The Islands |
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Seychelles consists of 115 granitic and coralline
islands spread across more than a million square
kilometres of the Indian Ocean. The remoteness of
the archipelago has ensured the preservation of
many species of flora and fauna not found anywhere
else on earth. Only 21 of the islands are inhabited. |
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Geographical Location |
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The latitude of the islands varies between
4 degrees and 10 degrees south of the Equator.
Some islands are closer to the coast of Africa
than they are to the main island of Mahe.
Mahe is 1 600 kilometres east of Mombasa in Kenya.
The islands are divided into two categories, the
‘inner islands’ which are near to
Mahe, and the ‘outer islands’ which
are the most distant. |
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Population |
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The population of Seychelles totals a mere
89 000 people, many of whom are descended from slaves
brought by settlers from Africa to work the land.
After slavery was abolished, many of these Creole
Seychellois were liberated in Seychelles, and today
make up the bulk of the population. Education up
to the age of 16 is free and technical skills are
taught locally. The dominant religion is Roman Catholic. |
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Language |
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There are three national languages - Creole,
English and French - although many Seychellois
speak other European languages such as Italian
and German. |
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Climate |
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Seychelles enjoys a pleasant tropical climate year round. The islands lie outside the cyclone belt and there are no extremes of weather. The temperature seldom drops below 24 degrees or rises above 33 degrees. During the north-east trade winds which blow from October to March, the sea conditions are calm and the weather is humid. When the south-east trade winds blow from May to September, the weather is cooler and the sea is rougher, particularly on the south-eastern coasts. |
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Visa and Health Requirements |
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| South African passport holders do not require
visas and no inoculations are required. |
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Currency |
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The local currency is the Seychelles rupee and the rate of exchange to the South African rand is subject to currency fluctuation. It is important for visitors to note that all costs in hotels can be settled in Seychelles rupees or in foreign currency, either in cash or by credit card. This applies to meals or drinks at any hotel and not only in the hotel of residence. Travellers’ cheques and foreign currencies cannot be exchanged for Seychelles rupees at the hotel. Visitors can change foreign currency to Seychelles rupees at the banks or money changer on Mahé. Local currency or foreign exchange may be used for purchases in shops or markets, or for meals purchased from small independent beach restaurants and cafes. |
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Time |
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| Seychelles is two hours ahead of South African
time. |
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Shopping hours |
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| Victoria and other villages |
Monday to Friday |
09h00 to 17h00 |
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Saturday |
09h00 to 12h00 |
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Sunday |
Closed |
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Banking hours |
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| Victoria and branches
on Mahe,
Praslin and
La Digue |
Monday to Friday
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08h30 to 14h00 |
| Saturday |
08h30 to 11h00 |
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Tips |
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A service charge is included in hotel and restaurant
bills. Tipping is not compulsory and is therefore
left to the discretion of the guest to show appreciation
for good service. |
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Insurance |
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It is essential that travel insurance
is purchased prior to departure in case of accident
or illness. Your travel agent will recommend the
best insurance for your requirements, taking into
account that medical services in the Seychelles
are adequate
for general medical complaints, but critical conditions
will require international medical attention. |
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Price guarantee |
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| Once full payment has been received by Beachcomber
Tours, the price of the package is guaranteed. |
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