. Kalou is of different grade and clients are free to choose from that which has just been removed in the morning that is still sweet, to those that have been here for a few days and are more potent.

The Kalou is also used as a special ingredient in a cocktail at the Bamboo Beach Bar, and the ones that have gone way too strong and sour is used as a replacement for vinegar in certain dishes.

The trail is an interesting experience that is as informative as it is mysterious. Easily completed under an hour, you do not have a long distance to cover, but there are many marvels along the way. It is a trip back in time that’s rich in tangible history and a treat for all who get to experience it.

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SEYCHELLES

Whale Shark Experience

By Nathalie Hodgson This is something on most bucket lists and rightly so, swimming with the largest fish in the ocean is a memory that you will never forget and the Seychelles Islands is the best place do it and here is why.

Every year from September 01st to October 31st the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles, opened up the whale shark monitoring programme. This eco-tour snorkelling programme, largely supported by the public, is a monitoring and encounter programme gifting anyone interested to swim with, learn about and at the same time contribute to the protection of these amazing sea creatures.

Whale sharks may look daunting at 12.65 metres (41.50 feet) and weighing more than 21.5 tonnes (47,000 pounds) but actually pose no threat to humans. They feed only on zooplankton and are slow moving fish, so are ideal to swim and snorkel with.

The Marine Conservation Society Seychelles, MCSS, make this experience come alive, inviting anyone in Seychelles on their boats to site these incredible and rare marine species.

MCSS was founded in 1997, and is a nongovernmental organisation made up of local scientists, ecologists and conservationists. The aim of the MCSS

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is to improve the conservation of marine eco-systems through scientific, management, educational and training programs. MCSS recruit volunteers from across the globe each year to assist with the raising of funds, provision of facilities and equipment, and every day running of the monitoring and scientific research that is carried out cooperatively with other organisations and government bodies. The Whale Shark program started in 1996 as a part of a long term scientific program with its findings shared globally to help protect these migrating giants. As a result of these efforts the Seychelles government declared the shark protected in 2003. ‘For us interns the morning involves entering data from the day before or being down in the dive centre taking bookings, helping clients with the divers or explaining the purpose of the programme. But the real fun starts mid-morning, around 11am onwards, when everyone waits patiently for that all important phone call from the pilot’ explains Savi Lebond, Marine Project Manager of the St Anne Stewardship. Savi has been coming to Seychelles for this programme on and off since 2011. As a student of marine biology, Savi fell in love with the islands and the aims of MCSS and is now in charge of the St Anne project as well as a team leader for the 2014 Whale Shark season.

‘Sharks are located in the morning by aerial survey, using our micro-light aircraft. We all pray for those three magic words ‘we’re going sharking’ to then rally up all the guests who have called that morning to confirm hurrying them on the boat to start the briefing. Once on board, the exciting race begins to find the sharks before they dive’.

The MCSS boat takes 14 clients per day only. You start with the comprehensive briefing that covers the history of the whale shark; the global protection efforts; the when, where, who and how long the sharks are in Seychelles; the identification process and of course the Whale Shark Code; which is Do’s and Dont’s, when in the water with these marvelous creatures.

This project is reliant on the MCCS staff being able to identify each shark and then record their activities and movements throughout the season. In the afternoon the monitoring team is directed into position by the aircraft to maximise the number of sharks encountered. Sharks are identified by digital PhotoIdentification and entered in database.

‘The highest concentration is around Conception Channel and from Police Bay to Anse Soleil (in the South). We identify the whale sharks by their individual 'fingerprints' from the area behind the 5th gill slit, using Individual Interaction Identification System (I3S)’ says Savi. ‘So far we have 62 known females, 378 known males, and an unsexed 120 individuals giving the Seychelles population a total of 560 sharks’, an impressive number in comparison to other whale shark programmes. Our data collected is then used to govern decisions regarding fisheries, and other conservation and protection programs that are or should be undertaken.

For those who don’t brave the ocean, you also have the opportunity to travel with the pilot on the microlight for an aerial view of these gentle giants or you can join the boat experience, excluding the swimming portion. ‘It is not unusual to have return clients over 3 to 4 times in one season’ Savi explains, ‘they may go up on the micro-light and then the boat the following day, it is an addictive pastime and an extraordinary experience to add to your holiday diaries’. The flight is around 30 minutes or so, as it completes clockwise surveys of the concentration areas, twice daily.

‘There really is no way to describe the sensation of awe that overcomes you when you first slide off the side of the gently bobbing boat to plunge into the salty water below, look round and find your entire vision suddenly filled with the streamlined shape and unmistakeable spotty patterns of your very first whale shark’ writes Matt Leaper, a MCSS intern of 2013 season*. ‘It was a moment that I had been forever dreaming of, watching the television documentaries

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enviously and hoping that one day it would be me in the water with the fish that holds the title of ‘world’s largest’. But suddenly, there I was and there it was. Me and the shark, within five metres of each other. At long last’.

MCSS also offer multiple ways to support the sharks through their Adopt A Shark initiative or purchasing various merchandise all available on www.mcss.sc. If you want to become a volunteer on the 10 week attachment go to www.mcss.sc/volunteers.

For whoever is passionate about marine life and ecology this experience is a must. It costs around EUR 120.00, which goes straight to the MCSS to fund their work. The charge is only applicable if guests leave on the shark-spotting boat, but being able to see and swim with a whale shark cannot be guaranteed.

So notch-up the bucket list and book it today.

Contact info@mcss.sc or call +248 4261511. http://seychelles-whale-sharks. blogspot.com/

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Where Am I?

Do you think you know Seychelles?

This image is taken by the talented Steve Nibourette, somewhere but where? Send your answer to email ineke@seychellespublications.com along with why you love Seychelles in 200 words and you could win a Seychelles memorabilia from the Seychelles Tourism Board. Good Luck.

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HONORARY CONSULS

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE KINGDOM OF NETHERLANDS AND DEAN OF THE CONSULAR CORPS Sunset Beach Hotel, Glacis, P. O. Box 372, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 426 12 00 / (248) 426 11 11 Fax №: (+248) 426 12 21

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK BODCO Building, New Port, P. O. Box 270, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 428 57 00

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN BODCO Building, New Port, P. O. Box 270, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 428 57 00

Fax №: (+248) 422 40 65

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN c/o Hunt Deltel, Trinity House, P. O. Box 14, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 438 03 00 Fax №: (+248) 422 53 67

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY The Centre for Environment and Education, Nature Seychelles, Roche Caiman, P. O. Box 1310, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 460 11 00 Fax №: (+248) 460 11 02

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE SULTANATE OF OMAN c/o BMI Offshore Bank, P. O. Box 672, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 432 56 60 Fax №: (+248) 432 54 90

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC c/o Kreolor, Le Rocher, P. O. Box 499, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 434 45 51 Fax №: (+248) 434 47 54

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA c/o Tirant Associates, Room 104, 1st Floor, Ocean Gate House, P. O. Box 31, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 422 48 35 / 422 50 77 Fax №: (+248) 422 51 56

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO c/o Allied Builders (Seychelles) Limited, Les Mamelles, P.O. Box 215, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 438 07 00 Fax №: (+248) 434 45 60

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS Conservation Centre, Roche Caiman, P. O. Box 1310, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 460 11 00 / (248) 460 11 01 Fax №: (+248) 278 01 42

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY c/o 7° South, Kingsgate House, Independence Avenue, P. O. Box 475, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 429 28 00 Fax №: (+248) 429 28 99

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA Serret Road, St. Louis, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 251 52 00

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WITH JURISDICTIONS IN THE SEYCHELLES

HONORARY CONSUL OF SWITZERLAND MG Building, Providence Industrial Estate, P. O. Box 935, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 437 42 78 Fax №: (+248) 437 43 04

HONORARY CONSUL OF SERBIA Glacis, P. O. Box 1001, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 426 11 75 Fax №: (+248) 441 06 00

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND Fisherman’s Cove Estate, House No.69, Bel Ombre, P. O. Box 1191, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 271 98 30

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND BODCO Building, New Port, P. O. Box 933, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (248) 422 45 47 Fax №: (+248) 432 38 88

HONORARY CONSUL OF SLOVAC REPUBLIC c/o Creole Travel Services, Orion Mall Building, P. O. Box 611, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 429 70 00 Fax №: (+248) 422 58 17

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS AND DEAN OF THE CONSULAR CORPS SkyChef, Seychelles Airport, P. O. Box 450, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 437 30 50 / 437 31 55 / 438 17 50 Fax №: (+248) 437 34 56

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM 1st Floor, Eden Marina House, Eden Island, Roche Caiman, P. O. Box 232, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 434 61 61 / (+248) 251 11 05 Fax №: (+248) 434 61 00

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA Quincy Street, P. O. Box 88, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 432 26 39 Fax №: (+248) 432 61 00

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC (Greece) Docklands Building, New Port, P. O .Box 743, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 271 51 96

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES P. O. Box 63, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 424 71 77 Fax №: (+248) 424 76 76

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY Office C3, Trainon Apts, Serret Road, St. Louis, P. O. Box 723, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 251 22 20

HONORARY CONSUL OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (South Korea) New Port, P. O. Box 222, Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 429 06 00 Fax: (+248) 422 44 56

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RESIDENT FOREIGN AMBASSADOR HIGH COMMISSIONERS IN SEYCHELLES

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HIGH COMMISSION OF INDIA Francis Rachel Street P. O. Box 488 Victoria, Mahé Tel № : (+248) 461 03 01 Fax №: (+248) 461 03 08

EMBASSY OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA St. Louis P. O. Box 680 Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 467 17 00 Fax №: (+248) 467 17 30

BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION 3rd Floor, Oliaji Trade Centre, P. O. Box 161w Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 428 36 66 Fax №: (+248) 428 36 57

AMBASSADE DE FRANCE 1er Etage, La Ciotat, Mont Fleuri P. O. Box 478 Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 438 25 00 Fax №: (+248) 438 25 10

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA Bel Eau P. O. Box 730 Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 422 40 94

EMBASSY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION Le Niole, St. Louis P. O. Box 632 Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 426 65 90 Fax №: (+248) 426 66 53

AMBASSADE DE L’ORDRE SOUVERAIN MILITAIRE DE MALTE Clarence House, Vista Bay Estate Glacis P. O. Box 642 Victoria, Mahé Tel № : (+248) 426 11 37 Fax № : (+248) 426 11 37

EMBASSY OF LIBYA Transvaal House, Beau Vallon P. O. Box 1177 Victoria, Mahé Tel №: (+248) 462 06 67 Fax №: (+248) 462 04 44

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SEYCHELLES DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS ABROAD BELGIUM Embassy of the Republic of Seychelles 1st Floor, 28 Boulevard Saint Michel Box 23, 1040 Brussels, Belgium Telephone №: (322) 733 60 55 Telefax №: (322) 732 60 22 Email: brussels@seychellesgov.com

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Embassy of the Republic of Seychelles Room 1105, The Spaces № 8 Dongdaqiao Rd, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020 People’s Republic of China Telephone №: (8610) 5870 1192 Telefax №: (8610) 5870 1219 Email: amb.legall@yahoo.com

ETHIOPIA Embassy of the Republic of Seychelles Bole, Woreda 13, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Telephone №: (25111) 62 97 721 Email: j.nourrice@gmail.com

FRANCE Ambassade de la République des Seychelles 51, Avenue Mozart, 75016 Paris, France Numéro de téléphone: (331) 42 30 57 47 Numéro de téléfax: (331) 42 30 57 40 Email: contact@ambsey.fr

GENEVA Permanent Mission to the UN Office and other International Organisations in Geneva Chemin Louis-Dunant 15b, 1202 Geneva Switzerland Telephone №: (41) 22 730 17 28 Telefax №: (41) 22 730 17 29 Email: geneva@seymission.ch

INDIA High Commission of the Republic of Seychelles F-4, Anand Niketan New Delhi – 110 021, India Telephone №: (9111) 241 141 02 Telefax №: (9111) 241 141 03 Email: seychelleshighcommission@gmail.com

INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles to the Indian Ocean Islands Maison Quéau de Quinssy, P. O. Box 656 Mont Fleuri, Mahé, Seychelles Telephone №: (248) 428 35 00 Telefax №: (248) 422 48 45 Email: cdoffay@mfa.gov.sc

SOUTH AFRICA Seychelles High Commission Unit D 02/01, The Village, Cnr Gleenwood & Oberon Avenue, Faerie Glen, 0043 Pretoria, Republic of South Africa Telephone №: (27) 12 34 80 270 (27) 12 34 80 720 Telefax №: (27) 12 34 069 Email: sez@seychelleshc.co.za

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Embassy of the Republic of Seychelles Villa № 6/1, Murror Area, 23rd Street, P. O. Box 43107, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates Telephone №: (9712) 491 77 55 Telefax №: (9712) 491 77 14/18 Email: seychellesembuae@gmail.com

UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND High Commission of the Republic of Seychelles 4th Floor, 11 Grosvenor Crescent, London SW1X 7EE, England Telephone №: (44) 207 245 06 80 Telefax №: (44) 207 235 75 09 Email: seyhc.london@btconnect.com

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Embassy of the Republic of Seychelles Suite 400C, 4th Floor 800 Second Avenue New York, NY 10017 United States of America Telephone №: (1212) 972 1785 Telefax №: (1212) 972 1786 Email: seychelles@un.int

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Climate Change and Small Island Developing State Issues c/o Permanent Mission of the Republic of Seychelles to the United Nations, Suite 400C 4th Floor, 800 Second Avenue New York, NY 10017 United States of America Telephone №: (1212) 972 1785 Telefax №: (1212) 972 1786 Email: seychelles@un.int

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Seychelles Tourist Offices & Representatives Worldwide HEADQUARTERS Chief Executive Officer Seychelles Tourism Board P.O. Box 1262 • Victoria Mahé • Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4 671 300 Fax: (+248) 4 620 620 / (+248) 4 620 640 e-mail: info@seychelles.travel sherin.naiken@seychelles.travel SEYCHELLES NEWS BUREAU Seychelles Tourism Board Bel Ombre, P.O. Box 1262 Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4 671 300 Fax: (+248) 4 620 620 glynn.burridge@seychelles.travel lena.hoareau@uksto.co.uk E-MARKETING Seychelles Tourism Board Bel Ombre, P.O. Box 1262 Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4 671 300 Fax: (+248) 4 620 620 email: info@seychelles.travel www.seychelles.travel FRANCE Office du Tourisme des Seychelles 18 Rue de Mogador - 75009 Paris • France Tel: (+33) 1 44 53 93 20 Fax: (+33) 1 44 53 93 32 e-mail: info-tourisme.fr@seychelles.travel GERMANY Seychelles Tourist Office Hochstrasse 17 60313 Frankfurt am Main • Germany Tel: +49 (0) 69 297 207 89 Fax: +49 (0) 69 297 207 92 e-mail: info@seychelles-service-center.de

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ITALY Seychelles Tourism Board Via Pindaro 28N Axa• 00125 Rome Italy Tel: + 39 06 50 90 135 Fax: + 39 06 50 93 52 01 e-mail: info-turismo.it @seychelles.travel MIDDLE EAST Mohamed Al Geziry Consultancy 100 Al Fattan Plaza • P.O. Box 36345 Dubai • U.A.E. Tel: (+971) 4 2865586 Fax: (+971) 4 2865589 e-mail: info-tourism.me@ seychelles.travel SPAIN Calle princesa, 40 28008 Madrid • Spain Tel: (+34) 91 702 08 04 Fax: (+34) 91 702 23 74 e-mail: info@turismoseychelles.com SOUTH AFRICA Cape Holiday Services 36 Union Road • Milnerton 7441 Capetown South Africa Tel: (+27) 21 551 5855 Fax: (+27) 21 551 5898 e-mail: seychelles@stoza.com SOUTH KOREA #411, Doosan We’ve Pavillion 58 Susong-dong • Jongno-gu Seoul • South Korea Tel: +82 2 737 3235 Fax: +82 2 737 3236 e-mail: consul@seychellestour.co.kr sey@seychellestour.co.kr

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UNITED KINGDOM Seychelles Tourist Office Fourth Floor, 130-132 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 9SA United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 724 561 06 e-mail: info-tourism.uk @seychelles.travel CHINA Seychelles Tourism Board #8 Dongdaqiao Road, The Spaces Chaoyang District, Room 1105 Beijing, 100020 China Tel: +8610 5870 1192 Fax: +8610 5870 1219 e-mail: lrjll.sey@gmail.com ABU DHABI Embassy of the Republic of Seychelles, Villa number 6/1, Plot number 8, Muroor Area, Street 23 Abu Dhabi, UAE.Tel: + 00971 2 4917755 Fax: +971 2 4917718 e-mail: aliette.esther@seychelles.travel RUSSIA Access Russia Vorotnikovskiy Lane 8, bld. 1 of 12 1270006 Moscow Russia Tel: (7) 495 699 9351 Email: erussiayanova@accessrussia.ru SOUTH AMERICA BRAZIL Global Vision Access Rua Manoel da Nobrega 111# 41 Paraiso, Sao Paolo SP 04001-080 Brazil Tel: (55) 11 2367.3170 Fax: (55) 11 99627.3160 Email: gisele@globalvisionaccess.com

Contacts PHONE OPERATORS

EMERGENCY

AIRLINES

Cable & Wireless (Seychelles) Ltd. Francis Rachel Street Victoria P.O. Box 4 Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4284000 Fax: (+248) 4322777 W: www.cwseychelles.com

Central Police Station Victoria P.O. Box 46 Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 428000 Fax: (+248) 4224412 Emergency: 999 Hotline: 133 / 112 E: office@police.gov.sc W: www.police.gov.sc

Emirates Airline Caravelle House Victoria P.O. Box 152 Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4292700 / 4373008 E: ekseychelles@emirates.com W: www.emirates.com

Airtel Telecom (Seychelles) Emerald Building Providence P.O. Box 1358 Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4600600 Fax: (+248) 4601602 W: www.africa.airtel.com/seychelles AIR SEYCHELLES Air Seychelles Ltd. (International & Domestic) Head Office Seychelles International Airport Pointe Larue P.O. Box 386 Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4391000 Fax: (+248) 4391229 E: webinfo@airseychelles.com W: www.airseychelles.com Praslin Airport Amitié Praslin P.O. Box 386 Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4284666 Fax: (+248) 4233055 International Flight Information Seychelles International Airport Point Larue P.O. Box 386 Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4391200 Fax: (+248) 4391229 Immigration Office (Airport) Seychelles International Airport Pointe Larue P.O. Box 430 Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 2713193 E: asupervisor@gov.sc

Baie St. Anne Police Station Baie St. Anne Praslin P.O. Box 46 Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4232332 Fax: (+248) 4232075 E: baiestanne-stn@seypolice.sc W: www.police.gov.sc Grand Anse Police Station Grand Anse Praslin P.O. Box 46 Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4233251 Fax: (+248) 4233933 E: grandanse-stn@seypolice.sc W: www.police.gov.sc La Digue Police Station La Passe, La Digue P.O. Box 46 Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4234251 Fax: (+248) 4234031 E: ladigue-stn@seypolice.sc W: www.police.gov.sc Seychelles Hospital Mt. Fleuri P.O. Box 52 Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4388000 Fax: (+248) 4388000 E: office@moh.gov.sc W: www.health.gov.sc Baie Ste Anne Praslin Hospital: 4233414 Logan La Digue Hospital : 4234255

Ambulance 151

Kenya Airways Kingsgate Travel Centre Independence Avenue Victoria P.O. Box 288 Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4323903 Fax: (+248) 4324162 E: sez.sales@kenya-airways.com W: www.kenya-airways.com Ethiopian Airline Mason’s Travel Building Revolution Avenue Victoria P.O. Box 459 Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4288907 E: marenaud@masonstravel.com W: www.ethiopianairlines.com ZIL AIR Zil Air (Pty) Ltd. Pointe Larue P.O. Box 1110 Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (+248) 4375100 Fax: (+248) 4375101 E: info@zilair.com book@zilair.com W: www.zilair.com FERRY Cat Cocos Ferry - Inter Island Boats Ltd Po Box 356 Kingsgate House,Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles Tel: (248) 4297164 Fax: (+248) 4324845 Reservation: (+248) 4324843 Email: reservation@catcocos.com W: www.catcocos.com Praslin to La Digue Ferry Inter Island Ferry Ltd Tel: (+248) 4322329

OCT - DEC 2014 ISSUE NO. 5 | SESEL SA!

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