Seychelles

I’ve been on a number of safaris in Southern Africa and although I love the bush, I’m really a beach girl at heart. I love the sound of the ocean and the calming effect it has on me. I recently had the opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful and unspoilt beach destinations in the world, the Seychelles.

From the moment we arrived I knew I was somewhere very special and unique. The airport is unlike any other I’ve ever seen and really made me feel like I’d arrived on an island.

Arriving at night on Praslin, I had no idea of the beauty of the island I was about to discover. I was treated to a traditional Seychellois meal shorting after checking into my hotel. Sitting in the restaurant with a warm ocean breeze and eating delicious Seychellois food, I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my trip.

“From the moment we arrived I knew I was somewhere very special and unique.”

The first day of my trip was jam packed with hotel inspections and by the time I arrived at Constance Lemuria it was late in the afternoon. I was taken on a tour of the hotel and the sales representative who showed me around the property made sure that I got to see the sunset from the islands best viewpoints. One of which was Anse Georgette which is famed to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Being a keen photographer I was excited at the prospect of getting to photograph this stunning beach, but time was not on my side and the light had faded by the time we got there. Anse Georgette is situated at the bottom of the golf course and most people access it with the hotels complimentary golf cart, as it’s a fairly long walk. The shuttle service normally only starts for the hotel guests at 09h00, but the sales representative arranged to have someone take me down to the beach early in the morning so I could take some photos of the beach and have a swim before being transferred to the ferry. Having Anse Georgette all to myself, if only for an hour is without a doubt one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had.

My next stop was La Digue Island where the only form of transport is bicycle or ox drawn cart. It was the first time I had ridden a bicycle in over 18 years and after riding into the back of my guides bicycle a couple of times I soon got the hang of it and we spent the rest of the day exploring island. The island has a number of beautiful beaches, but the one that is the most well-known is Anse Source D’Argent. The beautiful granite rock formations make this one of the most photographed beaches in the world.

A couple of days later I took a boat across to Fregate Island. The weather that day was less than ideal and with the south east monsoon blowing the hour and a half’s boat ride across to the island was one of the most terrifying and yet exhilarating experiences I’ve ever had. Guests that visit Fregate however do not have to endure a boat transfer and have the pleasure of taking a 15 minute helicopter transfer to the island. The island has a number of fruit trees and they also grow a variety of vegetables, making it almost completely self-sufficient. Fregate is also home to a number of different bird species, as well as a healthy population of giant tortoises. Add to this breath-takingly beautiful beaches, luxurious accommodation, delicious food and fantastic service and you’ve got a once in a lifetime holiday.

Before exploring the island of Mahe, I was lucky enough to visit North Island for the day. For anyone who can afford it this really is the ultimate in beach holidays. The style of the property is very much Robinson Crusoe, but the accommodation is extremely spacious and the facilities are all state of the art. North Island pride themselves on offering personalised service which could rival the top luxury hotels of the world.

“…breath-takingly beautiful beaches, luxurious accommodation, delicious food and fantastic service… you’ve got a once in a lifetime holiday.”

Mahe is a melting pot of cultures and everyone lives side by side in complete harmony. The north of the island is very busy with a number of large hotels situated on Beau Vallon Bay. The south of the island is far quieter and in my opinion much more beautiful. The resorts that are situated in this part of the island are more secluded and offer more of a resort experience.

My ten days in the Seychelles went by far too quickly and I left with a heavy heart, wondering when I would get to visit this beautiful island again.

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