Spotlight on the Seychelles
The Seychelles is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar, consisting of more than 100 islands of which 83 are named and 46 are permanently uninhabited. Mahé is the principal island comprising of 142 sq km, with the islands of Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette being the next important . Situated about 1,600 km off the east coast of Africa, Mahe extends 27 km north to south and 11 km east to west and has a coastline of 127 km.
The Seychelles Islands are the highest point of the Mascarene Ridge, an Indian Ocean ridge running in a generally north-south direction.
The granite islands rise above the sea surface to form a peak or ridge which, in the case of Mahé, attains an elevation of 3,000 ft at Morne Seychellois, the highest point. Rugged crests, towering cliffs, boulders and domes contribute to the islands great natural beauty. Here and there, in the hollows between the rock relief, are pockets of lateritic soil, often very thin and easily eroded.
Mahé possesses white sandy beaches which, for a distance of 200 or 300 years, are flats of coral and shell known locally as plateaus, although they rarely achieve an elevation of more than 10 ft above sea level. Small streams descending the mountain slopes deposit alluvial material, creating the most fertile soils on the island.
The coralline Seychelles are, in contrast, low-lying, rising only a few feet above the surface of the sea. Many have the typical Indian Ocean lagoon. Soils tend to be thin with poor moisture retention. These island are suited only to coconut palm and a few other species.
Location
Seychelles lies in the western part of the Indian Ocean, north of Madagascar and 1,593km (995 miles) east of Mombasa, Kenya. It is between 4 and 5 degrees south of the equator at a longitude between 55 and 56 degrees east.
The Country is an isolated archipelago of outstanding natural beauty comprising about 115 islands. About 35 islands of the "Inner Islands Group" are granitic, rocky and hilly with narrow coastal strips. The other islands are coralline and flat with elevated reefs.
Time
GMT + 4. Four hours ahead of London; nine hours ahead of New York (EST). Daylight savings time is not observed.
Climate
Although tropical and generally warm and humid, there are nonetheless two distinct seasons.
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May - September. Southeast trade winds bring cooler temperatures, lower humidity (average 70%) and less rain along with gentle breezes.
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November - March. Northwest monsoons bring more rain, sometimes in heavy squalls, higher humidity (average 80%) and warmer weather. The heaviest rainfall is usually during mid-December to mid-January
The transition periods of April and October are fairly hot, with little breeze and calm seas.
Seychelles lies outside the cyclone belt and enjoys stable weather year round with a mean maximum temperature of 29ºC and 12 hours of daylight.
Timing Your Visit
Even though conditions for visiting Seychelles are generally good all year, there are certain times which are slightly more advantageous for certain activities.
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Scuba divers will find April, May, October and November have the highest visibility and calmest seas although conditions are excellent year round.
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Anglers will find that the southeast trade winds: from May to September are better for Big Game though the seas can sometimes be rough; from November to February the northwest bring calmer seas for bottom fishing. October and April are perhaps the most enjoyable with calm seas.
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For birdwatchers, April heralds the new breeding season and Bird Island will be found to be overrun with seabirds from May through September; migration periods are from September to December.
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Hiking and walking is best from May to September because of the dry conditions, lower temperatures and lower humidity.
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