silhouette1_2014 - We Love Seychelles – Sesel Sa

Transcription

SILHOUETTETHE IN-FLIGHT MAGAZINE OF AIR SEYCHELLESVOLUME 25 NUMBER 2
NOW YOU'RE
BETTER CONNECTED
Etihad Airways, the World’s Leading Airline*, is proud of its strategic
partnership with Air Seychelles, Seychelles premier international airline,
extending Etihad Airways’ network to include Praslin and Hong Kong
(operated by Air Seychelles). Together, the partnership offers guests
easy access to over 103 destinations. Guests will also benefit from a fully
integrated frequent flyer programme that allows members of Etihad
Guest to earn and redeem miles across both airlines.
*2013 World Travel Awards
airseychelles.com
etihad.com
Dear Guest,
Welcome on board our four-star airline!
I am delighted to be the new Chief Executive Officer of this remarkable
airline and very proud and grateful to work alongside a tremendous team
of dedicated staff whose mission is only to serve you, our esteemed guest
and to offer you the best experience on your carrier of choice to the
destination of your dream.
We have announced a second consecutive year of profitability,
signifying the success of our turnaround strategy as well as the synergies
derived from working with our equity partner, Etihad Airways.
We intend to continue this programme of growth and excellence in
order to serve you better in ultra-comfort and luxury. The future is all
about growing our operations, launching new routes, taking delivery
of new aircraft, and expanding our airline partnerships.
As we continue to expand our network, we will very soon announce
the 2014 summer launch date for a twice-weekly service to Paris Charles
de Gaulle Airport on our Airbus A330-200, offering a same seat, same
plane service from Paris to Seychelles, with a brief stopover in Abu Dhabi.
Other new routes will also be launched in the third Quarter.
Very soon we will also announce new codeshare partnership.
This shows the continuing attraction of the Seychelles as an inbound
destination for our partners in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Asia.
We expect to see more revenue growth from our partners, both
new and current.
We have recently signed an agreement with the Vanilla Islands to
develop better connections between the islands of the Indian Ocean.
Air Seychelles’ regional presence will be dramatically expanded, providing
travellers within, to and through the Indian Ocean with more choice, more
options and greater flexibility.
As we continue to invest in our product, I am particularly pleased
to announce that we will be taking delivery of two of our three brand
new Twin Otter DHC6-400 aircraft one year ahead in mid-summer 2014
with the third one arriving in mid-2015. The new aircraft will replace
our three existing DHC-6 Series 300 Twin Otters and will offer enhanced
levels of comfort on your journeys between the islands.
We have recently launched our first ever domestic all-cargo operation
– an exciting addition to domestic business, one that we are confident
will boost local tourism and encourage more transshipment cargo to
Seychelles.
A new dish called the ‘Creole speciality dish’ for each season has
been introduced in business class. This is in our effort to promote the
superb unique Seychellois cuisine and Seychellois chefs. This season
we are thrilled to offer you the famous ‘Red snapper with passion fruit’,
dish created by La Plaine St Andre restaurant.
In just two years, we have rebuilt our national carrier, strengthened
our partnerships with Etihad Airways, and beyond delivering good
results for the airline, we have helped grow Seychelles tourism in the
process-one of our core objectives.
Esteemed guest, our success would not have been possible without
you. We wish to thank you for choosing Air Seychelles and for your
continued loyalty. With your support, we aim to become the best airline
in Africa with the best in-flight crew. Your feedback is crucial for us, please
let us know about your experience flying with us and hope this flight
remains a memorable one for you.
Cher Client,
Bienvenue à bord de notre compagnie aérienne quatre étoiles!
Je suis ravi d’être le nouveau ‘Chief Executive Officer’ de cette remarquable compagnie
et je très fier et reconnaissant de travailler avec une formidable équipe d’employés
dévoués dont la mission est principalement de vous servir et de vous offrir la meilleure
expérience vers la destination de vos rêves à bord de votre compagnie préférée.
Pendant deux années consécutives, nous avons annoncé une bonne rentabilité,
confirmant ainsi le succès de notre stratégie de redressement ainsi que les synergies
de notre collaboration avec notre partenaire, Etihad Airways.
Notre nouvel objectif est de poursuivre ce programme de croissance et d’excellence
afin de mieux vous servir avec encore plus de confort et de luxe. Notre avenir dépend
de la croissance de nos opérations, du lancement de nouvelles dessertes, de l’achat et
de la réception de nouveaux avions, et de l’expansion des partenariats avec d’autres
compagnies aériennes.
Nous continuons à développer notre réseau et très bientôt nous allons annoncer la
date du lancement d’un service bihebdomadaire dès l’été 2014 vers Paris Charles de
Gaulle à bord de notre Airbus A330-200. Nous offrirons le même nombre de places
et le même service à bord de Paris aux Seychelles, avec une brève escale à Abu Dhabi.
D’autres nouvelles dessertes entreront en opération durant le troisième trimestre.
Très bientôt, nous allons annoncer un nouveau partenariat de partage de code,
ce qui démontre l’attrait continuel de la destination Seychelles pour nos partenaires
en Europe, en Asie, au Moyen-Orient et en Asie.
Nous nous attendons à une plus grande croissance de nos chiffres d’affaires de nos
partenaires actuels et à venir.
Nous avons récemment signé un accord avec les Iles Vanilles pour mieux
développer les liaisons entre les îles de l’Océan Indien. La présence régionale d’Air
Seychelles sera considérablement renforcée, offrant aux voyageurs plus de choix,
plus d’options et une plus grande flexibilité lors de leurs trajets vers l’océan indien
et à travers l’espace indiaocéanique.
Alors que nous continuons à investir dans notre produit, je suis particulièrement
heureux d’annoncer que nous allons prendre livraison de deux des trois nouveaux
avions ‘Twin Otter DHC6-400’ durant l’été 2014, un an avant la date prévue de
livraison de la commande. Le troisième appareil arrivera vers mi-2015. Le nouveaux
avions remplaceront nos trois ‘Twin Otter DHC-6 séries 300’ existants et offriront
un confort accru sur nos lignes inter-îles.
Nous avons récemment lancé notre premier service domestique tout-cargo une opération supplémentaire intéressante sur le plan local qui, nous en sommes
confiants, va stimuler le tourisme local et encourager plus de fret en transbordement
vers les Seychelles.
En ce qu’il s’agit du service à bord, nous offrons désormais, dans la classe affaires,
‘la spécialité créole’, un plat particulier en fonction des saisons afin de promouvoir la
cuisine et les Chefs des Seychelles. Durant la présente saison, nous sommes heureux
de vous offrir le fameux ‘bourgeois aux fruits de la passion’ créé au restaurant de
La Plaine St André.
En seulement deux ans, nous avons reconstruit notre compagnie aérienne
nationale, renforcé nos partenariats avec Etihad Airways, et, au-delà des bons
résultats financiers pour la compagnie, nous avons aussi contribué à la croissance
du tourisme aux Seychelles, ce qui constitue un de nos principaux objectifs.
Cher client, notre succès n’aurait pas été possible sans vous. Nous tenons à
vous remercier d’avoir choisi Air Seychelles et de votre fidélité. Avec votre soutien,
nous voulons devenir la meilleure compagnie aérienne en Afrique avec le meilleur
personnel de bord. Comme vos commentaires sont très importants pour nous,
nous vous prions de nous faire part de votre expérience de voyage avec nous.
Nous espérons que ce vol demeurera un moment inoubliable pour vous.
Thank you and we look forward to welcoming you on board again soon.
En vous remerciant, nous espérons bientôt vous revoir à bord.
Bon Voyage
Manoj Papa
Chief Executive Officer
Directeur Général
SILHOUETTE
VOLUME 25 NUMBER 2
Photo courtesy of Air Seychelles
THE IN-FLIGHT MAGAZINE OF AIR SEYCHELLES
Contents
Carnaval International de Victoria
36
40
44
36
Air Seychelles Helps to Expand
Seychelles’ Carnival & Vanilla Islands
The Carnival event, sponsored by Air Seychelles, has become a catalyst for
unprecedented regional cooperation to market collectively the south-western
Indian Ocean region as a tourism destination.
48
40
Copenhagen
Explore the most liveable city in the world and with a reputation for also being
the coolest, most cosmopolitan, most exciting, most wonderful city in Scandinavia!
44
48
Founding Publisher: Mohamed Amin
Editorial Director:
Rukhsana Haq
Editor:
Roger Barnard
Editorial Assistant:
Cecilia Wanjiku
Creative Designer:
Charles Kamau
Production Manager: Azra Chaudhry, London
Production Assistants: Rachel Musyimi, Rose Judha
Editorial Board:
Rukhsana Haq
Adrian Skerrett
Lovely La Digue
The lack of traffic, easy pace of life, the perfect scenery and not least,
the complete absence of tarmac, has made La Digue famous.
The World’s Greenest City
Discover an emerging global hub for renewable energy and clean technologies;
a place where businesses can thrive and innovation can flourish.
Silhouette is published
three times a year for Air Seychelles
PO Box 386, Mahé, Seychelles
Telephone: (+248) 4391000
Fax: (+248) 4224305
E-mail: [email protected]
By Camerapix Magazines Limited,
PO Box 45048, 00100, GPO Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254 (20) 4448923/4/5
Fax: +254 (20) 4448818
Editorial and Advertising Office:
Camerapix Magazines (UK) Limited,
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London N14 5LP
Telephone: +44 (20) 8361 2942
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Correspondence on editorial and
advertising matters may be sent to either
of the above addresses.
Printed in: Dubai
© 2014 CAMERAPIX MAGAZINES LTD.
All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the publisher.
Regulars
• 1
• 14
• 71
• 75
• 80
CEO Foreword
Discover Seychelles
Map of Mahé
English - Creole
•
•
•
•
4 Welcome Aboard 68 Guest Feedback
72 International Route Map
76 Travel Facts
•
•
•
•
8 News
70 Healthy Travel
74 World Wide Offices
78 Dining Out Crossword
52 56
60 62 66 67 The Little Chapel on the Hill
There is a charming little sanctuary hidden high on a wooded hill
far away from Victoria - a quaint melancholy enigma of elegiac beauty.
A Silk Tale
We uncover the story of this extraordinary fabric,
prized for centuries for its delicate and luxurious quality.
An American in Mauritius
Mark Twain was a truly amazing man, a real ‘fish out of water’ who found
his place in life and society through his great writing and his adventurous spirit.
Tips for Getting the Best out of your Golf Holiday
There are many factors that go into creating the perfect golf holiday.
Vallée de Mai: 30 Years of Discovery
With enhanced visitor services and effective conservation management
the Vallée de Mai has become a world class tourist attraction.
Keeping Seychelles Clean
Why is the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle implementation
given so much importance?
52
56
60
62
66
67
We l c o m e A b o a r d
Air Seychelles is pleased to welcome you aboard this flight and hopes that you will
enjoy our services. Your cabin crew will do everything possible to make your journey
pleasant. Should you need any assistance or information, please do not hesitate to call
the cabin crew by pressing the call button located on the armrest of your seat.
Important
For your information, use of the following
equipment on board is strictly prohibited under any
circumstances:
• FM/AM/TV transmitters or receivers
• Citizens Band Transceivers
• Full size Computer Printers
• Portable Telephones,
(not part of the approved aircraft installation)
• Remote Control Toys
• Satellite Receivers
• Scanners
• Walkie Talkies
• Wireless Microphones
UNRULY/DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOUR ONBOARD
AIR SEYCHELLES’ OWNED/OPERATED AIRCRAFT
In terms of International Civil Aviation legislation
and regulations, it is an offence for any person to:
• Constitute any action that jeopardises or may
jeopardise the safety of an aircraft, passenger and/
or crew
• Disobey valid instruction from a crew member
(safety officer)*
• Interfere with the normal operation of the aircraft
There is growing evidence that the above devices
generate interference that could directly affect
aircraft navigation and control systems.
Hand Baggage
Please note that one piece of hand baggage, in
addition to a handbag and small camera, may be
taken on board. For your own safety, you must
place your hand baggage either in the overhead
storage compartment or under the seat in front
of you. The Cabin Crew will remove hand baggage
from passengers seated in exit row areas and this
will be returned after take-off should it be required
in-flight. Please ensure that the contents do not
include any prohibited goods and also ensure
contents do not spill out, to avoid injuries to you
and your fellow passengers.
Infants and Children
Cabin Crew will assist in preparing baby foods.
When possible, baby cots are available for infants.
Special Meals
Air Seychelles offers a selection of special meals to
suit the dietary and religious needs of passengers
provided they are requested prior to the flight,
preferably at the time of booking. If you wish to order
a special meal for your return flight, please make
your request when you re-confirm your flight. Special
meals are also available for children, if requested in
the same way.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted on all Air Seychelles
flights.
Safety
Safety is our first priority. Please watch attentively
the safety video or safety demonstration given by the
flight attendants and read the Safety Instruction Card
located in the seat pocket in front of you. Seat belts
must be fastened for takeoff and landing and when
the seat belt sign is illuminated during the flight.
• Assault or wilfully interfere with any member of
the crew of the aircraft in the performance of his/
her duties
• Ignore warning signs and/or safety signs within the
cabin of the aircraft
• Wilfully cause damage to an aircraft which renders
it incapable of flight or which is likely to endanger
its safety in flight
• Communicate any information which he/she
knows to be false, thereby endangering the safety of
an aircraft in service
• Commit any nuisance or any disorderly or indecent
act or to be in a state of intoxication or behave in
a violent or offensive manner to the annoyance of
any other person on the aircraft, or use abusive,
indecent or offensive language.
In terms of Seychelles legislation it is an offence
to smoke on any Seychelles registered aircraft.
Smoking in the toilet compartments of an aircraft is
deemed a safety risk and is lawfully punishable.
Any person committing any of these offences
while on board an Air Seychelles flight may be
arrested at his/her point of arrival and prosecuted
in accordance with the applicable Civil Aviation
legislation. Such prosecution may result in the
imposition of a fine and/or imprisonment.
It is the policy of Air Seychelles, in the interest of
the safety of the travelling public and our employees,
to lay the necessary criminal charges against unruly
passengers and to aggressively pursue the successful
prosecution of such persons.
Seating
Whilst your seat is adjustable, it has to be in the
upright position, with the foot-rest and tray table
stowed, for take-off and landing. Each seat has an
individual reading light, enabling you to read at
night without disturbing your neighbour.
Comfort
For your comfort, blankets, pillows, socks and
eyeshades are available on all overnight flights.
Personal Belongings
Before leaving the aircraft, please ensure that
you have all your personal belongings with you,
remembering to check the overhead lockers as well
as the seating areas.
Laboutik Duty Free Sales:
Sales of duty free goods are conducted on all
international flights, time permitting. Please consult
the Laboutik Duty Free Brochure in the seat pocket in
front of you. This brochure details the range available
and the currencies and credit cards that are accepted.
Electronic Equipment
Passengers are requested not to make use of any
electronic equipment that could interfere with the
navigational equipment on board the aircraft. Please
ask the Cabin Crew for assistance.
Spraying
Health regulations at Seychelles International
Airport require that the aircraft must be sprayed.
The spray used conforms to international
regulations and presents no danger to your health.
However, we suggest you cover your nose and
mouth should you feel you may be inconvenienced
by the spray.
In-flight Service
Our menus are designed to include the wide range
of flavours from the Seychelles. Depending on the
duration of your flight, one or two meals are served.
We offer free drinks on all our flights.
Please note:
In terms of International Civil Aviation legislation, the
Commander (Captain) of the aircraft is authorised/
empowered to take any action deemed necessary,
including restraint, of any person who jeopardises
the safety of the aircraft or of persons or property on
board. In terms of this authority the commander may
request and/or authorise any member of the crew
to render assistance in terms of restraint or action
against such offenders.
In terms of Air Seychelles’ right of refusal of
carriage, Air Seychelles reserves the right to refuse
boarding to any person who is intoxicated or who,
under reasonable grounds, is believed to pose a
potential danger to the safety and/or good order and
discipline on board its aircraft.
The primary function of a crew member is to act as
a safety officer on board an aircraft. All Air Seychelles
crew members are trained and licensed as safety
officers in terms of International Civil Aviation
regulations.
We now invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy the Air Seychelles in-flight service.
Bienvenue á bord
Air Seychelles est heureuse de vous accueillir à bord et espère que vous serez satisfaits de
nos services. Notre équipage de bord fera son possible pour rendre votre voyage agréable. Pour tout renseignement ou aide, n’hésitez pas à appeler les membres de l’équipage
en pressant le bouton situé sur l’accoudoir de votre siège.
Confort
Important
PRÉVENTION DES COMPORTEMENT S
PERTURBATEURS ET DES INDISCIPLINES
À BORD DES AÉRONEFS APPARTENANT À
AIR SEYCHELLES OU EXPLOITÉS PAR AIR
SEYCHELLES.
Pour votre information, l’usage des équipements
suivants est formellement interdit à bord sous aucun
prétexte:
• Emetteurs ou récepteurs FM/AM/TV
• Emetteur-récepteur de la citizen band
• Imprimantes
• Téléphone mobile
• Jouets télécommandés
• Récepteurs satellitaires
• Scanneurs
• Talkies-walkies
• Micro sans fil
D’après les règlements de l’Aviation Civile
Internationale (OACI), toute personne qui:
Il devient de plus en plus évident que ces appareils
créent des interférences qui peuvent atteindre les
réseaux de navigation et de contrôle de l’avion.
• Perturbe le déroulement normal du vol
• Entreprend une action qui met ou est susceptible
de mettre en danger les passagers, l’équipage et/
ou l’appareil
• Refuse de se conformer à une injonction d’un
membre de l’équipage (officier de sécurité)
• Agresse un membre d’équipage
Bagage en cabine
• Perturbe sciemment le travail de l’équipage
Un seul bagage à main, en plus d’un sac à main et un
petit appareil photo, est autorisé à bord. Pour votre
confort et votre sécurité, il doit être placé soit dans le
compartiment à bagages soit sous le siège juste en face
de vous. Les membres de l’équipage s’occuperont des
bagages des passagers assis près des portes de sorties. Ils
leur seront restitués après le décollage ou pendant le vol
en cas de besoin. Veuillez vous assurer que votre bagage
à main ne contient pas de marchandises interdites
susceptibles de présenter un danger pour vous ou les
autres passagers.
• Ne tient pas compte des consignes de sécurité,
des signaux lumineux en cabine ou des instructions
verbales de l’équipage
Bébés et enfants en bas âge
Une hôtesse vous assiste pour la préparation des repas
pour bébé et installe un berceau selon la disponibilité
à bord.
Repas
Air Seychelles vous propose une sélection de menus
convenant à votre régime alimentaire (ex. régime
végétarien) à condition que vous en fassiez la demande
lors de la réservation de votre billet. Si vous désirez un
menu spécial ou un menu enfant, veuillez informer votre
compagnie aérienne ou votre agent de voyage lorsque
vous confirmez votre voyage.
Interdiction de fumer
Tous les vols Air Seychelles sont non-fumeurs.
Mesures de sûreté
Votre sûreté est notre priorité. Nous vous conseillons
de suivre bien attentivement la vidéo sur nos écrans
ainsi la démonstration de sécurité effectuée par
notre personnel de bord avant le décollage. Il vous
est également conseillé de lire les consignes de
sécurité sur la fiche rangée dans la poche du siège
situé en face de vous. Votre ceinture de sécurité doit
être obligatoirement bouclée lors du décollage et de
l’atterrissage ou pendant le vol, lorsque le petit voyant,
situé au-dessus de votre siège, est allumé.
• Cause volontairement des dommages à l’appareil
qui le rendent inexploitable ou qui mettent à
risque la sécurité du vol
• Communique sciemment des informations
fausses, mettant ainsi en danger un vol, son
équipage et ses passagers.
• A un comportement gênant, perturbateur,
indécent, fait preuve de violence à l’égard d’autres
personnes, profère des insultes ou des obscénités.
Commet une infraction passible de poursuites.
Le règlement de l’Aviation Civile Seychelloise
stipule qu’il est interdit de fumer à bord de tout
avion immatriculé aux Seychelles. Fumer dans les
toilettes constitue un risque pour la sécurité et est
puni par la loi.
Quiconque commettra l’une ou plusieurs de ces
infractions sera arrêté à destination et poursuivi en
vertu des règles de l’aviation civile concernée et du
règlement du transporteur. Ces poursuites peuvent
conduire à une amende ou une peine de prison,
voire les deux.
La politique d’Air Seychelles, dans l’intérêt
de ses passagers et de ses employés est de
porter systématiquement devant la justice les
cas de passagers perturbateurs et d’obtenir leur
condamnation.
Sièges
Vous pouvez ajuster la position de votre siège
en appuyant sur le bouton situé sur l’accoudoir.
Cependant, lors du décollage et de l’atterrissage,
votre siège doit être obligatoirement redressé, le
repose-pieds et la tablette en face de vous, relevés.
Chaque siège est pourvu d’un éclairage individuel qui
vous permet de lire la nuit sans déranger votre voisin.
Pour votre confort, une couverture, un oreiller, des
chaussettes et un masque sont mis à votre disposition.
Effets personnels
Avant de débarquer, assurez-vous que vous êtes bien
en possession de tous vos effets personnels en vérifiant
notamment le compartiment à bagages et votre siège.
Les boutiques de vente hors taxes :
Les marchandises exemptes de droits existent sur tous
les vols internationaux, si le temps le permet. Consultez,
s’il vous plait, la brochure concernée qui se trouve dans
la pochette du siège qui vous fait face. Cette brochure
donne des détails sur le choix des produits disponibles,
les devises et les cartes de crédit qui sont acceptées.
Utilisation d’appareils électroniques
Les passagers sont priés de ne pas utiliser d’appareils
électroniques susceptibles d’interférer avec les appareils
de navigation aérienne à bord. Pour tout renseignement,
veuillez vous adresser au personnel de cabine.
Désinsectisation
Le règlement sanitaire de l’Aéroport de Mahé exige
que l’appareil soit désinsectisé. Le produit utilisé est
conforme aux normes internationales et ne présente
aucun danger pour la santé ; cependant, si vous pensez
qu’il peut vous incommoder, nous vous prions de
bien vouloir vous couvrir la bouche et le nez avec un
mouchoir.
A bord
Nos menus vous feront découvrir en avant-garde les
saveurs uniques des îles Seychelles. Selon la durée de
vol, un ou deux repas seront servis à bord. Pendant
toute la durée du vol, le service bar vous propose
gratuitement des boissons fraîches.
Veuillez également noter que:
D’après les règles de l’Aviation Civile Internationale
(OACI), le Commandant de Bord est habilité et a le
pouvoir de prendre toutes les mesures nécessaires
pour assurer la sécurité des personnes et de leurs biens
ainsi que celle de l’appareil, y compris la privation
de mouvement pour quiconque pourrait menacer
cette sécurité. Dans le cadre de ses fonctions, le
Commandant de Bord peut demander à un ou
plusieurs membres d’équipage de l’assister dans cette
tâche, voire la déléguer pour neutraliser ceux qui
commettraient des infractions.
Air Seychelles s’octroie également le droit,
conformément à ses conditions générales de transport
de refuser l’embarquement à toute personne qui serait
sous l’emprise de la drogue et/ou de l’alcool, ou qui
représente un danger pour la sécurité, l’ordre et la
discipline à bord.
La première fonction des navigants est d’agir
comme «officier de sécurité» à bord. Tous les
membres d’ équipages d’Air Seychelles sont formés et
certifiés «officier de sécurité» au sens des règlements
de l’Organisation Internationale e l’Aviation Civile.
Nous vous invitons à vous installer confortablement, Vous détendre et profiter du service à bord d’Air Seychelles.
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News
Manoj Papa Succeeds Cramer Ball as
Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles
Air Seychelles has appointed Manoj Papa as its new Chief Executive Officer. He
succeeds Cramer Ball, who spent two fruitful years at the helm of Air Seychelles.
Mr. Papa joins from South African Airways, where he held the position of Acting
General Manager: Commercial, overseeing the entire commercial portfolio for the
airline. As part of this he was instrumental in developing the Long Term Turnaround
Strategy for SAA. He joined Etihad Airways in 2007, later serving as Vice President
Corporate Strategy until he returned to South African Airways in 2012.
Joël Morgan, the Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs and Transport and
Chairman of Air Seychelles, welcomed the appointment of Mr. Papa and said:
“I put on record our grateful thanks to Cramer Ball, who has been instrumental in
revitalising our national carrier. Cramer was seconded to Air Seychelles in January
2012 as part of a partnership in which Etihad Airways acquired 40 per cent of our
airline and secured a five-year management contract. He took us into profitability
in his first year of leadership and has rebuilt the foundations of this proud airline.”
Mr. Ball said the progress of Air Seychelles in two years was testament to the
commitment of the employees and the support and trust of the Government.
“We have not only turned around the airline, but we have created the foundations
for a very bright future for our staff and future generations of Seychellois,”
said Mr. Ball. “I will be forever grateful for the support and friendship shown to
me by the people of the Seychelles. I would also like to recognise the incredible
vision shown by President Michel for laying the foundations of Air Seychelles, and
the unwavering support, commitment, foresight and passion of my Chairman,
Joël Morgan, in working with me and my team to turn around Air Seychelles and
create a strong business with a bright future.”
(Left to right) Kevin Knight, Vice Chairman Air Seychelles; Joël Morgan,
Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs and Transport and Air Seychelles Board
Chairman; Manoj Papa, Chief Executive Officer, Air Seychelles.
Air Seychelles in Profit for Second Consecutive Year
Air Seychelles has announced a net profit of US$3 million for 2013, exceeding
by 171 per cent its profit of US$1.1 million reported in 2012. Revenue
increased by 107 per cent to US$88.7 million (2012: US$42.8 million).
The airline’s passenger numbers on its international network increased
100 per cent to 195,857 (2012: 97,576), while traffic on domestic services
in 2013 increased nine per cent to 156,617 passengers. Cargo volumes flown
in 2013 rose by 159 per cent to 5,529 tonnes.
Joël Morgan, Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs and Transport and Air
Seychelles Board Chairman, said the 2013 results were a testament to the
on-going success of the airline’s turnaround strategy and business plan.
Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles, Manoj Papa, said: “These results are
another step forward in our journey as a commercially successful business
and come against a backdrop of impressive development in both our
domestic and international operations.
Our business is now in good shape for the future, which includes growing
our operations, launching new routes, taking delivery of new aircraft,
expanding airline partnerships, hiring more Seychellois, and bringing more
travellers to the Seychelles”.
At the close of 2013, Air Seychelles employed 629 staff, an increase of 17
per cent over the 536 staff the airline employed in 2012. Of this number,
the airline employs 622 Seychellois nationals, 98.8 per cent of the total. The
airline recruited 57 cabin crew in 2013, promoted eight domestic pilots to
Airbus A330 operations and two domestic pilots were promoted to Captain.
Domestic Fleet Order to Arrive Ahead of Schedule
Two of the three aircraft ordered by Air Seychelles from Canada’s Viking Air will arrive in mid-2014, one year ahead of schedule.
Last October Air Seychelles placed an order for three Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft in a multi-million dollar deal which will enable the island
carrier to renew its domestic fleet. Deliveries were scheduled for mid-2015, with earlier advancement possible if newly built aircraft became available.
Air Seychelles now plans to welcome the new Twin Otters in June and July, following which, the aircraft will enter into service between Mahé and Praslin, as well
as other islands in the archipelago, including Bird, Denis, D’Arros, and Frégate.
The third Twin Otter aircraft is expected to arrive in the third quarter of 2015. All three new aircraft are part of a phased business plan to refresh the Twin
Otter DHC6 fleet.
Twin Otters were first introduced by Air Seychelles in the early 1980s and the airline currently operates three DHC-6 Series 300 aircraft and 1 DHC-6 Series
400 aircraft.
8 | Silhouette • Vol 25 No 2 •
The signing of the Vanilla Islands partnership by Cramer Ball, former Chief Executive
Officer of Air Seychelles, and Pascal Viroleau, Chief Executive Officer of the Vanilla Islands
Organisation witnessed by Alain St. Ange, Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture.
Air Seychelles Launches All-Cargo Domestic Service
Air Seychelles has begun an all-cargo domestic service between the two
largest islands of the Seychelles archipelago, Mahé and Praslin.
Operated by Shorts 360 aircraft and specifically timed to connect with
flights from Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg, the once per week cargo service
will target perishable commodities destined for hotels and other tourism
establishments on Praslin.
All shipments destined for Praslin will be customs cleared in Mahé, and
consignee trucks on Praslin will be given access to the airport ramp, facilitating
fast off-loading and distribution to customers.
The Air Seychelles’ Shorts 360 aircraft has been retrofitted to operate as a
mini freighter, and can now carry up to 3,500 kilogrammes of cargo with a
volumetric capacity of 37 cubic metres (1,309 cubic feet).
The all-cargo service follows the recent launch of a cargo chiller and freezer
facility at the newly refurbished cargo terminal at Seychelles International
Airport.
Air Seychelles and Vanilla Islands Sign Partnership Agreement
Air Seychelles has signed an agreement with the Vanilla Islands
Organisation to increase visitor numbers to the Indian Ocean.
Under the strategic marketing agreement, the signatories will invest in a
range of cooperative programmes and products to attract visitors to the
Indian Ocean from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Air Seychelles
and the Vanilla Island’s marketing messages will be maximised in the
partnership and both organisations will benefit from the enhanced presence
on each other’s marketing materials.
The Vanilla Islands concept, created in August 2010 under the aegis of
the Indian Ocean Commission, aims to unify the islands of Comoros,
Mauritius, Madagascar, La Reunion, Seychelles, Maldives and Mayotte
under one tourism brand while retaining each of the island’s unique selling
propositions.
Air Seychelles, the region’s only four star airline, currently operates three
services to Mauritius and Johannesburg each per week, seven services per
week to Abu Dhabi, and three services to Hong Kong via Abu Dhabi.
Customers can find further details by visiting the cargo section of the
Air Seychelles website, by calling Air Seychelles Cargo on +248 4 391 000 or
by e-mailing [email protected]
Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, Manoj Papa
and commercial staff in group photo with the trade partners.
Air Seychelles Celebrates Year of Achievement with Trade Partners
Air Seychelles hosted a dinner of appreciation for Destination Management
Companies (DMCs) and travel agents in recognition of their loyalty and
support during a record-breaking 2013. The reception took place at the
Hilton Northolme Resort and Spa.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of certificates and awards.
Air Seychelles’ General Manager Commercial, Justin Gosling, presented
certificates to the travel agents and DMCs present.
Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, Manoj Papa, presented awards to
the top performers. Winning for top performing travel agent was Mason’s
Air Travel, followed by Seashell Travel. Mason’s Travel also secured top
performing DMC honours with 7 Degrees South clinching second place.
Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, Manoj Papa
flanked by Captain Gabriel and Captain Confait.
Two Seychellois Promoted as Captains
Air Seychelles has promoted two pilots on its domestic operations to the
rank of Captain. The airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Manoj Papa, presented
commander’s bars to Captain Julius Gabriel and Captain Ashley Confait in a
ceremony at the Air Seychelles headquarters.
The new Twin Otter Commanders have successfully completed the
company’s rigorous Command Upgrade Programme which included training
on aircraft technical elements, emergency procedures and Crew Resource
Management (CRM), as well as leadership and decision-making.
Mr Papa said: “Attaining the rank of Commander is a major achievement
in a pilot’s career, particularly for pilots so young. The Commander’s bars
symbolise, for all eyes and for all time, that its wearers have attained the
highest degree of airmanship, and we congratulate Captain Gabriel and
Captain Confait on their accomplishment.”
• Silhouette • Vol 25 No 2 | 9
12
Discover Seychelles The Islands
Discover Seychelles
F
ar from any continental land mass, the islands of
Seychelles have long been likened to a string of
pearls set in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. No
wonder that the slogan of this proud nation, one of the world’s
prime holiday destinations, is ‘Not just another place, another
world ‘. And it is delivered with an invitation that no normal
person can resist, an invitation to ‘Discover the Islands’, which
lie just four degrees south of the Equator and are literally 1,000
miles from anywhere.
As the world becomes ever smaller, Seychelles is becoming
increasingly accessible to holiday-makers from around the globe.
With the greatest of ease, Air Seychelles whisks an ever increasing
number of visitors from Europe, Africa, the Far East and the Middle
East to sample the many and varied delights of the islands. Within
these few square kilometres is a land of colourful contrasts; the
bleached granite rocks, thrusting up from the sea like the peaks
of a sunken mountain range lie in the shadow of lush tropical
vegetation clinging to steep mountain sides. In the middle of a
beach of white coral sand, a sudden upthrust of granite resembles
a scene from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Photo courtesy of Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF)
The people of the islands reflect these same dramatic
contrasts. A description of a typical Seychellois is impossible; their
ancestors include British and French seamen, freed African slaves,
and Indian and Chinese merchants. Their skin tone can be fair or
dark, their hair blonde or black, their eyes blue or brown. But they
all share a gentle and cheerful character, combined with a nature
as warm and welcoming as their island home.
Discover Seychelles Les Îles
A la Découverte des les
E
loignées de toute masse continentale, les îles Seychelles ont longtemps
été comparées à un chapelet de perles dans les eaux bleues de l’océan
indien. Pas étonnant que le slogan de cette fière nation, dont le pays est
l’une des destinations de vacances les plus prisées dans le monde, soit ‘Pas juste un
autre endroit, un autre monde’. Et celui-ci s’accompagne d’une invitation à laquelle
aucune personne normalement constituée ne peut résister, une invitation ‘à la
découverte des îles’, situées à seulement quatre degrés de latitude en dessous de
l’équateur et littéralement à mille lieues de tout autre endroit.
Au fur et à mesure que le monde rétrécit, les Seychelles deviennent de plus
en plus accessibles aux agences de voyage et aux tours opérateurs du monde
entier. Air Seychelles emmène ainsi chaque année avec la plus grande facilité un
nombre croissant de visiteurs d’Europe, d’Afrique, du Proche Orient et de l’extrême
Orient pour goûter aux délices nombreux et variés de ces îles. Parmi ces quelques
kilomètres carrés de terres se trouve un pays de contrastes colorés: les rochers de
granite , surgissant de la mer comme les pics d’une chaîne de montagnes engloutie,
gisent dans l’ombre d’une végétation tropicale luxuriante s’accrochant jusqu’aux
versants abrupts des montagnes. Au milieu d’une plage de sable corallien blanc, la
présence d’un monolithe de granite fait penser à une scène du célèbre film: 2001,
Odyssée de l’Espace.
Les gens qui peuplent ces îles montrent un contraste tout aussi saisissant.
Décrire un Seychellois typique est ainsi impossible, car leurs ancêtres sont des
marins français et britanniques, des esclaves africains affranchis, des marchands
indiens et chinois. Le teint de peau des Seychellois peut être aussi bien clair que
foncé, leurs cheveux blonds ou bruns, leurs yeux bleus ou marrons. Mais ils partagent
tous un même caractère doux et gai, ainsi qu’une façon d’être aussi chaleureuse et
accueillante que leurs îles natales.
13
14
History of Seychelles
T
he history of Seychelles could have come straight out of a story
book: a tale of intrepid explorers, fearsome pirates and brutal battles
for the islands’ bountiful treasures. The first serious exploration took
place only in 1742, but early navigators, such as the Indonesians and Arabs,
probably arrived before this time in search of fresh water and food. These
visitors did not leave physical evidence of their passing, unless it was they
who introduced the casuarina tree and coconut palm. It is possible that Arab
merchants knew Seychelles as the source of the rare and valuable coco de
mer nuts and came here to collect them, keeping the location secret so that
they could sell them at inflated prices.
Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, sailed through the Amirantes
group in 1503, en route from India, and might also have sighted the granitic
islands. In 1506 another Portuguese navigator, Fernao Soares, recorded the
islands, which appear regularly on charts after this date as the ‘Seven Sisters’.
The British made their first appearance on Seychelles in 1609 when the
ships Ascension and Good Hope arrived at Mahé during an expedition for
the British East India Company. They made no claim to the islands, which
remained uninhabited, although they might have been used as a secret refuge
by pirates, who add a touch of drama and mystery to their story.
In 1742 the Frenchman, Lazare Picault, landed on Mahé at Anse Boileau
(not Baie Lazare, which now bears his name). He named the islands after
Mahé de Labourdonnais, the governor of Mauritius, who had sent him.
Fourteen years later, Mahé and the inner islands were formally claimed in
the name of the King of France. Mahé was named Isle Séchelles, which later
became the name of the group. The origin of the name is unclear; it might
have been in honour of Moreau de Séchelles, a former controller-general of
finance in France, but, as he was disgraced at the time, it seems more likely
to have been a tribute to members of his family who were related through
marriage to the governor of Mauritius. The Stone of Possession, which was set
above the entrance to the port, is now in the National Museum.
In 1768, the French also claimed Praslin, named after their marine
minister, the Duke of Praslin. La Digue and Curieuse were named after the
ships which visited the islands at this time. In 1770 settlers arrived on
St Anne from Mauritius. They later abandoned this settlement and moved
across to Mahé.
In 1772, Pierre Poivre sent spice plants to Seychelles, hoping to establish
them there and allow France to compete with the Dutch in the valuable spice
trade. Chevalier Quéau de Quincy was appointed administrator of Seychelles
in 1794. During the long revolutionary wars between Britain and France,
several British men-of-war called at Seychelles. Having no means of defence,
Quincy was forced to capitulate to the British seven times. These capitulations
were a form of ‘temporary surrender with honour’, with favourable terms for
Seychelles skillfully negotiated by Quincy.
At the end of the war Mauritius and Seychelles were ceded to the British
under the Treaty of Paris. The British recognised Quincy’s abilities and kept him
on as juge de paix of the colony until his death in 1827. He is buried in the
grounds of State House.
In 1903 Seychelles became a crown colony in its own right, detached from
Mauritius. From 1861, slaves liberated from Arab dhows off East Africa were
brought to Seychelles to begin new lives, swelling the population by nearly 3,000.
Two world wars during the 20th century touched Seychelles only lightly, but
times were changing fast. The embryo of the first political party, the Taxpayers’
Association, was formed in 1939.
In March 1975, a new constitution was drawn up and a coalition government
established ready for independence in June 1976, when James Mancham
became President and Albert René Prime Minister. Following a coup d’état
in 1977, Seychelles became a one-party state, with Albert René as president
and the Seychelles’ People’s Progressive Front as the ruling party. Multi-party
elections were restored in 1993, when René was again returned as President, with
Mancham (Democratic Party) leader of the opposition. René was re-elected in
1998, and also at the early elections called in 2001, where the opposition, led by
Wavel Ramkalawan (Seychelles National Party), obtained a high percentage. René
retired in April 2004 and handed over the presidency to his Vice President, James
Michel, who was re-elected in July 2006.
Seychelles has a population of about 85,000. Its people are descended from
the original French settlers, their African slaves, the liberated slaves rescued
from slavers in the 19th century, and some British settlers. This melting pot has
been enriched by traders from India and China, intermingling to produce an
almost unparalleled and multifaceted community, yet one that is completely
integrated.
The Seychelles’ rich racial blend is reflected in its varied culture and food.
Music brought to the islands by the European settlers and played on violins or
accordions has blended with the beat of the tomtom, the makalapo (a stringed
instrument with a tin for a sound box), the bom (a bowed instrument), and
the sez (a monochord sitar). A typical Seychelles dance is the moutias which
blends African and Malagasy rhythms in a popular communal dance usually
staged at night around a fire. European influences can be seen in the contredanse, which has its roots in the court of Louis XIV of France, the Sun King, and
the mazok and kosez, which are reminiscent of the waltz and the quadrille.
The main language of the islands is Creole, but most people speak English
and some French. Creole is a phonetic language, similar to that found in other
territories where there has been French influence, such as Mauritius and New
Orleans.
French words were given a harder pronunciation and syllables which were
not pronounced were dropped altogether. Thus Bonjour (Good morning)
becomes Bonzour and s’il vous plait (please) becomes sivouple.
The spiritual life of the Seychellois ranges from the centuries-old local
magic, called gris-gris, to the far reaching influence of the Roman Catholic
Church. Often these beliefs run alongside each other. Many local people still
consult their bonnomn dibwa, or medicine man, seeking spells or potions for
love, luck or revenge. However, the Seychellois are also avid church-goers and
consider church a particularly social occasion.
The Seychellois are never in a hurry. There is always time for a chat or a
smile. Their lifestyle is characterised by a warm, happy-go-lucky attitude that
foreign influences have been unable to dampen or disturb.
16
L’histoire des Seychelles
L
’histoire des Seychelles pourrait sortir tout droit d’un livre de contes:
un récit d’explorateurs intrépides, de pirates n’ayant peur de rien, et
de brutales batailles pour les nombreux trésors de ces îles. La première
exploration sérieuse prit place en 1742, mais des navigateurs anciens tels que
les Indonésiens ou les Arabes visitèrent probablement les Seychelles bien avant
en quête de nourriture et d’eau douce. Ces visiteurs ne laissèrent pas de traces
de leur passage, bien qu’on leur attribue l’introduction du Casuarina et du
Cocotier. Il est possible que les marchands arabes aient visité régulièrement
ces îles pour y récolter les rares et précieux Coco-de-mer, et qu’ils aient
tenu leur emplacement secret afin de pouvoir vendre ces noix encore plus cher.
Vasco de Gama, l’explorateur portugais qui navigua à travers l’archipel des
Amirantes en 1503 sur sa route vers l’Inde, a peut-être lui-aussi pu voir les
îles granitiques. En 1506, un autre navigateur portugais, Fernao Soares, nota
la présence de ces îles qui, après son passage, figurèrent régulièrement sur les
cartes comme ‘Les Sept Sœurs’.
Les Britanniques firent leur première apparition aux Seychelles en 1609,
lorsque les bateaux Ascension et Good Hope (Bonne Espérance) arrivèrent à
Mahé au cours d’une expédition de la British East India Company (Compagnie
britannique des Indes orientales). Ils ne revendiquèrent pas la propriété de ces
îles, qui restèrent inhabitées, bien qu’elles aient pu être utilisées comme refuge
secret par certains pirates, ce qui rajoute une touche de drame et de mystère
à leur histoire.
En 1742, le Français Lazare Picault débarqua à Mahé à Anse Boileau (et non
pas Baie Lazare, qui aujourd’hui porte son nom). Il nomma l’île d’après Mahé
de Labourdonnais, gouverneur de l’Ile Maurice, qui l’avait envoyé. Quatorze
années plus tard, Mahé et les îles proches furent officiellement revendiquées
par le roi de France. Mahé fut nommée Isle Séchelles, nom qui par la suite fut
donné à l’archipel en entier. L’origine de ce nom n’est pas claire. Il est possible
qu’il ait été donné en honneur de Moreau de Séchelles, un ancien contrôleur
général des Finances en France, mais vu que celui-ci était déjà tombé en
disgrâce à cette époque, il semble plus probable qu’il s’agisse d’un hommage
à des membres de sa famille devenus parents par mariage avec le gouverneur
de Maurice.
La Pierre de Possession, qui fut érigée à l’entrée du port, est maintenant
exposée au Musée d’Histoire. En 1768, les Français revendiquèrent aussi
Praslin, nommée d’après le ministre de la marine de l’époque, le Duc de Praslin.
La Digue et Curieuse furent nommées d’après des navires de l’époque qui
visitèrent les îles. En 1770, les premiers colons en provenance de l’Ile de France
(aujourd’hui Maurice) débarquèrent à Sainte Anne. Ils abandonnèrent ensuite
ce premier établissement et s’installèrent en face sur Mahé.
En 1772, Pierre Poivre envoya des plants d’épices aux Seychelles, avec l’espoir
de pouvoir les y faire pousser et faire ainsi la concurrence aux Hollandais dans
le commerce lucratif des épices. Le Chevalier Quéau de Quincy fut nommé
Administrateur des Seychelles en 1794. Pendant les longues années de guerre
de la période révolutionnaire entre la Grande Bretagne et la France, plusieurs
hommes de guerre britanniques se présentèrent aux Seychelles. N’ayant
aucun moyen de défense, Quincy fut forcé de capituler devant les Anglais
plusieurs fois. Ces capitulations étaient une forme de ‘reddition temporaire
avec honneur’, et s’accompagnaient de conditions favorables aux Seychelles
habilement négociées par Quincy. A la fin de la guerre, les Seychelles et Maurice
furent cédées aux Britanniques par le Traité de Paris. Ces derniers reconnurent
les capacités de Quincy et le gardèrent comme juge de paix de la colonie,
jusqu’à sa mort en 1827. A partir de 1861, des esclaves libérés des marchands
arabes au large des côtes d’Afrique de l’Est furent amenés aux Seychelles pour
y commencer de nouvelles vies, grossissant la population d’environ 3,000
personnes. Les deux guerres mondiales du 20ème siècle n’affectèrent que peu
les Seychelles, mais les temps changeaient rapidement. Ainsi l’embryon du
premier parti politique, l’Association des Contribuables’, fut formé en 1939.
En mars 1975, une nouvelle constitution fut établie et un gouvernement de
coalition constitué afin de préparer l’indépendance en 1976; James Mancham
devint Président de la République et France Albert René le Premier ministre.
A la suite d’un coup d’Etat en 1977, les Seychelles adoptèrent un système à
parti unique avec Albert René comme Président et le Front Progressiste du
Peuple Seychellois comme parti dirigeant. Le multipartisme fut ré-introduit
avec les élections de 1993, où René fut élu président et Mancham devint
chef de l’opposition. René fut à nouveau réélu en 1998 ainsi qu’aux élections
anticipées de 2001, où l’opposition conduite par Wavel Ramkalawan (Parti
National Seychellois) obtint un score élevé. René se retira en Avril 2004 et
passa le pouvoir à son vice-Président, James Michel, qui fut ensuite réélu en
Juillet 2006.
Les Seychelles ont une population d’environ 85,000 habitants, qui sont
les descendants des premiers colons français, de leurs esclaves africains, des
esclaves libérés des trafiquants au cours du 19ème siècle, et de quelques colons
britanniques. Ce creuset racial et culturel s’est ensuite enrichi avec les apports
de marchands venus d’Inde et de Chine, le tout se mélangeant pour produire
une communauté à multiples facettes quasiment inégalée et complètement
harmonieuse. Le riche mélange racial des Seychelles est reflété par sa culture
et sa cuisine diversifiée. La musique amenée par les colons européens, jouée
sur des violons ou des accordéons s’est mêlée aux sons des tam-tams, du
‘makalapo’ (un instrument à cordes utilisant une boite de conserve comme
caisse de résonance), le ‘bom’ (un instrument arqué), et le ‘sez’ (une cithare
monocorde). La ‘Moutia’ est une danse typique des Seychelles, qui mêle les
rythmes africains et malgaches en une danse populaire de groupe normalement
pratiquée la nuit autour d’un feu. On ressent les influences européennes dans
la contredanse, qui puise ses racines à la cour du roi français Louis XIV, le Roi
Soleil, et dans le ‘mazok’ et la ‘kosez’, qui rappellent la valse et le quadrille.
Le principal langage parlé dans les îles est le Créole, mais la plupart des
gens parlent aussi l’anglais et le français. Le Créole est une langue phonétique,
similaire à celle rencontré dans les autres territoires jadis sous influence
française, comme Maurice ou la Nouvelle-Orléans.
On a donné aux mots français une prononciation plus simplifiée et on a
laissé tomber les syllabes qui ne se prononçaient pas.
Ainsi Bonjour devient ‘Bonzour’ en Créole, et s’il vous plait ‘sivouple’.
La vie spirituelle des Seychellois s’étend de la magie locale séculaire,
appelée ‘gris-gris’, à l’influence dominante de l’Eglise Catholique. Souvent
ces croyances se côtoient. Beaucoup de personnes consultent encore leur
‘Bonnonm dibwa’, ou sorcier, à la recherche de potions ou de sorts pour
l’amour, la chance ou la revanche. Cependant, les Seychellois fréquentent
assidûment les églises et considèrent le fait d’y aller comme un évènement
social important.
Les Seychellois ne sont jamais pressés. Il y a toujours du temps pour
parler ou pour un sourire. Leur style de vie est caractérisé par une attitude
insouciante et chaleureuse que les influences extérieures ont été incapables
d’abattre ou d’altérer.
Takamakarized*
*taka - maka - rized vt. hypnotise:
(loosely) fascination. Capture interest
A: Common occurrence when drinking
Takamaka Bay Rum. B: An influence or
process producing this. C: Feeling or
showing of pleasure & contentment.
3 colloq characterized by happiness
evoked by place of pleasure, beauty
i.e. the Seychelles
www. t a k a ma k a ba y.co m
Mahé
The main island of Seychelles is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and
impressive in the world. Each of its 70 beaches has a different character;
the rock formations behind them are a dramatic contrast and a beautiful
backdrop for the architectural elegance of the hotels.
Mahé covers roughly 150 square kilometres and is 27 kilometres long
and seven kilometres wide. Considering its mountainous interior, covered
with lush vegetation, it is small wonder that the island’s original name was
Ile d’Abondance.
The highest point, Morne Seychellois, is 930 metres above sea level. Even
high up in the interior the roads are good. There are plenty of opportunities for
walks through winding paths to appreciate the lush flora and fauna at close
quarters, especially in the Morne Seychellois National Park.
The airport, south of Victoria, is built on reclaimed land. Landing there
is an interesting experience – offering stunning views of the verdant island
and its coastline.
Victoria, the national capital with a population of some 20,000, is spread
around a large bay at the foot of Morne Seychellois and the Trois Frères.
This small town is the islands’ economic and administrative hub, as well as
their only international port.
The clock tower in the city centre is a replica of the clock that stands
at the junction of Victoria street and Vauxhall Bridge Road in central
London. Erected as a memorial to Queen Victoria in 1903, the Seychelles
clock tower is today more readily associated with the declaration that year
of Seychelles as a Crown colony.
A more modern structure, just outside the old town centre, is a huge
sculpture by Lorenzo Appiani – the Bicentennial Monument – representing
the three continents from which the Seychelles people originate. If you
want to arrange a meeting place, however, the locals tend to use the
Pirate’s Arms on Independence Avenue, where one can have a drink or a
meal. The first hotel in Seychelles was built not far away, at the intersection
of Poudrière street and Francis Rachel street. While no one street is best
for souvenir shopping, there are clusters of shops and boutiques near the
traffic lights and the taxi rank, and in the arcade on Francis Rachel street.
There are also boutiques in the Temooljee building in the same street,
near the Pirate’s Arms and at the foot of Independence Avenue. Local crafts
can also be purchased at the kiosks on Francis Rachel street and on Market
street. The new Sir Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market, which was opened in
1999, is noted for its noisy and colourful atmosphere, especially on Saturday
mornings. Red chillies, flavoured with garlic and ginger (mazavarou) will give
a special ‘Creole touch’ to your dishes. There are two national museums
in Victoria – the Natural History Museum, ‘guarded’ by a large cement
crocodile and a dugong, on Independence Avenue, and the National
History Museum, together with the National Library and Archives are
located near Le Chantier roundabout while the Botanical Gardens are on
the Mont Fleuri Road, next to the Hospital. Departure point for many of
the island excursions is the Marine Charter Association wharf, next to the
Yacht Club. There are two cathedrals (one Roman Catholic and one Anglican),
one Hindu temple and a Mosque in Victoria.
Then there are the beaches, the glory of Seychelles. The east coast, on
which the airport is situated, has long beaches such as Anse Marie-Louise,
but there are also many small beaches, some of which you can call your
own at times.
Those wishing to avoid crowds will also like Anse Intendance on the south
coast, but caution should be observed here and at several other beaches
because of strong currents. It is advisable to check on local conditions before
swimming or snorkelling. Most beaches, however, are perfectly safe, such
as Anse à la Mouche, a large palm-fringed bay with shallow waters, ideal
for swimming and snorkelling. There are more interesting beaches, such as
Barbarons and Port Glaud, Ile Thérèse, Port Launay Marine National Park or
Anse Major (in the National Park near Bel Ombre). Care should be taken with
strong currents when snorkelling off nearby Anse Takamaka. Slightly north is
Baie Lazare, with its dramatic granite backdrop.
To many, the king of beaches is Beau Vallon, in the north of the island
– a huge three kilometres (two miles) long curve of white sand with crystalclear water that is especially calm and welcoming. Several hotels on Beau
Vallon offer excellent watersports and diving facilities.
18
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Mahé
L’île principale des Seychelles est, sans aucun doute, l’une des plus belles îles du
monde avec ses 70 plages au caractère particulier. Les magnifiques formations
rocheuses, qui séparent les plages de l’intérieur de l’île, resemblent à un décor
de théâtre dans lequel se fond l’élégante architecture des hôtels.
Mahé couvre environ 150 kilomètres carrés, mesurant 27 kilomètres de
long et 7 kilomètres de large. L’abondante végétation qui recouvre son relief
montagneux lui a valu autrefois le nom d’Ile d’Abondance. Le point culminant
de cette île s’élève à 930 mètres au-dessus du niveau de la mer. Le réseau
routier est carrossable jusque dans les coins les plus reculés de l’intérieur. De
nombreux chemins de promenades à pied permettent d’admirer de près la flore
et la faune de l’île, en particulier dans le Parc National du Morne Seychellois.
Au sud de Victoria, la capitale, se trouve l’aéroport de Mahé. Le seul fait d’y
atterrir est une expérience inoubliable à cause de la vue magnifique que l’on a
de l’île verdoyante et de sa côte.
Victoria, avec sa population d’environ 20,000 habitants, s’étend le long d’une
baie au pied du Morne Seychellois et des Trois Frères. Cette ville minuscule est
le centre administratif et financier des Seychelles ainsi que le seul port de l’île.
La tour de l’horloge est une copie miniature de celle située à l’intersection de
Victoria Street et Vauxhall Bridge Road près de la gare Victoria à Londres. Elle fût
édifiée en 1903 en hommage à la reine Victoria. Mais aujourd’hui, elle est plutôt
considérée comme un symbole de l’élévation des Seychelles au rang de colonie
de la Couronne, indépendante de l’Ile Maurice.
La monumentale sculpture du bicentenaire de Lorenzo Appiani au centre de
la ville, représente les trois continents dont le peuple Seychellois est originaire:
l’Europe, l’Afrique et l’Asie. Le Pirates Arms, sur la place de l’Indépendance, est
un lieu de rencontre populaire où l’on peut boire et se restaurer. Bien qu’aucune
rue en particulier ne soit la meilleure pour l’achat de souvenirs il y a bon
nombre de boutiques au voisinage des uniques feux de circulation de l’île, près
de la station de taxis, et dans la rue Francis Rachel. Il y a aussi des boutiques
intéressantes dans l’édifice Temooljee situé dans la même rue, près du Pirates
Arms, et au début de l’avenue de l’Indépendance.
Le site du premier hôtel qui fut construit aux Seychelles se trouve à l’intersection
de la rue de la Poudrière et de la rue Francis Rachel.
Le “Marine Charter Association”, proche du cercle nautique, est le point de départ
de nombreuses excursions. La rue du Marché est fascinante avec ses étalages de
produits locaux et de souvenirs, son ambiance bruyante et colorée, en particulier les
samedis matins. Les piments rouges, assaisonnés d’ail et de gingembre (mazavarou),
en vente au marché (entièrement rénové en 1999), ne manqueront pas de relever
votre cuisine d’une touche créole. On trouve à Victoria deux cathédrales (une
catholique et une anglicane), un temple hindou et une mosquée.
Le Musée d’Histoire Naturelle, gardé par son crocodile et son Dugong en ciment,
se trouve dans l’avenue de l’Indépendance, tandis que le Musée National d’Histoire,
où est exposée la Pierre de Possession française, la Bibliothèque et les Archives
Nationales se situent dans la rue Francis Rachel, et le Jardin Botanique sur la route
de Mont-Fleuri, près de l’Hôpital.
Et puis, bien sûr, il y a les plages, la fierté de l’île. Sur la côte est, au Sud de
l’aéroport, s’étendent de grandes plages telle que l’Anse Marie Louise ainsi que
de plus petites plages souvent désertes. L’Anse Intendance, sur la côte sud, fait
parfaitement l’affaire de ceux qui préfèrent se tenir à l’écart des foules, quoique les
baignades y soient quelque peu dangereuses de mai à septembre. De même, il faut
être prudent lorsque l’on fait de la plongée ou du P.M.T. (Palme-Masque-Tuba) au
large de l’Anse Takamaka et plus généralement tout le long de la côte sud et ouest
de l’île, en raison des courants qui peuvent y être dangereux. Un peu plus au Nord, se
trouve Baie Lazare, avec son arrière-plan de granite tout à fait spectaculaire.
En remontant la côte ouest, il est conseillé d’accéder à la plage suivante, la
merveilleuse Anse Soleil, par un chemin pédestre, avant de se diriger vers Anse à
la Mouche, une grande plage bordée de palmiers dont l’eau peu profonde en fait
un lieu idéal pour la baignade ou le P.M.T. Il y a bien d’autres magnifiques plages,
dont Barbarons, Port Glaud, et l’Ile Thérèse, Port Launay ou Anse Major (à laquelle
on accède via Bel Ombre) qui sont des Parcs nationaux. La reine des plages, pour
beaucoup de personnes, c’est celle de Beau Vallon, au Nord de l’île. Celle-ci se
présente comme une longue promenade de trois kilomètres de sable blanc, caressée
par une eau claire particulièrement accueillante et calme. On trouvera là plusieurs
hôtels offrant tout l’équipement nécessaire aux sports nautiques.
20
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The Sunseeker 28 Metre Yacht
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23
Cerf
L’île aux Cerfs
This lush island is 15 minutes by boat from Mahé. Its north coast, which lies at the
edge of the marine park, has a superb coral reef, ideal for snorkelling or scuba-diving.
The interior is home to giant tortoises and flying foxes. Restaurants serve excellent
Créole food.
Cette île luxuriante se situe à 15 minutes de Mahé par bateau. Sa côte nord s’étend
le long du Parc Marin National de Ste Anne; elle est bordée d’un superbe récif de
corail, et est donc un endroit idéal pour la plongée sous-marine. L’intérieur de l’île
est le domicile de tortues et de roussettes (chauve-souris) géantes. Les restaurants
y servent une excellente cuisine créole.
Moyenne Island National Park
At just nine hectares, Moyenne Island may be the world’s smallest National Park.
Owned by Moyenne Foundation, a private NGO, it lies within the St Anne Marine
National Park and is the only island of the group open to day visitors. Despite its
diminutive size, it is an environmental treasure trove. Some 40 endemic plants are
represented, more than half of those unique to the granitic islands. Moyenne is the
only place on earth other than Vallée de Mai where all six of the palms unique to
Seychelles can be seen.
Moyenne Island Parc National
Grande de seulement 9 hectares, l’île Moyenne est un des plus petits parcs
nationaux. C’est une île privée, dans le parc national de St Anne, mais elle
demeure facilement accessible au public. Malgré sa petite taille, c’est un
véritable trésor. Plus de la moitie des plantes endémiques et uniques aux îles
granitiques y est présente. Moyenne est le seul endroit au monde en dehors
de la Vallée de Mai où poussent les six palmes uniques aux Seychelles.
Moyenne also has a population of more than 2,000 birds, 100 giant tortoises
and about 20 hawksbill turtles haul themselves ashore at Pirate Cove each
year. Perhaps pirates were the earliest human inhabitants and graves of
mysterious origin may date from this era. There are also tales of ghosts that
bang on windows and doors or trudge from the cemetery around midnight,
eloquently told in the book A Grain of Sand.
Moyenne a une population de plus de 100 tortues géantes et environ
une vingtaine de tortues marines imbriquées qui viennent pondre sur ses
plages. Les premiers habitants de l’île étaient sans doute des pirates, ce
qui expliquerait les tombeaux qui s’y trouvent. Et aussi, il y a les fameuses
histoires de fantômes qui s’aventurent depuis lecimetière a minuit,
frappant aux portes et fenêtres, comme si bien raconté dans le livre ‘Un Grain
de Sable’!
Eden Island
Eden Island
Eden Island is a private residential marina development situated just off the
coast of Mahé. Featuring a range of 580 freehold title luxury apartments,
spacious maisons and private villas, each with its own mooring, it also offers
owners the opportunity to qualify for residency of the Seychelles.
Eden Island est une marina résidentielle située proche de Mahé. Elle propose,
en pleine propriété, 580 appartements luxueux, maisons spacieuses et villas
de rêve indépendantes.
The over 56 hectares of land and private waterways will host a myriad
of upmarket facilities. These include an international marina capable of
handling super-yachts up to 100 metres in size, a commercial precinct
as well as a clubhouse hosting a gym and a tennis court.
The overall style of the island is distinctly rooted in the Seychelles
vernacular, drawing inspiration from the islands’ French, Victorian and
Indian ancestry. For more information, contact Christopher Nel on
+248 43 46 000, visit the island yourself or visit www.edenisland.sc
Chaque unité dispose de son propre point de mouillage et les propriétaires.
Eden Island développe 56 hectares de terrain et de voies navigables. Elle abrite
une marina internationale capable d’accueillir les Yachts jusqu’à 100 mètres et
bientôt un centre commercial ainsi qu’un club house avec salle de fitness et cours
de tennis.
L’architecture et le design de l’île s’inspirent des influences historiques
françaises, anglaises et indiennes dans le plus pur style seychellois. Pour plus
d’informations, contactez aux Seychelles Sandra Colas au +248 43 46 000
et en France la société Ter Cognita Jean-Philippe Aubert au +33 (0)1 48 25 93 33
ou visitez notre site internet www.edenisland.sc
24
Cousin
Cousin
Cousin Island, has been a nature reserve since 1968, when it was bought by the
Royal Society for Nature Conservation and held in trust for the International
Council for Bird Preservation as a haven for all types of birds including endangered
species. It is a place of pilgrimage for dedicated ornithologists: there they can
find the Seychelles warbler, Seychelles magpie-robin and Seychelles fody, which
are found elsewhere only on a handful of rat-free islands. Madagascar turtle
doves (possibly including the endemic form with the red head) and Seychelles
sunbirds are also present. Seabirds abound on Cousin, with more than 250,000
birds coming to nest every year. These are brown noddies, lesser noddies, wedgetailed shearwaters, Audubon’s shearwaters, bridled terns, as well as fairy terns,
one of the symbols of Seychelles, seen on the livery of Air Seychelles. There are
also interesting geckos, giant tortoises introduced from Aldabra, and hawksbill
turtles which lay their eggs above the tideline of the beach. The reserve is open
on certain days. Check with your hotel or tour operator.
The Seychelles government declared Cousin a Special Reserve in 1975. It is
managed by Nature Seychelles. Visitors may not have picnics or collect shells. Even
smoking is forbidden. A popular day trip leaves Praslin around 0900 hours from
Maison des Palmes, taking in Curieuse as well, with time for a barbecue there, and
later some snorkelling at St Pierre, arriving back at Praslin at around 1600 hours.
Cousin est une réserve naturelle depuis 1968, date à laquelle cette île fut achetée
par la Royal Society for Nature Conservation pour le compte du et le Conseil
International pour la Protection des Oiseaux qui en fît un refuge pour oiseaux de
toutes espèces mais particulièrement pour les espèces menacées d’extinction. Ces
dernières étant particulièrement rares, Cousin est devenu un lieu de pèlerinage
pour ornithologues. Ils trouvent là la Rousserole des Seychelles, le Fody (Tok-Tok
en Créole) des Seychelles et la Pie chanteuse des Seychelles, espèces survivant
seulement sur quelques îles sans rats. Des Tourterelles de Madagascar (dont la
forme endémique des Seychelles à tête rouge) et des Souimangas des Seychelles
s’y trouvent également. Les oiseaux marins y sont quant-à-eux très nombreux,
avec plus de 250,000 d’entre eux qui viennent y nicher chaque année. Il y a là
des Noddis bruns, des Noddis à bec grêle, des Puffins du Pacifique et des Puffins
d’Audubon, des Sternes bridées, ainsi que des Sternes Blanches, un des symboles
des Seychelles qui fut incorporé dans le logotype d’Air Seychelles.
On y trouve également beaucoup de reptiles intéressants, tels que des
geckos, des tortues géantes qui furent importées de l’île d’Aldabra, et des tortues
marines qui viennent pondre sur les plages, au-dessus de la ligne de marée
haute. La réserve n’est pas ouverte au public tous les jours; il est donc prudent
de s’informer auprès de votre hôtel ou tour opérateur avant d’y projeter une
visite. En 1975, le gouvernement Seychellois classa Cousin «Réserve Spéciale».
L’île éstt aujourd’hui gérée par Nature Seychelles, représentant local de BirdLife
International. Le ramassage des coquillages et les pique-niques sont interdits à
Cousin et les visiteurs ne sont pas non plus autorisés à fumer. Une excursion
intéressante part le matin de Praslin vers 09h00, visite ensuite Curieuse, où est
organisé un barbecue sur la plage, avant de reprendre la mer pour St Pierre pour
un P.M.T. et de rentrer ensuite à Praslin vers 16h00.
Ste Anne and its
Marine National Park
Sainte Anne et le
Parc Marin National
The smaller islands that are most accessible from Mahé for half-day or fullday trips are Cerf, Moyenne, Round and Ste Anne. The best way to appreciate
the wonders of the ocean is to make the trip by glass-bottomed boat, through
which you can see shoals of colourful fish. Unfortunately large sections of coral
have suffered from a rise in sea temperatures (attributed to climate change),
although some are showing signs of recovery.
Constituted in 1973, the Ste Anne Marine National Park was one of the first
Marine National Parks in the Indian Ocean. It now protects over 150 types of
fish. Naturally, fishing is forbidden, as is collecting shells and coral. As the notice
says, “Take away nothing but photographs and memories.”
With the new five-star hotel, Sainte Anne Resort, (managed by the International
Company Beachcomber) the island is now a holiday paradise for visitors.
Des excursions d’une journée ou d’une demi-journée peuvent être facilement
organisées sur les îles Cerf, Moyenne, Ronde, et Sainte Anne, au large de Mahé. Le
meilleur moyen d’apprécier les merveilles de l’océan est de s’offrir une traversée
en bateau à fond de verre vers l’une de ces îles. Car cela permet d’admirer les
innombrables bancs de poissons. Malheureusement, les formations coralliennes
ont souffert du réchauffement de l’eau, phénomène attribué au changement du
climat, mais montrent des signes de récupération.
Le Parc Marin National de Ste Anne, qui fut constitué en 1973, est l’un des
premiers de l’océan indien. Il abrite aujourd’hui plus de 150 espèces de poissons. La
pêche et le ramassage du corail y sont strictement interdits. Comme le dit si bien
la brochure touristique: “N’emportez rien sauf des photos, ne laissez rien sauf des
traces de pas.”
Avec le nouveau complexe hôtelier cinq étoiles de Sainte-Anne, (géré par
la compagnie internationale Beachcomber) l’île est maintenant devenue une
destination touristique paradisiaque.
Round Island Praslin
Ronde de Praslin
Round Island Praslin lies just a short distance off Baie Ste Anne, Praslin. There is
one beautiful sandy cove facing towards the main island with a beach bar and
restaurant. The smallest resort in the Indian Ocean merges with the forest and
the hillside, comprising just one large main house and three villas. A board walk
skirts the edge of the hill and climbs to the summit where there is a spectacular
view of the islands.
Ronde de Praslin est une île située non loin de Baie Sainte Anne. On y trouve une
belle anse sableuse faisant face à Praslin avec un bar de plage et un restaurant.
Avec une grande maison principale et trois villas, bien intégrées avec la forêt et
la colline, c’est probablement le plus petit établissement hôtelier de l’Oocéan
indien,. Un sentier longe le bord de la colline et grimpe vers le sommet qui offre
une vue spectaculaire sur ldes autres îles.
26
Praslin
Praslin
The second-largest granite island of Seychelles is Praslin, about 40 kilometres from
Mahé. It is 15 minutes by Air Seychelles service, which offers many scheduled flights
a day. By boat, it takes about one hour with the powerful catamarans that make 3
to 4 round trips rotations per day. The island has a population of about 7,000. There
are several excellent hotels, including the Lemuria Resort and Château de Feuilles.
Praslin is not as mountainous as Mahé – the highest point being 330 metres – but it
has similarly great granite outcrops surrounded by beautiful beaches, and a coral reef
enclosing the crystal-clear waters which are so typical of Seychelles.
The majestic bays and beaches alternate with smaller ones on which, even
in the busy season, you could believe you were the only person on the island.
Anse Volbert, or Côte d’Or, to the east of the island, is particularly beautiful,
with its pure white sand. Hotels such as Berjaya Praslin Beach offer a wide variety
of watersports facilities.
Fantastic granite masses form striking backgrounds to the beaches of Anse
Bois de Rose, Anse Boudin and Anse Kerlan, where the five-star Lemuria Resort
has an 18-hole championship golf course. At the northernmost tip of the island,
Anse Lazio is excellent for both swimming and snorkelling. Grand Anse, on the
west coast, has an equally beautiful beach for lazing about, but the waters are
sometimes heavy with seaweed and, because it is very shallow over the coral,
swimming is difficult at low tide.
Baie Pasquière and Anse Volbert to the north and Baie St. Anne to the south
have natural harbours which are best appreciated if you opt to make your trip
from Mahé to Praslin by boat; the view as you sail in is striking. In Baie St. Anne,
you will see Baie St Anne village, where there is a bank, shops and a church, same
as at Grande Anse village on the opposite side of the island.
One of the eternal symbols of Seychelles, the huge coco de mer nut, grows
in the Vallée de Mai forest of Praslin, also home to one of the world’s rarest birds,
the black parrot. The Vallée, a World Heritage Site, is open from 0830 to 1630
hours and the entrance can be found on the road from Grand Anse to Baie St
Anne. This area is heavily protected and is being allowed to return to its natural
state following ill-founded attempts to introduce non-native plants there in the
1930s and 1940s.
Paths are well-maintained and clearly marked, and a nature trail leads you
to all the interesting botanical species. You can find leaflets and information
at the entrance of the reserve, managed by the Seychelles Islands Foundation.
To walk through the Vallée is to step back in time into a primeval forest, canopied
by thick palm fronds that block out the sun. The silence is broken only by the
call of the black parrot and the clatter of huge sturdy leaves as the wind blows
through the trees.
In streams, freshwater crayfish and crabs can be seen, and the plants around
you include the coco de mer, bois rouge, ferns, lataniers, coco marron, screwpines
and orchids, all growing around the granite mass. Fruit bats, blue pigeons,
bulbuls, lizards, geckos, chameleons, snails and insects can also be observed in the
Vallée de Mai. Praslin is perfect to explore on foot and is covered by a network
of walkways. There is no danger of getting lost as the island is so small that one
needs only an hour or less to cross it width wise.
There is only a limited number of cars for hire, so if you wish to drive it is
wise to book ahead, particularly during the busy seasons from December to
January and July to August. Petrol stations can be found at Grand Anse and Baie
St Anne. There are taxi ranks at the airport. Taxis can be called by telephone from
most hotels and the airport (tel: 4284666). Fares increase slightly at night.
A bus service runs between 0530 and 1900 hours, with a special Sunday
service. You can also take a bus that passes the Vallée de Mai entrance. For
souvenir shopping, there are boutiques in all the main hotels. Barclays Bank is
at Baie St Anne (tel: 4232218), with a branch at Grande Anse open Mondays
to Fridays from 0830 to1230 hours.
There are regular boat excursions to smaller islands such as St. Pierre, a tiny
rock island that is popular for its rich coral reef. The area is particularly favourable
for underwater photography. You can organise a boat from Praslin to take you
out in the morning and pick you up again in the evening. Coco is also another
attractive destination for tourists; it is a deserted tiny island of rocks and boulders
with a few palm trees and an exceptional marine life.
There are good restaurants on Praslin if you wish to have a meal away
from your hotel.
Située à 40 kilomètres à l’Est de Mahé, Praslin est la deuxième plus grande île
des Seychelles. Elle a une population d’environ 7,000 habitants. Les deux îles
sont reliées par un service régulier d’Air Seychelles qui assure beaucoup de une
quinzaine devols journaliers d’une durée de 15 minutes chacun. Le trajet par
bateau (trois ou quatre aller-retours par jour) dure environ une heure .
Plusieurs hôtels de grande qualité sont installés à Praslin, parmi lesquels le
Lémuria et le Château de Feuilles.
Le relief de Praslin, dont le sommet le plus haut n’atteint que 330 mètres,
n’est pas aussi accidenté que celui de Mahé mais il comporte des formations
granitiques semblables, entourées de plages merveilleuses et d’une barrière de
corail aux eaux cristallines qui font la gloire des Seychelles.
Baies et plages majestueuses alternent avec de plus petites baies dans
lesquelles, même en pleine saison touristique, on a l’impression d’être seul.
L’Anse Volbert, ou Côte d’or, sur la côte est, est particulièrement belle avec
ses plages d’une blancheur éclatante. Les hôtels, tels que le Berjaya Praslin Beach
offrent une grande variété de sports nautiques.
Des masses granitiques spectaculaires forment un arrière-plan qui contraste
avec les plages de l’Anse Bois de Rose, l’Anse Boudin et l’Anse Kerlan où se
trouve le nouvel Hôtel cinq étoiles Lémuria. Un golf de 18 trous y a également
été construit. Au point le plus septentrional de l’île se trouve Anse Lazio, une
magnifique plage excellente pour la baignade et le P.M.T. Sur la côte ouest, la
plage de Grand Anse est parfaite pour les bains de soleil matinaux; cependant, la
baignade y est difficile à marée basse en raison d’une eau peu profonde au-dessus
des bancs de corail, parfois recouverts d’algues jusqu’au bord du rivage.
La Baie Pasquière et l’Anse Volbert au Nord, et la Baie Ste Anne au sud sont
des ports naturels qui offrent un spectacle pittoresque à ceux qui ont opté pour
la traversée en bateau depuis Mahé. On peut apercevoir de cette baie le village
principal avec son monument au coco de mer, la banque, les kiosques et l’église.
Banques, boutiques et église sont aussi présentes à Grand Anse Village, de l’autre
coté de l’île. Le coco de mer (vulgairement appelé Coco-fesses) est le symbole
éternel des Seychelles. Il croît dans les forêts de la Vallée de Mai, à Praslin, où
niche l’un des oiseaux les plus rares au monde: le Perroquet noir des Seychelles.
Cette vallée, qui fait partie du Patrimoine Mondialde l’humanité, est ouverte
de 8h30 à 16h30 aux visiteurs qui peuvent la traverser en voiture sur la seule
route goudronnée de l’île. C’est un site protégé que l’on espère voir retourner à
son état primitif, malheureusement bouleversé dans les années trente et quarante
par des tentatives mal fondées d’y introduire des plantes exotiques.
Les sentiers, qui serpentent à travers une nature bien fournie en espèces
botaniques intéressantes, sont régulièrement entretenus et clairement indiqués.
Une brochure est mise à la disposition du public à l’entrée de la réserve, gérée par
la Fondation des Iles Seychelles.
Se promener dans cette vallée équivaut à remonter le temps dans un décor
de forêt vierge au toit formé d’épaisses feuilles de palmier qui empêchent le soleil
de pénétrer. Le silence est y impressionnant, interrompu seulement par les cris
du Perroquet noir et le bruissement des palmes agitées par le vent. Ecrevisses et
crabes d’eau douce vivent paisiblement dans tous les ruisseaux, et parmi les plantes
environnantes figurent Cocos-de-mer, fougères, lataniers, Bois rouge, vacoas, Cocos
marrons et orchidées, qui poussent entre les masses de granit. Roussettes, Pigeons
bleus, bulbuls, lézards, geckos, caméléons, escargots et insectes divers peuvent aussi
être observés dans la Vallée de Mai.
L’île de Praslin se prête parfaitement à l’exploration pédestre avec un réseau de
sentiers et de chemins agréables. Pas de crainte de se perdre car l’île est si petite
qu’il faut moins d’une heure pour la traverser dans sa largeur. Mais si vous préférez
vous déplacer en voiture, il vaut mieux faire des réservations à l’avance car le
nombre de véhicules de location est limité, surtout pendant les hautes saisons de
décembre-janvier et de juillet-août. Les deux stations-service se trouvent à Grand
Anse et à Baie Ste Anne. Il existe une station de taxis en face de l’aéroport. Ceux-ci
peuvent être appelés par téléphone depuis l’aéroport (tel: 4284666) ou depuis les
différents hôtels de l’île.
Le prix des courses est légèrement majoré la nuit. Il existe aussi un service de
bus entre 5h30 et 19h00 sur les quatre routes principales avec service spécial le
dimanche. On peut ainsi se rendre à la Vallée de mai en bus.
Vous trouverez des souvenirs dans toutes les boutiques d’hôtels. La banque
Barclays est à Baie Ste Anne (tel: 4232218) avec une succursale à Grand Anse,
ouverte du lundi au vendredi, de 8h30 à 12h30.
Des excursions partent régulièrement par bateau de Praslin à destination des
petites îles avoisinantes, telles que St Pierre, un îlot rocheux très connu pour
sa barrière de corail fourmillant d’une vie marine multicolore. Il est possible de
s’arranger pour qu’une embarcation vous dépose le matin avec un panier piquenique, et vienne vous rechercher le soir. L’Ile Coco est une autre destination très
prisée des touristes; il s’agit d’une petite île déserte et rocheuse sur laquelle
poussent quelques palmiers, et où la vie sous-marine est exceptionnelle. Les
amateurs de photos sous-marines y trouveront un cadre idéal.
Plusieurs restaurants permettent de déjeuner ou de dîner hors de l’hôtel.
28
Curieuse
Lying about two kilometres (one mile) to the north-east of Praslin, this island of
about three kilometres (two miles) long was first given the name Ile Rouge on
account of its red earth. As part of the Marine Park the island is strictly protected
and only a few families live there. Like Praslin, Curieuse is home to the Cocode-mer palm. The island has a wild population of about 250 giant tortoises,
brought over from Aldabra in the 1980s and a breeding scheme has been in
place there for several years. Curieuse was once a leper colony, and the ruins of
the houses can still be seen. There is also a large, restored colonial villa, known
as the Doctor’s House, where the island doctor lived in the 1870s. Nature trails
wind their way across the island, notably through the extensive swamps,
home to eight different species of mangrove. Excursions to Curieuse normally
include a barbecue and often a visit to Cousin island as well.
Située à un kilomètre au Nord-Est de Praslin, cette île de moins de trois kilomètres
de long présente des coteaux dénudés couverts de la terre rouge qui avait donné à
l’île son nom d’origine, Ile Rouge. Partie intégrale du Parc marin de Curieuse, l’île est
strictement protégée. Comme Praslin, Curieuse abrite des boisements de Coco-demer. Peuplée seulement de quelques familles, cette île est le domaine de près de
250 tortues géantes importées d’Aldabra dans les années 1980. Non loin des ruines
d’une ancienne léproserie s’élève une vieille villa coloniale, la maison du Docteur
qui servait de résidence au médecin lors de ses visites aux malades. Un sentier à
travers bois permet au visiteur d’admirer les huit différentes sortes de palétuviers
qui poussent sur l’île. Les excursions à Curieuse incluent souvent une halte sur la
plage pour permettre aux visiteurs de déguster une grillade.
Cousine Island
Cousine Island
Cousine is no ordinary resort. Guests arrive by helicopter and are accommodated
in just four villas to minimise the human impact on the island. There are very
few islands anywhere in the world that have survived intact as Cousine has done,
with such a profusion of wildlife and almost none where it is possible to stay
overnight and soak up the atmosphere. There may be a small resort here but
unquestionably, the island still belongs to nature. A systematic rehabilitation
programme to restore the island includes the planting of thousands of native
trees, the protection of the huge seabird colonies and the reintroduction of
endemic birds.
Cousine n’est pas un établissement hôtelier ordinaire. Les visiteurs y parviennent par
hélicoptère et sont hébergés dans seulement quatre villas afin de minimiser l’impact
de l’homme sur l’île. Il y a peu d’îles dans le monde qui sont demeurées aussi intactes
que Cousine, avec une telle profusion de vie sauvage, et presque aucune où il est
possible de passer la nuit et de s’imprégner de la sorte de l’atmosphère ambiante.
Même s’il y a un petit établissement hôtelier, il est indéniable que l’île appartient à
la nature. Un programme visant à restaurer l’île comprend la plantation de milliers
d’arbres indigènes, la protection des importantes colonies d’oiseaux marins et la
réintroduction d’espèces d’oiseaux endémiques.
Bird Island
Bird Island
A 30 minutes flight from Mahé by light aircraft gives the first stunning impressions
of this 70 hectares (170 acres) coral cay. Bird Island is the most northerly island of
the Seychelles Archipelago and is a nature lover’s paradise. Bird Island has just one
hotel which offers guests a choice of 24 comfortable and spacious bungalows.
A true haven from today’s busy world, there are no telephones or televisions
and the emphasis is very much on relaxation and being at one with the nature
around you. The east and south sides of the island are surrounded by a protective
barrier reef which is home to many varieties of colourful fish and the rest is an
open beach which offers superb safe swimming. Situated on the northern edge of
the Seychelles Plateau, where the sea floor drops 2,000 metres, the island offers
some of the best game fishing in the country. During the North West monsoon
(October to April), dolphins are regularly observed in the surrounding waters. This
is also the best time to witness the magical sight of Hawksbill turtles nesting, and
from December onwards the tiny hatchlings can be seen emerging and embarking
on their journey down to the sea. The South East Monsoon (May to September)
also offers an amazing avian spectacle. With over 750,000 pairs of Sooty Terns
coming to the northern end of the island to breed, and a resident population of
Noddy and Fairy Terns, the island is an ornithologists dream. Bird Island is also
home to Guinness World Record holder Esmeralda, said to be the largest free
ranging tortoise in the world and estimated to be over 230 years old.
Depuis Mahé, un vol de 30 minutes vous donnera les premières impressions de
cet atoll corallien de 70 hectares. Bird Island est l’île la plus septentrionalede
l’Archipel des Seychelles et un paradis pour les amoureux de la nature. L’unique
hôtel offre à ses hôtes le choix de 24 bungalows confortables et spacieux, une
authentique retraite dans le monde actuel si bousculé – ni TV, ni telephone – ou
l’accent est mis sur la relaxation et la communion avec la nature environnante. Les côtes Est et Sud de l’île sont protégés par une barrière de corail, refuge de
nombreuses variétés de poissons multicolores. Le reste est une plage immense
où la baignade est superbe et sûre. Proche de l’extrémité Nord du plateau
sous-marin des Seychelles, là où les fonds atteignent 2000m, l’île présente
une situation exceptionnelle pour les amateurs de pêche. D’octobre à avril, les
dauphins s’y observent régulièrement – c’est aussi la meilleure période pour
voir pondre les tortues marines et dès décembre assister a l’éclosion des oeufs
et la ruée des petits vers la mer. De mai à septembre; vous pouvez admirer
un étonnant ballet aérien – plus de 750,000 couples de Sternes Fuligineuses
colonisent la partie Nord de l’île pour s’y reproduire. Avec la population
sédentaire de Noddies et de Sternes Blanches, c’est le rêve pour tout ami des
oiseaux. C’est aussi à Bird Island que vit Esmeralda, inscrite au Guiness Book
pour être, à 230 ans, la plus grosse tortue terrestre en liberté.
Curieuse
30
La Digue
This is the third largest granite island in Seychelles in terms of population,
housing about 2,500 people. It is a half-hour trip from Praslin, or three hours
by schooner from Mahé. However, visitors with a tight schedule may prefer to
take the 20-minute flight with Helicopter Seychelles (tel: 4385858).
The pace of life is slow, about the same speed as its traditional way of
transport – the ox cart. Very few cars are allowed on the island and bicycles
are popular. They can be hired from various bicycle rentals at Anse Réunion
or La Passe harbour on arrival. At l’Union a fine old traditional planter’s house
has been carefully restored. It used to be the centre of a vanilla plantation
of which the treatment factory can still be seen. Further inland, Château
Saint Cloud, built under Napoleon’s regime, is another impressive restored
plantation house. On the agricultural estate, you can see furnace-dried
coconuts, or copra, being turned into oil. Also of historical interest, at Pointe
Cap Barbi, there are graves of early colonists from Bourbon Island (today’s
Réunion). The old cemetery at l’Union is also an attraction.
La Digue is noted for its superb beaches, and snorkelling (particularly
in front of La Digue Island Lodge).
La Digue
La Digue, avec une population de 2,500 habitants, est la quatrième île des Seychelles
par sa taille. La traversée depuis Praslin se fait en une demi-heure, et celle depuis
Mahé en trois heures. Les visiteurs ayant un emploi du temps serré préfèreront s’y
rendre par le vol de 20 minutes d’Helicopter Seychelles (tel: 4385858). Le rythme
de vie ici est aussi lent que le moyen de transport traditionnel: le char à bœufs. Très
peu de voitures sont autorisées sur l’île, par conséquent les vélos ont beaucoup de
succès, et peuvent se louer à Anse Réunion ou au débarcadère du port de La Passe.
Une belle maison traditionnelle de planteurs a été restaurée à l’Union, celle-çi
a servi au tournage du film ‘Emmanuelle aux Seychelles’. Elle est située au centre
d’une plantation de vanille dont on peut visiter l’usine de traitement. L’usine
d’huile de copra (noix de coco séchées) peut être aussi visitée sur ce domaine.
Plus à l’intérieur, se trouve l’impressionnant Château St. Cloud, une autre maison
de planteur qui fût construite au temps des conquêtes napoléoniennes. Les
tombes des premiers colons venus de l’Ile Bourbon (aujourd’hui l’Ile de la Réunion)
s’élèvent au nord de l’île, à la Pointe Cap Barbi, ainsi qu’au vieux cimetière à
l’Union.
La Digue est renommée pour ses plages superbes et ses sites spectaculaires
pour le P.M.T (snorkelling) et la plongée sous-marine (en particulier en face de
La Digue Island Lodge). On peut y admirer les formations granitiques sculptées
par le vent et la mer au cours de millions d’années.
La montagne dite Nid d’Aigle s’élève à 300 mètres au-dessus du niveau de
la mer et occupe une grande partie de l’île. A Pointe Cap Barbi les plages sont,
comme dans beaucoup d’autres endroits, entourées d’un merveilleux décor de
granit. Les plages les plus isolées de Grande Anse, Petite Anse et d‘Anse Coco
sont d’une très grande beauté avec leur sable aux reflets rosés. Mais gare aux
dangereux courants!
Most parts of the island can be reached in under an hour. Among the birds
you will encounter is the unique Seychelles paradise Flycatcher, one of the
rarest birds in the world (less than 300 birds), the symbol of this island.
In the distance, Praslin can be seen, completing a pattern of islands.
Il est possible d’atteindre n’importe quel point de l’île en moins d’une heure.
Parmi les oiseaux que vous rencontrerez figure le Gobemouche de paradis,
appelé localement ‘La Veuve’, une des espèces les plus rares de la planète
(moins de 300 oiseaux) qui n’existe qu’à La Digue, et dont elle est le symbole.
There are more spectacular granite formations which have been shaped by
wind and sea over millions of years. Eagle’s Nest Mountain rises dramatically
to 300 metres, taking up most of the island. Beaches at Pointe Cap Barbi have,
like so many other beaches, a dramatic granite backdrop. The remote beaches
at Grande Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Cocos with pink-tinged sand
are beautiful, but beware of dangerous undercurrents.
Denis
Discovered in 1773, this croissant shaped coral hideaway of 152 hectares (375
acres) is a small green jewel perched on the north easterly edge of the Seychelles
bank, idyllic white beaches surround the island; its sheltered lagoon provides
unrivalled swimming opportunities and the crystal-clear waters harbour turtles
and exotic marine life, the house reef is perfect for snorkelling. The deep waters
outside the reef allow for excellent diving, game, bottom and fly fishing.
Denis is undertaking unprecedented conservation and sustainable
development projects. Over 50 hectares of woodland have been rehabilitated
and the dense forested interior is a haven for the recently introduced endemic
endangered avian species such as the Seychelles Fody, the brush warbler, the
Seychelles magpie robin and most recently the Paradise Fly-Catcher previously
only found on La Digue. Other endemic species such as Seychelles blue pigeon
abound. The island’s vegetable and livestock farm and surrounding seas supply
the hotel’s kitchen’s requirements.
The island is accessible by a 30-minute flight. Twenty-five tasteful, elegant
and secluded cottages each with its own private beachfront provide comfort and
laid-back luxury.
Ile Denis
3°48’ Sud – 55°40’ Est, une perle corallienne au nord de Mahé. Bercée par le flot
des vagues, Denis Island trône sereinement au bord des grandes profondeurs de
l’Océan Indien. Havre de paix et de sérénité, « l’Ile des gens heureux » découverte
par Denis de Trobiant en 1773 à bord de son bateau l’Etoile, semble n’avoir
jamais cédé à l’empreinte de l’homme. Protégées par une longue barrière de
corail, l’île de 152 hectares et sa plage de sable blanc bordent un extraordinaire
lagon bleu turquoise où se côtoient d’infinies variétés de poissons, coquillages,
coraux, tortues… Sur terre, la nature préservée et exubérante laisse échapper une
symphonie douce et mélodieuse d’oiseaux marins, que seul peut interrompre le
mouvement saccadé des crabes ou celui plus langoureux des tortues géantes.
Depuis plusieurs années, un important programme de conservation mobilise
les énergies. Sur 50 hectares de forêt, des scientifiques travaillent à la réhabilitation
de l’habitat originel afin d’introduire des espèces menacées d’oiseaux endémiques
à l’archipel. Un pari sur le futur qui renforce chaque jour le caractère unique de
l’Ile. Enfin, au fil des sentiers, Denis Island dévoile progressivement ses richesses,
un vieux cimetière marin, son phare, sa chapelle œcuménique, sa ferme, ses
projets de développement de tourisme durable.…
Familiale, romantique et amicale, Denis Island est avant tout une expérience unique,
une symphonie harmonieuse entre luxe, calme et volupté. L’hôtel s’étend sur la pointe
nord-ouest de l’île, les 25 villas et cottages sont dispersés le long de la plage.
Alphonse & St Francois Atoll
Alphonse is the most remote island with a hotel, 400 kilometres southwest of
Mahé. Its attractions include some of the best diving in the Indian Ocean, with
forests of Gorgonian fan corals, huge schools of pelagic fish and many colourful
reef fish. Once a productive coconut plantation, little remains as a reminder of
these days save for a few old buildings and the island’s cemetery near to Pointe
Huto. Conservation is a high priority and a team of full time scientists and
rangers from the Island Conservation Society are employed on rehabilitation
and monitoring programmes
A short stretch of ocean, ominously named as Canal de Mort, separates
Alphonse from picture perfect Bijoutier and the lagoon of St. Francois, world
famous for its fly-fishing, opportunities. A feature of St. Francois is the number
of shipwrecks, standing as grim reminders of the perils of the sea.
Les atolls d’Alphonse et de St François
Située à 400 km au sud-ouest de Mahé, Alphonse est l’île la plus éloignée avec un
hôtel. On y trouve quelques-uns uns des meilleurs sites de plongée de l’océan
indien, avec des forêts de Gorgones éventail géantes, d’immenses bancs de poissons
pélagiques et beaucoup de poissons de récifs colorés. Jadis une plantation de cocotiers
productive, peu de choses sont restées de ce temps révolu à l’exception de quelques
vieux bâtiments et le cimetière de l’île près de la Pointe Huto. La conservation de
la nature est une priorité et plusieurs scientifiques et gardes de la Fondation pour la
Conservation des Iles (Island Conservation Society) y sont employés à plein temps sur
des programmes de suivi et de réhabilitation de l’écosystème.
Un bras de mer étroit, dont le nom (de mauvaise augure) est ‘Canal de Mort’ sépare
Alphonse de l’îlot de carte postale Bijoutier, et du lagon de St François mondialement
célèbre pour la pêche à la mouche. Une caractéristique de St François est le nombre
d’épaves de bateaux naufragés, dressés comme des sinistres rappels des périls de la mer.
A business Paradise
S
eychelles is well-known for having some of the world’s most exceptional scenery. In addition
to this, the country has a stable political and social environment, skilled workforce and a
modern legal framework that is conducive for investment, all of which makes Seychelles the
ideal place to do business.
In 2013, Seychelles was ranked number one in Africa in the United Nations Development
Programme’s Human Development Index, which is a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy,
education, and standards of living for countries worldwide. Seychelles also received the top position
for e-Governance in Africa and went on to receive the top spot for the healthiest marine environment
among all sovereign countries of the world according to the Ocean Health Index.
Located in the heart of the financial district of Victoria, the Seychelles Investment Board (SIB),
which was established in 2004, is the focal point for all investment-related activities, regardless of the
amount of capital invested. The Board is known for its business facilitation and business promotion
services.
The day-to-day operations of SIB include meeting with potential investors looking to learn more
about the various investment opportunities available in Seychelles; receiving submissions of business
investment applications and working in close collaboration with other government agencies to
facilitate and coordinate the approval process and implementation of the investments.
To start or relocate a business in a foreign market can often be stressful, and it is with this
understanding that the SIB has dedicated technical staff to advise and guide incoming investors
through the entire process from the initial submission of a business proposal to the final stages of
approval.
SIB also advises Government on strategies for investment policies, national investment
marketing, economic and industrial planning. The Board also makes recommendations on increasing
investments and attaining national economic objectives.
The Seychelles Investment Board also focuses on promoting the offshore finance sector and
advises on laws and regulations, trusts, taxation, investment vehicles and company formation. The
Board works closely with the Financial Services Authority, which is the regulator for the offshore
finance services and Insurance.
The potential of the Seychellois economy is evident from increasing domestic competitiveness,
growth and employment levels. The many areas of potential investment which remain largely
untapped deliver a clear message: that Seychelles is ripe for further economic development and open
to investors.
32
Silhouette
Silhouette
Silhouette lies 20 km northwest of Mahé. It is the third largest granitic island,
yet the human impact is minimal. Mount Dauban rises to 740 metres and
is the second highest summit in Seychelles. Though superficially similar
to neighbouring islands, much of Silhouette is made up of younger rock
called syenite and dated from 63 million years ago. Between Point Ramasse
Tout and Point Zeng Zeng lies the only surface volcanic ash in Seychelles.
Silhouette was named for Etienne de Silhouette (1709-1767) who was
the Controller General of Finances in France in the reign of Louis XV. His
watchword was austerity and wags of the day commented that his financial
strictures had reduced them to mere ‘silhouettes’ of themselves.
In 1987 a Marine National Park was declared around the island and in
2010, Silhouette National Park was created protecting 93 per cent of the
landmass. About 2,000 species of plants and animals have been recorded
on Silhouette, including the Critically Endangered sheath-tailed bat, possibly
the rarest mammal on earth. Most of the 75 or so endemic plants of the
granitic islands are found on Silhouette. The Island Conservation Society
runs a centre on the island, protecting the flora and fauna and conducting
nature tours.
The crew of an English East India Company vessel, the Ascension were the
first to step ashore on Silhouette in 1609. Graves discovered at Anse Lascars
were thought to be those from an earlier Arab settlement but date to around
1800, possibly those of slaves who escaped the plantations of their owners
on Mahé and created a new life for themselves on Silhouette, becoming the
island’s first permanent inhabitants.
The first landowner about whom we have any background was JeanFrancois Hodoul, a French corsair in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth
centuries. He is rumoured to have buried his fortune somewhere in the
dark mountain forest. The Daubans bought the island in 1860 and owned
it for a hundred years. They were plantation owners of French extraction
and made real efforts towards profitable farming, clearing forest on the
flat land in order to plant coconut palms and fruit trees, and building the
necessary supporting infrastructure. The Dauban era came to an end when
Henri Dauban sold the island to a French group, and it was acquired by the
government in 1983, when management of the island passed to the Island
Development Company. Nowadays Silhouette Island is home to 5 star resort
Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, the only hotel on the island.
Silhouette se trouve à 20 km au nord-ouest de Mahé. Il s’agit de la troisième plus
grande île granitique, mais l’impact de l’activité humaine est minime. Le Mont Dauban
se dresse à 740 mètres, soit le deuxième plus haut sommet des Seychelles. Bien que
superficiellement semblable aux îles voisines, Silhouette est essentiellement composée
d’un jeune rocher appelé syénite et daté de 63 millions d’années. Entre la Pointe
Ramasse Tout et la Pointe Zeng Zeng se trouvent les seuls cendres volcaniques de
surface aux Seychelles. Silhouette doit son appellation à Étienne de Silhouette (17091767) qui était contrôleur général des finances en France sous le règne de Louis XV.
Son maitre mot était l’austérité et les commentateurs de cette époque disaient que
ses mesures financières contraignantes les avaient réduits à de simples «silhouettes»
d’eux-mêmes.
En 1987, un parc national marin a été déclaré autour de l’île et, en 2010, le parc
national de Silhouette a été créé, protégeant 93% de la masse terrestre. Environ
2.000 espèces de plantes et d’animaux ont été enregistrées à Silhouette, y compris la
chauve-souris à queue en fourreau gravement menacée d’extinction, probablement
le mammifère le plus rare sur terre. La plupart des quelques 75 espèces de plantes
endémiques des îles granitiques se trouvent à Silhouette. La Société pour la
conservation des iles gère un centre sur l’île en vue de la protection de la flore et de la
faune, et l’organisation des excursions dans la nature.
Les membres d’équipage d’un navire de la British East India Company, Ascension,
ont été les premiers à débarquer à Silhouette en 1609. On pensait que les tombes
découvertes à Anse Lascars étaient celles des habitants arabes qui occupaient l’ île
avant, mais elles datent de 1800 environ, et pourraient être celles des esclaves qui
s’étaient échappés des plantations de leurs propriétaires à Mahé pour commencer une
nouvelle vie à Silhouette, devenant ainsi les premiers habitants permanents de l’île.
Le premier propriétaire foncier pour qui nous disposons des informations est JeanFrançois Hodoul, un corsaire français de la fin du XVIIIème et début du XIXème siècle.
Il semblerait qu’il aurait enterré sa fortune quelque part dans la forêt de montagne
sombre. Les Dauban ont acheté l’île en 1860 et l’ont détenue pendant une centaine
d’années. D’origine française, ils étaient propriétaires de plantations et se sont
réellement efforcés à entreprendre une agriculture rentable en défrichant la forêt
sur les terres plates pour planter des cocotiers et des arbres fruitiers, et construire les
infrastructures nécessaires d’appui. L’ère Dauban prit fin lorsqu’Henri Dauban vendit
l’île à un groupe français. Elle fut reprise par le gouvernement en 1983, sa direction
passant à la Islands Development Company. Aujourd’hui, l’ile Silhouette abrite l’hôtel à
5 étoiles Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, le seul établissement hôtelier sur l’île.
Desroches is the largest island of the Amirantes, 45 minutes by air from
Mahé. Swimming is excellent, unlike most atolls where waters over the
surrounding reef are very shallow. The beaches are also excellent. There is a
hotel, where guests enjoy sailing, cycling, canoeing, windsurfing, snorkelling
deep-sea fishing and diving. Desroches is famous for the Desroches Drop
with its fantastic caves, which may be explored under the supervision of a
PADI dive-master. There is also a small settlement, with its copra drier, oil
press and lock up, a reminder of the old plantation days.
Since 2009, a full time team of scientists and rangers from the Island
Conservation Society is employed to monitor and protect the terrestrial and
marine life.
Desroches
Desroches est la plus grande île des Amirantes, à 45 minutes d’avion de Mahé.La
baignade y est excellente, contrairement à la plupart des atolls où les eaux sont très
peu profondes au-dessus des récifs ou du platier. Les plages sont également excellentes.
Il y a un hôtel où les visiteurs peuvent profiter de la voile, du vélo, du canöé, de la
planche à voile, du Palmes-Masque-Tuba, de la pêche en eau profonde, et de la plongée
sous-marine. Desroches est célèbre pour son fameux ‘Mur tombant’ avec ses grottes
fantastiques, qui peuvent être explorées sous la supervision d’un instructeur de plongée
PADI. Il y a aussi un petit village, avec son four à copra, sa presse à huile, et son cachot,
un souvenir de l’ancien temps lors de la plantation.
Depuis 2009, une équipe de scientifiques et de gardes de la Fondation pour la
Conservation des Iles (Island Conservation Society) y est employée à plein temps pour
assurer le suivi et la protection des espèces et des écosystèmes terrestres et marins.
Desroches
34
Aride
Aride
This is the most northerly island of the granitic Seychelles. It was bought by the
Royal Society for Nature Conservation in 1973 and today is owned and managed
by the Island Conservation Society. It is second only to Aldabra in importance as
a nature reserve in Seychelles. On Aride there are more breeding species of sea
birds than on any other island in the region, together with the only breeding sites
in the granitic islands for red-tailed tropicbirds, roseate terns and the world’s only
sooty tern colony in tall woodland.
The island’s warden will guide you to the breathtaking clifftops, where
hundreds of huge frigatebirds soar above the turquoise sea. If you are lucky,
you will glimpse hawksbill turtles and dolphins in the waters below. Seychelles
warblers, 29 of which were introduced from Cousin in September 1988, have
multiplied to more than 2,000.
Aride is also a botanical treasure house, being the world’s only site for the
beautiful Wright’s Gardenia, or bwa sitron, and a species of ‘peponium’ that might
also be endemic to the island. Visits can be arranged from most Praslin hotels, but
landings can sometimes be difficult during the south-east monsoon.
The world’s largest colony of lesser noddies and tropical shearwaters further
enhance Aride’s reputation as the seabird citadel of the Indian Ocean. Aride is
also home to five endemic land birds including the Seychelles magpie-robin,
Seychelles warbler and Seychelles fody, each found only on a few other islands.
Aride, la plus septentrionale des îles granitiques seychelloises, fut achetée en
1973 par la Royal Society for Nature Conservation et appartient aujourd’hui à la
Fondation pour la Conservation de Iles (Island Conservation Society) qui la gère.
Elle constitue la deuxième réserve naturelle la plus importante du pays après
Aldabra. Il y a plus d’espèces d’oiseaux marins qui se reproduisent sur Aride que
sur n’importe quelle autre île de la région. Outre toutes les espèces qu’on trouve
sur Cousin, Aride héberge les seuls sites de reproduction des îles granitiques du
Paille-en-queue à brins rouges et de la Sterne de Dougall, ainsi que la seule
colonie au monde de sternes fuligineuses sous une forêt.
Là, un gardien-guide vous emmènera au bord des falaises époustouflantes
d’où l’on peut voir des centaines d’immenses frégates planant au-dessus d’une
mer bleu turquoise. Avec un peu de chance, il est possible d’apercevoir les
tortues marines et les dauphins qui vivent dans les eaux environnantes. Les 29
Rousserolles des Seychelles qui furent importées de Cousin en septembre 1988
se sont reproduites et leur nombre a déjà dépassé deux milliers. La réputation de
citadelle des oiseaux marins de l’océan indien que possède Aride est attestée par
la présence de la plus grande colonie au monde de Noddis marianne, et peut-être
de Puffins d’Audubon.
Aride est aussi un trésor sur le plan botanique, et le seul endroit au monde
où poussent les magnifiques Gardénias de Wright, ou ‘Bois citron’, ainsi qu’une
espèce de concombre sauvage qui pourrait être elle aussi endémique de cette île.
Aride abrite les plus grandes colonies du monde de Noddis Marianne et de
Puffins de Baillon, ce qui renforce sa renommée de bastion des oiseaux marins de
l’océan indien. Aride accueille aussi cinq espèces d’oiseaux terrestres endémiques
dont la pie chanteuse ou dyal, la Rousserolle et le Foudi des Seychelles, qui
n’existent que sur une poignée d’îles.
This, the most isolated of the granite islands, is only 12 minutes from Mahé
by Air Seychelles. Of all the islands, it has the most romantic associations
with the world of pirates and hidden treasure. Some relics on the island
suggest that it was a refuge for pirates in the 17th and 18th centuries. Ian
Fleming, who created James Bond, was persuaded from ancient maps he
discovered here, that a treasure was hidden somewhere on the island.
More obvious treasures are the abundant flora and fauna. Frégate is the
stronghold of the critically endangered Seychelles magpie-robin (less than 200 birds
in the world), saved from extinction by the intervention of BirdLife International.
Recently the Ministry of Environment established successfully on Frégate another
highly threatened endemic bird, the Seychelles white-eye (500 individuals in the
world). The island boasts the world’s only population of giant tenebrionid beetle,
as well as numerous giant tortoises. Despite the abundance of exotic vegetation
and planted coconut palms, tens of thousands of native trees have been propagated
and replanted since 1995, totaling several dozens of hectares restored. There are
superb beaches, such as Anse Victorin, which some say is the prettiest in Seychelles.
It is also a walker’s paradise, with wooded paths leading through plantations and
groves. With the five-star Frégate Island Private Resort, the island is a holiday
preserve for guests.
Frégate
Frégate, la plus isolée des îles granitiques est à 12 minutes de Mahé par un vol Air
Seychelles. De toutes les îles, c’est celle qui est le plus souvent associée au monde
des pirates et des trésors cachés au cours des dix-septième et dix-huitième siècles.
Ian Fleming, le créateur de James Bond, était convaincu, au vu d’anciennes cartes qu’il
avait découvertes ici, que l’île cachait un trésor quelque part.
Mais les trésors visibles à l’œil nu sont la flore et la faune de l’île. Frégate est
le bastion du Dyal ou Pie chanteuse des Seychelles (environ 200 individus dans le
monde), qui après avoir frôlé l’extinction se multiplie grâce aux efforts de BirdLife
International. Récemment, le ministère de l’Environnement y a implanté avec succès
une autre espèce gravement menacée, l’Oiseau-lunettes des Seychelles (environ 500
individus dans le monde). Frégate abrite également toute la population mondiale d’un
scarabée ténébrionide endémique, et possède de nombreuses Tortues géantes à l’état
sauvage. Malgré une abondante végétation exotique et la persistance d’une vaste
cocoteraie, des dizaines de milliers d’arbres natives y ont été multipliés et replantés
depuis 1995, totalisant plusieurs dizaines d’hectares restaurés. Il y a de superbes
plages, comme Anse Victorin, considérée par certains comme la plus belle du pays.
C’est aussi le paradis du promeneur, avec un réseau de sentiers traversant forêts,
cultures et vergers. L’île est réservée depuis 1999 aux clients de Frégate Island Private,
un luxueux hôtel 5 étoiles.
Frégate
Festival
C& arnival
Vanilla Islands
Air Seychelles helps to expand Seychelles’
by Glynn Burridge
S
eychelles has just hosted the 4th edition
of the Carnaval International de Victoria
between 25th and 27th April 2014, an
event to capture the imagination of an
increasingly troubled and insecure planet for the way
it showcases international goodwill and cooperation
between a steadily
increasing number of
participants.
This year included not
only old favourites Notting
Hill, Brazil, Dusseldorf,
Trinidad & Tobago and
many others besides, but
also newcomers from
even further afield such
as Sweden, Bhutan and
Mozambique who made
full use of this unique opportunity to demonstrate
their cultural attributes on the international stage in
front of 149 international members of the press, 34
international dignitaries including carnival co-hosts La
Reunion island, Madagascar, Mayotte and South Africa
KwaZulu-Natal, as well as a total of 26 international
and 26 local float delegations. The 3-day spectacle
has become a favourite with Seychellois who again
turned out in huge numbers to enjoy the carnival
extravaganza on offer: live music shows by a range of
international artists; food stalls; the famous carnival
procession itself and an opportunity to mingle and
savour the carnival atmosphere, which this year even
included a special Kiddies Carnival.
The carnival kicked off on the evening of Friday,
25th April with the official launch at Victoria’s Stad
Popiler in the presence of President James Michel,
foreign dignitaries, members of government, the local
business community and members of the public. After
addresses by Minister for Tourism & Culture, Alain St.
Ange and the CEO of the Tourism Board, Sherin Naiken
in which Seychelles was proudly announced to be in
5th position in the current
international carnival
rankings, the evening
exploded into colour,
sound and carnival spirit
with lively performances
by artists from China,
La Reunion, Seychelles,
USA, Kwazulu Natal and
Sweden among others.
After a threatening start
to the next day with storm
clouds gathering on the horizon, the long-awaited
carnival procession flooded the streets of central
Victoria with a kaleidoscope of carnival colour in the
form of 52 carnival floats, their members gyrating
on the tarmac and returning the soul of the Carnaval
International de Victoria to the capital arguably as
never before. From Chinese giants on stilts, Alsatian
dogs in phosphorescent sunglasses, Miss Seychelles
contestants in Hawaiian grass skirts, and Germans
parading in period costume to Bhutanese musicians,
dazzling Brazilians and another amazing Notting
Hill act, once again Seychelles’ carnival of carnivals
told the world a story of diversity, harmony and
international good will overcoming regional rivalry
and blinkered a self-interest. This time around Minister
St. Ange used the immortal words of John Lennon to
great effect in promoting the carnival and widening its
Photos courtesy of Air Seychelles
Festival
On the last day, Sunday, the traditional Family Fun
Day was replaced by the newly- conceived Kiddies
Carnival under the stewardship of international soca
queen Lima Calbio in which Bel Eau Primary School
came out on top of the competition only slightly
marred by the rain. After the festivities, huge numbers
of people convened in Freedom square to enjoy the
twilight of the carnival ambiance and a feast of live
performances.
The Carnaval International de Victoria is also
acquiring an important international dimension as
2014 saw the event co-hosted by its Vanilla Islands
partners, La Reunion and Mayotte as well as South
Africa’s Kwazulu Natal. In this respect, the Carnival
has become a catalyst for unprecedented regional
cooperation, which is acquiring momentum through
the Vanilla Islands’ partnership to market collectively
the southwestern Indian Ocean region as a tourism
Photo © Seychelles Tourism Board
appeal: “You may say I am a dreamer, but I’m not the
only one; I hope one day you’ll join us and the world
will be as one.’’ After the carnival procession in which
China and Raffles won respectively the contest for the
best international and local float, the crowds peeled
off to enjoy the many carnival pleasures on offer
throughout Victoria in the form of great music, food
and entertainment.
Photos courtesy of Air Seychelles
This exciting new dynamic promises to
become a further catalyst of progress
with the announcement of Air Seychelles’
intention to acquire a narrow-body Airbus
A 320 aircraft, opening the door to new
regional services to Mumbai, Antananarivo
and Mauritius. Complementing this
is the new codeshare deal between
Air Seychelles and Air Austral on Air
Seychelles’ Seychelles – Reunion flights
with the possibility of expanding to
Madagascar, Mauritius and Mayotte in
the future, all of which bode well for
the Vanilla Islands vision on this, the
30th anniversary of the Indian Ocean
Commission held in Seychelles in January.
destination. This echoes a new tourism philosophy
that in today’s highly competitive world, ‘even an
island cannot afford to be an island unto itself.’
Showcasing the region, however, pre-supposes some
kind of method of transportation that will allow
visitors to enjoy the respective attributes of these
beautiful islands and it in this respect that both the
Vanilla Islands and their flagship event, the Carnaval
International de Victoria, have both found a valuable
partner in the ambitious Air Seychelles/ Etihad
partnership which has already signed a Memorandum
of Understanding with the former while becoming the
preferred carrier of the latter.
Meanwhile, Air Seychelles is continuing
to flourish, recently securing the coveted
4-star Skytrax rating, making it the only
4-star airline in the Indian Ocean and only
one of 36, 4-star airlines globally. It is also
growing the capacity with the purchase
of three new Twin Otters DHC6-400s from Viking Air,
refreshing its domestic product further make the wider
suite of Vanilla Islands accessible via services to such
renowned island jewels as Denis and Bird.
Powerful support by the Air Seychelles/ Etihad
partnership is transforming transportation between
the islands like never before and, true to the Creole
Spirit which lies at the core of the airline’s identity,
Air Seychelles is also helping to ensure the expansion
of the spirit of carnival – one of the signature events
on its calendar and one resonant with Creole identity,
colour and zest.
Photo © Seychelles Tourism Board
The Carnival
has become
a catalyst for
unprecedented
regional
cooperation.
Destination
Copenhagen
Th e H a p py Capi t al
For thousands of years the Danes were an unstoppable force of warriors,
intrepid explorers and pioneering settlers – uniting Scandinavia,
discovering America and bringing terror to the shores of Europe, says
Peter Holthusen.
oday Copenhagen’s history of fire and bloody battles
lies hidden behind picturesque streets and colourful
harbours.
As the days of conquest passed, Danish power
was replaced with a rich cultural legacy of writers,
artists and philosophers. The fairytale feel of the city
where Hans Christian Andersen wrote is the home
of incredible stories and unbelievably true histories:
Viking adventurers; pirate-hunting Bishop Absalon;
daring World War 2 resistance fighters and much,
much more.
Copenhagen (København) has attractions and sights
to suit every taste and interest – and most of them
are within walking distance of the vibrant city centre.
The three most famous attractions in the city are
most likely to be the Tivoli Gardens, the statue of The
Little Mermaid, and the ‘freetown’ of Christiania. But
Copenhagen has a lot more to offer.
Recently successful television programmes such as
Borgen and The Killing may have shown Denmark
to a larger audience, but its capital Copenhagen has
long been popular with tourists. Although compact,
the city centre contains a considerable number of
excellent restaurants – not least Noma, often labelled
the best restaurant in the world – and an array of regal
attractions.
With a recent history that dates back to 1043 the
city is full of historic landmarks, significant buildings
and an abundance of interesting museums and art
galleries. Be sure to visit Amalienborg Palace – the
winter residence of the Danish royal family – and
wander through the shopping district of Strøget, one
of Europe’s longest pedestrian streets with a wealth
of shops, from budget-friendly chains to some of the
world’s most expensive brands.
The Tivoli Gardens are a must for all children and those
who like to play. Located just a few minutes walk from
City Hall, and with the Copenhagen Central Station as
its nearest neighbour it is very easy to get to. Tivoli is
the world’s second oldest amusement park and is one
of Copenhagen’s most famous attractions. The gardens
There has never
been a better time
to visit Copenhagen,
for this is one of
Europe’s oldest and
greatest cities,
one that retains its
historical and cultural
charms
Fly Air Seychelles to Abu Dhabi to connect on Etihad Airways for Copenhagen
For more information visit: www.airseychelles.com
Photos © Peter Holthusen
are filled with wild rides, green oases, gourmet food,
concerts and an array of exciting activities for the
young and old alike.
In 2013, following a major expansion programme
Tivoli opened its doors with the launch of three
new rides in a Tycho Brahe themed area. The wildest
new ride, Aquila (which is Latin for ‘Eagle’) lets you
climb onboard the giant eagle’s back and experience
Copenhagen upside down at breakneck speed. Danish
amusement park expert Lars Nielsen rates the 4G
experience 8 out of 10. The second new ride is not
quite as wild. It is a 10 metre tall rotating Star Tower.
The third and last new ride is a redesigned and
interactive version of the classic Tivoli ride, The Little
Dragon.
At Langelinje Pier you will find one of Copenhagen’s
most famous attractions: the sculpture of The Little
Mermaid. This iconic landmark, unveiled on 23
August 1913, was a gift from the Danish brewer Carl
Jacobsen to the City of Copenhagen and has now
celebrated her 100th birthday.
The sculpture is made of bronze and granite and was
inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s charming fairy
tale about a mermaid who gives up everything to be
united with a young, handsome prince on land. Every
morning and evening she swims to the surface from
the bottom of the sea and, perched on her rock in the
water, she stares longingly towards the shore hoping
to catch a glimpse of her beloved prince.
Christiania, the famous free town of Copenhagen,
is without a doubt one of Denmark’s most popular
tourist attractions. This controversial area is loved
by many, but has been a subject for strong debate,
especially because of the locals’ relaxed view on hash
and some unfortunate violent incidents.
At Langelinje Pier
you will find one of
Copenhagen’s most
famous attractions:
The sculpture of
The Little Mermaid.
This iconic landmark
unveiled on 23
August 1913, was
a gift from the
Danish brewer Carl
Jacobsen to the City
of Copenhagen.
The town was founded in 1971, when a group of
people cut a hole in the fence to the military barracks
in Bådmandsgrade. Soon the area was known for
‘Pusher Street’, where you could buy hash and pot –
but no hard drugs – from various stalls. Today, many
of the original settlers still live in the collectively
controlled village, and the area has a distinct ‘70s’ feel
to it. Around 1,000 people live in Christiania and every
year more than 500,000 people come to visit.
Nyhavn (literally: New Harbour) is the popular 17th
century waterfront, canal and entertainment district
of Copenhagen. Stretching from Kongens Nytorv to
the bustling harbour front just south of the Royal
Playhouse, it is lined by brightly coloured 17th and
early 18th century townhouses and bars, cafes and
restaurants.
Destination
Especially during the summer months Nyhavn is the
perfect place to end a long day. Have dinner at one of
the restaurants or simply do what the locals do, buy
a beer from a nearby store and rest your feet by the
quayside.
area is renowned for its shopping, with big international
brands like Prada, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, Cartier, Max
Mara, Hermès and Boss represented at the end of the
street facing up to Kongens Nytorv.
However, Strøget is not just for shopping. Look up and
down the side streets during your shopping spree,
and you will see several of Copenhagen’s most
beautiful sights and attractions, such as
the famous Helligåndskirken, Church of
Our Lady (Vor Frue Kirke), where Crown
Prince Frederik and Crown Princess
Mary were married, behind Gammeltorv
Square, the courthouse at Nytorv
Square and the imposing Stork Fountain
(Storkespringvandet) at Amagertorv Square.
Nyhavn was originally a busy commercial
port where ships from all over the
world would dock. The area was
packed with sailors, ladies of
pleasure, pubs and alehouses.
Today, the beautiful old houses
have been lovingly renovated
and classy restaurants dominate
the old port. Nyhavn is buzzing
with people enjoying the relaxed
atmosphere by the canal, jazz
musicians and great food.
Copenhagen
has been
described as the
most liveable
city in the
world.
Copenhagen’s largest shopping area, centred on
Strøget in the heart of the city and second only to
London’s Oxford Street, is one of Europe’s longest
pedestrian shopping streets. The stretch is no less
than 1.1 kilometres long and runs from City Hall
(Rådhuspladsen) to Kongens Nytorv.
Strøget is actually a nickname from the 1800s and
covers the streets of Frederiksberggade, Nygade,
Vimmelskaftet, Østergade and Nytorv Square,
Gammeltorv Square and Amagertorv Square. This whole
Above: There has never
been a better time to visit
Copenhagen, for this is
one of Europe’s oldest and
greatest cities, one that
retains its historical and
cultural charms.
Opposite top: With a recent
history that dates back to
1043 the city is full of historic
landmarks, significant
buildings and an abundance
of interesting museums and
art galleries.
Just north of Copenhagen you will find
Dyrehavsbakken – in short Bakken. This is the world’s
oldest amusement park (now more than 425 years
old). It is located in the lush, ancient woodlands of the
Jaegersborg Dyrehave, a wonderful green area, where
you will find yourself surrounded by 400-year-old
trees and almost 2,000 free-roaming red deer, sika
deer, and fallow deer. It is the perfect spot for a ride in
a horse-drawn carriage or a relaxing picnic before you
visit Bakken.
With 34 roller coasters, ferris wheels, drop towers, and
many more exciting and extreme adventures Bakken
Facts
offers more rides than any other amusement park in
Scandinavia.
For those with an interest in Denmark’s history, The
National Museum in Copenhagen has a variety of
exhibitions, ranging from the Stone Age, the Vikings,
the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and Modern Danish
history. The museum is located in The Prince’s Palace,
which was built by Nicolai Eigtved between 1743 and
1744 for Danish Crown Prince Frederik V and Crown
Princess Louise. It is no longer used by the royal
family but the Great Hall still appears elegant enough
to entertain princes and princesses.
Whenever I visit a city such as this I always try to
find the local natural history museum. The Zoological
Museum at the University of Copenhagen is one of
the finest, and the collections are extensive. Here
you can take a walk through time and experience
Denmark’s animal life from the past to the present.
Take a walk among mammoths, woolly-haired
rhinos, steppe bison, and giant deer once native to
Scandinavia.
The museum has several exhibitions that are open
to the public all year round: ‘Evolution’ is Denmark’s
largest ever exhibition, devoted to Charles Darwin
and his theory of evolution. The exhibition at The
Zoological Museum explores one of life’s biggest
questions – the origin of the millions of species on
Earth.
Darwin’s path to his revolutionary theory guides you
through a multitude of animals, skeletons, fossils, and
the lines which connect all living organisms and have
done so for millions of years. The exhibition continues
where Darwin had to end his quest and you will be
brought up-to-date with the discoveries made by
science since Darwin’s time, and which time and time
again have proven his theory right.
Copenhagen has been described as the most liveable
city in the world, and with a reputation for also being
the coolest, most cosmopolitan, most exciting, most
wonderful city in Scandinavia, you’ll be well rewarded
for paying her a visit.
Copenhagen Tourism Board:
www.visitcopenhagen.com
Visit Denmark:
www.visitdenmark.com.au
LOCATION: Copenhagen is located
on the eastern shore of the island
of Zealand, partly on the island of
Amager and on a number of natural
and artificial islets between the
two. The city faces the Øresund to
the east, the strait of water that
separates Denmark from Sweden,
and which connects the North Sea
with the Baltic Sea.
LAND AREA: With a total land area
of 88.25 square kilometres (34.074
square miles), Copenhagen is the
largest and most populous city in
Denmark.
POPULATION: 1,230,728 million
(2013)
LANGUAGE: The official language
in Copenhagen is Danish, although
in this multilingual city English,
German and French are widely
spoken.
TIME: UTC/GMT + 1 hour
CURRENCY: Danish Kroner, DKK 1
Krone = 100 Øre (DKK 5.9 = USD
1, 2013)
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passports for
all visitors must be valid for at least 3
months beyond the length of
stay in Denmark. Visas are not required
by EU nationals, but certain nationals
outside of Europe require a valid
Schengen visa, which can be obtained
either on arrival or prior to departure.
RELIGION: The overwhelming
majority of the Danish population
are Evangelical Lutheran with
small Roman Catholic and Muslim
minorities.
WHEN TO GO: Summer extends
from June to August, which are also
the best months to visit.
NOT TO BE MISSED: Copenhagen
has been selected to be the host
city of the 59th Eurovision Song
Contest 2014, which will take place
on the 6th, 8th and 10th May 2014
BEST MEAL: A truly unique Danish
food experience is the smørrebrød
(literally spread bread, or openfaced sandwich). Invariably based on
rye bread, smørrebrød can be served
with an almost limitless number of
different toppings, from herring, to
raw beef, seafood and egg.
Fly Air Seychelles to
Abu Dhabi to connect
on Etihad Airways for
Copenhagen
Photo © Camerapix/Duncan Willetts
Feature
Sunset casts a
golden glow over
nature’s granite
sculptures on La
Digue.
Lovely LaDigue
by Adrian Skerrett
L
a Digue is special. The scenery,
the people, the atmosphere are
unmistakably Seychellois but with an
individual twist that gives the island a
distinctive feeling. Cares drift away the moment you
step ashore. The lack of an airstrip and absence of
very much traffic certainly helps and no one is in a
hurry. La Digue has always had its own special quality
since the earliest times. To trace the origins of the
unique character of La Digue, we need to travel back
in time to a seemingly minor event on another island
a thousand miles away.
In 1798, on the French island of Réunion, a small
group of rebels staged a protest against their
government complaining about high taxation,
wasteful financial management and rumours that
Réunion was to be handed over to the English. Led
by Etienne Alexandre Belleville, a commander of the
National Guard and Jean Lafosse, a priest, the rebels
marched upon the capital of Réunion, St Denis.
On the border of the town they were met by a
government representative who tried to reassure
them that there was no cause for alarm.
But the mood was too ugly to be so
easily diffused and the rebels
marched on, however they were quickly surrounded by
loyal troops and surrendered with barely a scuffle.
Belleville and other ringleaders were arrested and
sentenced to deportation, though the destination
was unspecified in the sentence. Captain Loiseau
of the brig Laurette was told simply to drop them
somewhere on the coast of India. His passengers
however had other ideas. Stories about what
happened next vary. According to Loiseau, after a brief
stop at Mahé, the deportees seized the ship and at
knife point forced him to sail to La Digue where they
went ashore, leaving Captain Loiseau and his crew to
sail away unharmed. Another story suggests Loiseau
was bribed or perhaps felt sympathy for their cause
and was inclined to help them. Whatever the truth,
the face of La Digue had been changed forever. Some
of the rebels soon left but most remained and made
it their own mini-republic. To this today, the ‘Digwa’
as they are known, regard themselves as a little
different to the rest of Seychelles. The descendants of
at least one of their leaders, Célestin Payet, remain a
significant figure on the island to this day.
La Digue is the fourth largest island of the granitic
group. It is less than half the size of Praslin but more
Photo © Camerapix Ltd
used only on La Digue for the male Madagascar Fody,
the most common land bird. This is one indication that
the Digwa have grown up as a culture within a culture,
and Mahé is almost like a separate country to them.
steeply inclined, rising to 333 metres at Nid d’Aigles.
The population is also less than half that of Praslin with
around 3,000 inhabitants living mainly on the west
coast between La Passe and La Réunion. La Digue is no
longer the sleepy backwater it once was, but the small
size of the local population in relation to the number
of visitors from the outside world has given them a
standard of living that allows them to retain a relaxed
attitude to life while enjoying some of the fruits of the
modern world such as televisions and washing machines.
All but a handful of visitors arrive at the jetty at La
Passe, though a few now come by helicopter. It is
possible to visit for the day from Praslin. The ferry from
Baie St Anne follows the sheltered shoreline of Praslin
before crossing a short stretch of open ocean and
heading for an artificial concrete harbour jutting out
to sea. Rounding the jetty, the ferry enters a sheltered
haven where yachts and schooners shelter beneath the
palm-fringed shore.
Passengers disembark and walk a short distance along
the jetty to the shoreline. Here, there is a fish market
on the left, generally quiet, but a hive of activity when
the fishermen bring in their catches. On the right are
the Tourism Information Centre and a small, inexpensive
cafeteria, Tarosa Café. Even the name of the café is a clue
to the different nature of this island. Tarosa is a name
Once ashore, the best way to explore La Digue is by
bicycle. Alternatively you can travel on the ox carts
which have remained in use on this island long after
they have been replaced by petrol-power on the other
main islands. True, there are a handful of taxis and
camions (open sided lorries with fitted seats), but
there is no hire cars, no traffic jams and the bicycle
is king. Standards of bikes are generally good but it is
wise to test one or two before settling upon your final
choice. The flat coastal plateau and its beaches as far as
L’Union Estate can comfortably be explored on foot, but
bicycle is quicker and will enable you to travel further
afield.
Turning south at the jetty, there are several grand
plantation style houses gracefully growing old at La
Passe. Beyond these is the Veuve Reserve, named after
the Creole for the most beautiful bird in Seychelles, the
Seychelles paradise flycatcher. It is the very symbol of
La Digue. In the face of development, the reserve was
established to preserve some of the last remaining
takamaka and Indian almond habitat, where the birds
feed and build their nests. A Visitor’s Centre at the
reserve entrance provides information on the birds and
the warden can provide useful pointers on where to find
the flycatchers.
A short distance inland from the bird reserve is Chateau
St Cloud, a grand and enchanting building built at the
height of the Napoleonic wars and once at the heart of
a vanilla plantation. It is now a small hotel. In the main
house the wooden flooring was laid using handmade
nails of a pre-industrial age, and ruins of the slaves’
quarters may still be seen. There are remnants of the
factory where the vanilla was processed nearby. The
Above left: Aerial view of La
Digue, fourth-largest island
in Seychelles, with the
‘capital’ of La Passe and its
pier in the buy on the right.
Above and opposite:
Port La Digue.
vanilla industry came to prominence in Seychelles
towards the end of the 19th century and La Digue
was the centre of production. In 1899, value of vanilla
exports surpassed that of coconuts for the first time
but in 1906 the industry crashed when artificial
vanillin arrived on the market bringing hardship to the
Digwa.
coral sands. The palms sway the way palm trees are
In the opposite direction, returning to the coast
supposed to at just the right angle. Rising above the
the road turns southward once more past the
palms are taller trees, casuarinas and takamakas, in
picturesque Roman Catholic Church of Notre Dame
which pure white fairy terns, snowflakes on wings,
de l’Assumption. Beyond these the track leads to
lay their eggs on bare branches. The only sounds are
L’Union Estate, an old plantation where there is a
the breeze whistling in the treetops and the waves
working kalorifer, which was used to process copra
lapping the shore, where silvery ghost crabs dart along
(dried coconut) and a coconut oil press. They still grow
the tideline. The crystal clear water varies
vanilla orchids here, and other attractions
in colour from pale turquoise over the
include the La Digue Rock, a gigantic
shallow sands, to deep purple-blue
granite boulder appearing like a
The lack of
over deeper waters. Where the
natural sculpture, giant tortoises,
traffic, easy pace of life,
two meet, 100 species of coral,
horse riding and a picturesque
the perfect scenery and not a thousand species of colourful
plantation house.
the least, the complete
reef fish and other bizarre
abscence
of tarmac, have
creatures make their home. It
Just beyond L’Union Estate is
is a tough uphill cycle beyond
the most famous beach of La
made La Digue famous.
L’Union Estate but perseverance
Digue, Anse Source D’Argent, as
This is the epitome of an
is rewarded with stunning views
beautiful as its name, meaning Bay
island paradise.
as the road descends to wild and
of the Source of Silver. There are no
wonderful Grand Anse.
facilities whatsoever here, just natural
beauty. The silver white sands framed by
giant granite boulders and perfectly positioned palms
feature on many picture postcards. Countless TV
adverts have been made here, as have films with a
fantasy theme such as Emanuelle.
When Digwa say they have the “Best Beach in the
World” on their doorstep, it is no idle boast. This is the
accolade that has been given to Anse Source d’Argent
in numerous surveys over the years, including by the
respected American travel journal Condé Nast Traveler,
the American TV Travel Channel, the Discovery
Channel and Tripadvisor. Towering granite boulders
rear up like gigantic film props above the soft, white
The lack of traffic, easy pace of life, the perfect
scenery and not least, the complete absence of
tarmac, have made La Digue famous. This is the
epitome of an island paradise. Nevertheless, you
cannot stop progress, even on La Digue. Some visitors
who saw La Digue 10 years ago will say “Ah, La Digue
has changed. It is not the same as it used to be”.
Indeed this is true. Once there were no vehicles but
now there are a fair few, even if numbers are negligible
by the standards of elsewhere. Once the women
would wash their clothes in the stream and hang
them to dry on the banks, but now they have washing
machines. Once the Digwa were poor but thanks to
tourism now enjoy a good standard of living and have
a natural desire to enjoy what life has to offer.
The friendly, welcoming people of La Digue retain
a relaxed attitude to life. You cannot imagine that
stress is a major concern on the island. There is an
acceptance that change is not only inevitable but to
be welcomed. At the same time, strenuous efforts
are being made to bring the benefits of progress in a
generally benign and enlightened manner. It seems to
be working. Houses and tourist accommodation blend
in with the environment and retain characteristics
of the more historic establishments so that the old
blends seamlessly into the new.
Arcology
MASDAR
The World’s Greenest City
by Peter Holthusen
Only this bird’s-eye
view of the rapidly
developing master
plan of Masdar City,
seen here from the
east, shows the true
extent of how much
this former oasis has
grown since oil was
first found in Abu
Dhabi in 1958.
Air Seychelles flies daily to Abu Dhabi, UAE.
I
consider myself very fortunate to have lived
and travelled in south eastern Arabia at a time
when the way of life there was much the same
as it had always been, little changed since its
place names first began to appear on scantily-filled
maps.
Its harsh environment was supportive of only a small
population, ranking as one of the lowest densities in
the world and surviving at little more than a minimum
subsistence level. From the air, much of the region
resembled a moonscape, forsaken and devoid of life.
But civilised life there was.
Some 40 years ago, Abu Dhabi was scraping a living
from dates, fish and a little pearl-diving on a narrow,
marshy spit of land, but has now become fortune’s
darling, owing its new-found wealth
entirely to those tiny creatures of the ancient seas
that, around 500 million years ago, died just here
and were transformed into that mixture of aliphates,
phenols, naphthenes and other hydrocarbons that we
call crude oil.
1n, 1971, Abu Dhabi and Dubai joined together in
an alliance with five other smaller siblings to form
the United Arab Emirates; with Abu Dhabi as the
breadwinner, its oil income accounting for over 80
percent of the huge family budget.
When oil was first found in this Emirate in 1958,
the capital was a tiny settlement, cut off from the
mainland at high tide although at low tide it could
be reached across the ‘sabkha’, the salt flats. It had
around 5,000 inhabitants, mainly fishermen.
In his book on the search for the legendary port of
Dilmun, the eminent British archaeologist Geoffrey
Bibby (1917-2001) wrote: “We ploughed across the
sand drifts in our Land-Rovers with underinflated tyres,
using four-wheel drive. In front of us stood a line of
ragged palm-trees, on the left was the white-painted
fort, on the right a handful of barasti huts, a couple
of skinny goats, some chickens and donkeys chewing
indifferently on rubbish. There was no road, just tracks
in the sand winding between the huts towards the
shore. There we found two concrete buildings: the
police station and the office of the oil company.
Today, barely 50 years later, Abu Dhabi is an Arabian
Manhattan, a veritable sea of skyscrapers
criss-crossed by a gridline of streets, a palm-fringed
Corniche, sprawling urban developments and a
plethora of 5-star luxury hotels.
Abu Dhabi, the vibrant capital of the United Arab
Emirates, is today one of the fastest developing capital
cities on earth. Ideally placed at the crossroads of Asia,
Africa and Europe, it is a city with a proud heritage
and a growing reputation for the delivery of bold,
ambitious and highly-successful world class projects
of international distinction. Foremost among these
projects is Masdar City.
Established in 2006, Masdar City is an emerging global
hub for renewable energy and clean technologies that
positions companies located here at the very heart
of this global industry. A place where businesses can
thrive and innovation can flourish.
Masdar City is an arcology project which is being
constructed 17 kilometres (11 miles) east-southeast of the city, alongside Abu Dhabi International
Airport. Its core is a planned city, where cutting-edge
‘cleantech’ research and development, pilot projects,
technology testing, and construction on some of the
world’s most sustainable buildings are all ongoing.
The city is being built by Masdar, a subsidiary
of the Mubadala Development Company, with
the majority of seed capital provided by the Abu
Dhabi Government, a catalyst for the economic
development of the Emirate. Designed by the
renowned British architectural firm of Foster and
Partners, whose innovative masterplans have included
The Index in Dubai, the iconic Hearst Tower in New
York, the Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe) in London and
Hong Kong International Airport, they will be assisted
in this initiative by Mott MacDonald, the Londonbased engineering and environmental development
consultancy. When completed Masdar City will rely entirely on
solar energy and other renewable energy sources, with a zero
waste ecology. It is also initially aimed to be a sustainable zerocarbon car free city.
The project was estimated to cost around US$22 billion and
take some eight years to build, with the first phase scheduled
to be completed and habitable in 2009. The first phase of
construction began in 2008 and the first six buildings of Masdar
City were completed and occupied in October 2010. However,
due to the impact of the global recession, Phase 1 of the city,
the initial 1,000,000 square metres (0.39 square miles), will now
be completed in 2015. Final completion is scheduled to occur
between 2020 and 2025. The estimated cost of the city has also
declined by 10 to 15 percent, thus reducing the development
projections to between US$18.7 and 19.8 billion. The city is
planned to cover 6 square kilometres (2.3 square miles) and will
be home to 45,000 to 50,000 people and 1,500 businesses, the
majority of which will be commercial and manufacturing facilities
specializing in environmentally friendly products and associated
‘green’ merchandise, with more than 60,000 workers anticipated
to commute to the city daily.
Its first tenant was the Masdar Institute of Science and
Technology, which has been operating in the city since it moved
into its campus in September 2010. This unique university has
been behind the engineering plans of Masdar City and is at
the centre of research and development activities there. The
Institute, developed in cooperation with the world-renowned
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, uses 70 per cent less
electricity and potable water than normal buildings of similar size
and is fitted with a metering system that constantly observes
power consumption.
Masdar City will be the latest of a small number of highly
planned, specialised, research and technology-intensive
municipalities that incorporate a living environment, similar to
the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST),
Saudia Arabia or the Tsukuba Science City in Ibaraki Prefecture,
Japan.
The initial design considered that automobiles would be banned
within the city as travel will be accomplished via public mass
transit and personal rapid transit (PRT) systems, with existing
road and railways connecting to other locations outside the
city. The absence of motor vehicles in Masdar coupled with the
city’s perimeter wall, designed to keep out the hot desert winds,
allows for narrow and shaded streets, based on the traditional
Middle Eastern wind tower concept that help funnel cooler
breezes down into buildings and across the city. In October 2010
it was announced the PRT would not expand beyond the pilot
scheme due to the cost of creating the undercroft to segregate
the system from pedestrian traffic. Subsequently, an innovative
test fleet of 10 Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric cars was deployed
in the autumn of 2011 as part of a one-year pilot scheme to
test a point-to-point transportation network for the city as a
complement to the existing PRT and the freight rapid
transit (FRT), both of which consist of automated
‘podcar’ electric-powered vehicles.
Established in 2006,
Masdar City is an
emerging global
hub for renewable
energy and clean
technologies that
positions companies
located here at the
very heart of this
global industry.
Below: Its first tenant was the Masdar
Institute of Science and Technology,
which has been operating in the city
since it moved into its campus in
September 2010.
Below right: The initial design
considered that automobiles would
be banned within the city as travel
will be accomplished via public mass
transit and personal rapid transit
(PRT) systems. The PRT, also called
a ‘podcar’, is an innovative public
transport mode operational in the city
since 2010.
Under the revised concept, all public transport within
the city will rely on methods other than the PRT’s.
Masdar will instead use a mix of electric vehicles and
other clean-energy vehicles for mass transit inside the
city. The majority of private vehicles will be restricted
to parking lots along the city’s perimeter. Abu Dhabi’s
existing light rail and metro line will connect Masdar
City’s centre with the greater metropolitan area.
Masdar City will employ a variety of renewable power
resources. Among the first construction projects will
be a 40 to 60 megawatt PV solar power plant, built
by the German firm Conergy, a leading PV solution
and service provider, which will supply power for all
other construction activity. This will later be followed
by a larger facility, and additional solar panels will
be placed on rooftops to provide supplemental solar
energy totalling 130 megawatts.
As an additional power source to photovoltaics,
concentrated solar power (CSP) plants are also being
explored. For example, so-called “beam down” CSP
plants have been constructed to test the viability of
the concept for use in the city. Wind farms will be
established outside the city’s perimeter capable of
producing up to 20 megawatts, and the city intends
to utilise geothermal energy as well. In addition,
Masdar plans to host the world’s largest hydrogen
power plant. Small wonder the project is supported by
leading environmental agencies such as Greenpeace
and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Water management has been planned in an
environmentally sound manner as well. A solarpowered desalination plant will be used to provide the
city’s water needs, which is stated to be 60 percent
lower than similarly sized communities. Approximately
80 percent of the water used will be recycled and
waste water will be reused “as many times as
possible”, with this greywater being used for crop
irrigation and other purposes.
The city will also attempt to reduce waste to zero.
Biological waste will be used to create nutrient-rich soil
and fertilizer, and some may also be utilised through
waste incineration as an additional power source.
Industrial waste, such as plastics and metals, will be
recycled or re-purposed for other uses. Other renewable
resources include the use of wood in the construction
of Masdar City. The exterior wood used throughout the
city is palmwood, a sustainable hardwood-substitute
developed by Pacific Green Technologies using
plantation coconut palms that no longer bear fruit.
This holistic approach keeps Masdar City at the
forefront of this important global industry, while
ensuring it remains grounded in the pursuit of
pioneering technologies and systems that are also
feasible. As a result, it delivers innovation to the market
while deriving profits from its shareholders.
As one of Masdar’s integrated units, Masdar City makes
a substantial contribution to the Emirate’s
economic development goals by attracting knowledgeeconomy companies and organisations to Abu Dhabi.
This is the yardstick by which other developing cities
must be judged.
History
The Little
Chapel on
the Hill
There is a charming little
sanctuary hidden high on a
wooded hill far away from
Victoria. TONY MATHIOT
tells an interesting story ….
I
t had been a stormy night. The sky
above La Misère was hidden behind a
massive nimbostratus that released
torrents of rain upon the forested
mountain, while blustering winds lashed at the
old giant timber trees. The storm lasted until
after dawn, and yet, around 300 inhabitants,
men, women and children, trudged up the
mountain footpath, grappling with fallen
branches and wading across raging streams
to attend the ceremony of the blessing of the
chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Beauvoir,
La Misère, on that Friday morning of 6 April
1883. In the inclement weather, Monsignor
(Mgr). Symphorien Mouard performed two other
blessings, one of the bell in the chapel’s belfry,
the other of the cemetery below, the burial
place of the Catholic Missionaries since 1873.
However, Mgr Ignace Galfione, Mgr Mouard’s
predecessor was not buried in that cemetery.
In fact, few people know that the second viceprefect of Seychelles is actually entombed in the
foundation of that little chapel on the hill …
Mgr Ignace Galfione arrived in Seychelles on
Sunday the 30 October 1864. The Seychelles
had been handed over to the Savoyard
Capuchin Priests on 8 January 1863 and Galfione
(de Villafranca) was appointed Vice-Prefect,
representing the Apostolic prefect who resided in
Switzerland and almost never visited his prefecture.
Mgr Ignace Galfione arrived at Mahè two years
after the great Lavalas of October 1862, which
had devastated the little capital town, killing
scores of inhabitants including two sisters who
had just arrived from Reunion, the year before, to
establish the convent of St. Joseph de Cluny. In
fact, the first religious ceremony that he officiated
was the blessing of the chapel of the Sisters of
St. Joseph de Cluny, in Victoria. But, his priority
was the evangelization of Seychelles which his
predecessor Jeremie Giantommaso de Paglieta had
started a decade earlier. And that, of course, was a
cinch. The population of about 8,000 inhabitants
who were mostly descendants of African slaves
was amenable to religious indoctrination, which
encouraged the Catholic mission to expand its
presence throughout the archipelago by the
creation of more parishes. Galfione was blessedly
grateful for the assistance of the few missionaries
who had arrived in Seychelles before him and a
little later after, among whom were Father Louis
Noir, Father Theophile Pollar, Father Martin Christin
Photos courtesy of Tony Mathiot
the Catholic faith of the inhabitants had been
firmly instilled, the cross of the Catholic Mission
had been firmly entrenched on Seychelles soil and
more priests were coming to replace the old and
tired ones, Mgr Galfione had one more, and his
last, undertaking … the little chapel on the hill.
On the 16 June 1879, the Roman Catholic Church
purchased a large property up at La Misère known
as Rivière Sèche. Galfione, who had a special
apostolic affection for the industrious disciples of
mother Javouhey gave a portion of the land to the
Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny and proposed to build
a chapel on another piece. Before the Catholic
Mission had acquired the land, a portion of it had
been allocated in 1873 to serve as a burial place
for the Catholic Missionaries.
de Vinzier and Father Valentin de Reyvroz. During
the first 12 years of his episcopacy he built
Mission Schools for boys across Mahé. These were
made of wood, thatched with pandanus leaves,
pathetic little structures that nevertheless served
their purpose eminently well. Churches of coral
limestone and timber were erected in all the
established parishes, and 1868 he created new
ones at Anse Royal and Anse Boileau (and much
later, one at Grand Anse Praslin in 1879). At a
time, when there was much rivalry between the
Catholic Church and the Anglican Church, which
for obvious reasons, got the unstinting support
of the Civil Commissioner, Mgr Ignace Galfione
confronted adversity with the characteristic
Roman stoutheartedness of his ilk. It was difficult
to acquire land for the many charitable projects
that he had in mind because the Catholic Mission
was French. However, the benevolence of some
land owners who were descendants of the first
French settlers enabled Mgr Galfione to achieve
his aspirations.
With the sum of 60,000 francs that he received
from the Apostolic prefect, Father Ambroise
Tussot, and donations from a few wealthy
inhabitants, he established the foundation of the
Catholic Mission in Seychelles. He rebuilt the
church of the Immaculate Conception in Victoria
in such a majestic form that it was indisputably
the first edifice ever to be erected on the soil
of Seychelles. He had the statue of the Virgin
Mary placed at the top of the ridge and a clock
on its facade. The fledgling education system
in Seychelles, which was virtually governed by
the Anglican and Catholic churches, saw a great
advancement in 1867 with the opening of the St.
Louis College. This institution was managed by the
Frères des Ecoles Chrétiens until 1875. That same
year saw the arrival of more Savoyard capuchin
priests, including Marc Hudrisier who would later
become the first Catholic Bishop of Seychelles. In
1875, Mgr Galfione allowed the sisters of the St.
Joseph of Cluny to work as nurses at the newlyopened Hospital. His indefatigable spirit certainly
The place on the mountain where Galfione
wanted to build his chapel abounded with
hardwood trees and enormous granite boulders.
It was early in 1880 that work started to clear
the land. The giant trees were lopped down and
the wood was cut into sections and beams. It
was laborious and strenuous work and painfully
exhausting. The coolness of the La Misère
altitude combined with the scorching sun
created some discomfort that the workers had
to become accustomed to. After all, this was
the first construction of any kind to be done in
the pristine forests of that part of Mahé. Nearly
all the churches, chapels and schools that the
Catholic Mission had built before were situated
on the coastal plateaux and this was actually
the first time that the hinterland of the island
To sightseeing foreigners, it is a quaint
melancholy enigma of elegiac beauty.
attested to the devout commitment of his vows.
His tasks were arduous. His responsibility was
heavy. His ambitions were vast, but his health
was failing.
His concern for his colleagues who were getting
old and were suffering from infirmities induced
him to construct a home and hermitage far away
from Victoria in the salubrious mountain of La
Misère. The place which eventually became
known as Solitude, owing to its remoteness, was
in the charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph de Cluny.
After 15 years in Seychelles, during which time
was being cleared for the erection of a house
of worship. The granite rocks were heated and
broken into pieces. These were used to construct
a retaining wall for the knoll on which the chapel
was to be built. Early in 1880, Mgr Ignace Galfione
supervised the beginning of construction. It was
to be a modest little structure made entirely of
wood. The hammer-beam roof design had no
intricate corbel or bracket. The local craftsmanship
at that time could not afford such architectural
ornament. Gradually, the chapel began to take
shape until Mgr Galfione decided that he had to
leave Seychelles for a visit to Europe.
History
On the 30 August 1880, Pope Leo XIII raised the status of
the Catholic Mission in Seychelles to Vicariat Apostolic.
During his voyage, Mgr Galfione was informed that he
was to become the Apostolic Vicar. He was not delighted
at the prospect of assuming such a supreme position,
given the state of his deteriorating health. He declined
the offer, but Rome insisted.
So it was on the 19 September 1880 that the ailing
65-year-old Galfione was ordained the titular Bishop of
Auréliopolis at the church of the Capuchins of Chambéry.
On the way back to Seychelles he had an acute cardiac
arrest and had to remain at Aden to recuperate. He
arrived at Mahé on Sunday 5 December 1881 aboard SS
Dupleix, extremely weak. Aware of the ebbing of life from
his tired body, Galfione asked for the extreme unction. The
news of their dying Apostolic Vicar created consternation
and tribulation across Mahé. Doctors tried their utmost
… and succeeded. Mgr Galfione recuperated
slightly and regained a little strength. At the
end of January 1881 he was carried to the
Hermitage at La Misére. For many months,
he managed the evangelical and pastoral
work of his priests through his diligent
intermediary, Father Edmond d’Aix Bains
who had come to Seychelles for that express
purpose. From his bed or from his Palanquin,
he directed the construction of his chapel.
Every day the sound of hammering resounded
in the forest as the men persevered at their
task. They were despondent to see their
venerable Apostolic Vicar in such a pathetic
state. Yet, his indomitable spirit drove them
on and the chapel began to sprout. By the
end of November the little Chapel was half
completed. The men were sawing wood to
make the rafters and the struts.
In mid-June 1881, Mgr Ignace Galfione left the hermitage
to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi in the church of
Victoria. Carrying the cross, he headed the traditional
procession through the streets of Victoria followed by
hundreds of inhabitants.
A few days later, he administered the sacrament of the
Eucharist to dozens of children.
In early November, his health further degenerated and on
Sunday 19 December 1881 Mgr Ignace Galfione passed
away at the age of 66. A paragon in the history of the
Catholic Church in Seychelles, his estimable mission was
accomplished … yet his chapel was unfinished.
Seychelles mourned. Hundreds of grieving inhabitants
accompanied his leaden coffin from Victoria up to the hills
of La Misère. There he was placed in a small chamber in
the foundation of his chapel, on the right side of the altar.
The fragrance of ripe cloves, blended with the scent of
cinnamon that the mountain breeze brought down from
the forest, mingled with the incense smoke to create a
distinct aroma of a yuletide requiem, as the choir sang
Venez Saint du ciel …
Weeks passed, months passed. Men worked
intermittently to complete the chapel, while below, the
little burial ground accommodated those who came to
rest so far away from the altars where they took their
sacred vows.
Finally, the little chapel was completed in early 1883. It
had no transepts, no ornamental ecclesiastic feature. It
was a simple rectangular structure with a pandanus roof,
windows and pews, made entirely of La Misère timber.
In 1883, when he blessed
the chapel, Mgr Mouard
gave a new impulsion to
the devotion of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus, in a bid to
satisfy the wishes of his
predecessor. From then
on, every year in June,
crowds of hundreds of
inhabitants coming from all
the districts of Mahé made
the pedestrian journey
to La Misère to celebrate
the feast that Pope Pie IX
had established on the 23
August 1856. In 1885,
the provincial superior of
Seychelles, Mére Marie des
Anges (Antoinette Constance Granger) named the place
‘Beauvoir’.
In 1913, the chapel had succumbed to the ravages of
time and weather and had become too small for the
growing population of the Parish. Consequently, Mgr
Bernadin Clark decided to reconstruct the chapel with
stone, retaining the original design. It was much later, in
1956, that Brother Victor Golliard added the transepts
during an extensive renovation. In 1964, Brother Victor
built the Oratory.
Today, the chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus stands
exactly where it was originally erected over100 years
ago. To sightseeing foreigners, it is a quaint melancholy
enigma of elegiac beauty. It is an important punctuation
mark in the history of the Catholic Mission in Seychelles
because, after all, it is the tomb of Mgr Ignatius Galfione
de Villafranca.
It is an
important
punctuation
mark in the
history of
the Catholic
Mission in
Seychelles.
A small hotel with a big heart
The Coco D’or Hotel, is built on 3 hectares of lush tropical land,
on the north west coast of Mahé. The hotel is a mere four minutes
walk from Beau Vallon, one of the island’s most beautiful beaches.
The Coco D’or sets itself apart from other hotels in Seychelles by
virtue of its location, amenities and unparalled service philosophy.
27 appointed rooms and suites, each with a private bath, balcony,
terrace and/or living room are divided into two categories:Standard room
Deluxe suites
24 rooms with a verandah and
tropical garden, 6 rooms with a
terrace and 2 with a lounge.
3 rooms with a private patio
terrace and mountain and garden
view, two bathrooms, a kitchenette and a separate living room.
Coco D’or Hotel & Restaurant • T/A Nalini R. Properties (Pty) Ltd
Beau Vallon, Mahé, Seychelles • P.O. Box 526 Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
Phone: +248 4247331 • Fax: +248 4247454 • E-mail: [email protected]
Luxury
A Silk
Tale
Silk has been prized for centuries for its
delicate and luxurious quality. This precious
commodity, considered at one time more
precious than gold, helped transform trade
between east and west and gave rise to the
Silk Road. Emily Boulter uncovers the story
of this extraordinary fabric.
S
ilk is considered to be one of the world’s
finest natural fabrics, as unlike cotton
or linen, its natural shimmer gives it an
opulence that has proven attractive to both
men and women. It is also considered to be one of
the oldest fibres known to man. Silk is used to make
luxury bedclothes, cushions, wedding dresses, tailored
suits and upholstery for furniture. Its lightweight, but
resistant quality also helps to ensure its popularity. It
is perfect for both winter and summer conditions.
But where was silk first produced? Without question
China is the home of sericulture or silk farming. The
legend that has passed down through history is that
the Empress Leizu, who was the wife of the Emperor
Huang-Ti, also known as the Yellow Emperor, first
discovered the fabric in approximately 2640 BC.
One day according to the legend, Leizu was drinking
tea in a garden when a cocoon from a Mulberry
tree fell into her cup and began to unravel. She was
fascinated by the shine of the threads and later learnt
to harvest the silk worms and is accredited as being
the inventor of the world’s first silk loom. Later during
the Han dynasty the first imperial silk workshops were
established.
The Chinese succeeded for years in preserving the
secret of silk production; however their success lay
in cultivating the humble silk worm or the Bombyx
mori. The life of this little worm, or caterpillar is
perfectly suited to silk production. A female worm
can lay up to 500 fertilized eggs, each of which is
roughly the size of a pin head. Once a worm hatches,
it will spend the next four to five weeks eating leaves
from the mulberry tree. They need to start eating
immediately after they hatch, otherwise they run the
risk of drying out and dying. During this time, the silk
worm will increase its body size up to 25 times and
will eat both day and night in order to build up the
necessary energy to start building a cocoon to pupate.
It takes a worm three to four days to make its silk
cocoon, which is composed of a jelly-like substance
that comes from a gland located on its head. The silk
substance hardens when it comes into contact with
the air. The worm works to construct a figure 8 pattern
and if it suffers any form of disturbance, the worm will
abandon this cocoon and start again. The flightless
moth that eventually emerges from the cocoon will
only live a few days as it is expected to mate, lay its
eggs; thus starting the process all over again.
The colours
of the thread
will vary
depending on
the silkworm’s
diet, as it is
best they
eat fresh
hand picked
mulberry
leaves.
For the sericulturist, they must work to capture the
cocoon, before the moth hatches. The cocoons are
either dipped in water or are exposed to steam in
order to kill the pupas inside. In the water, the thread
starts to unravel and is attached to a spool. One
cocoon can produce up to 900m worth of raw silk
thread. However in order to produce strong thread,
a number of strands must be twisted together; this
is known as ‘throwing’. The colours of the thread will
vary depending on the silk worm’s diet, as it is best
they eat fresh hand picked mulberry leaves.
When silk was originally produced in China, it was
preserved for the nobility, but later silk was used for
musical instruments. During the time of the Han
dynasty, it was used as a form of payment and also
as a currency for foreign trading. The Chinese also
became masters of silk dyeing and embroidery, and
the fabric proved to be popular with calligraphers,
in the days before paper was available. It was also
considered to be more valuable than gold and
understandably the Chinese worked to keep silk
production a secret. There are tales of travellers
attempting to smuggle silkworm eggs and cocoons
out of China, but who were summarily executed.
Nevertheless, the monopoly over sericulture by the
Luxury
Chinese only lasted until 200 BC when Korea
began to develop its own industry, soon after
Japan and India followed. As a result, silk was
the fabric of choice for kimonos and saris.
Gradually silk moved westwards, first to the
Middle East and later to Europe. In the 6th
century AD Byzantine monks working for the
Emperor Justinian I placed silkworm eggs inside
hollowed-out walking sticks and brought them
to Constantinople. Venetian merchants helped
to develop the silk industry by encouraging
growers to settle in Italy. In the 13th century,
silk became an important source of trade,
as towns such as Lucca imported raw silk
from China and developed an international
reputation for sericulture, giving rise to the
expression “Good silk is Lucca silk”. The town
contained at the height of its fame, 3,000
weaving looms. Towns in France such as Lyon
became renowned for silk production, which
was aided by the invention of the Jacquard
loom. This allowed producers to create intricate
silk patterns. By the 1800s silk had become one
of the most desirable fabrics in the western
world, but through the era of industrialisation,
Europe’s silk industries fell into decline due
to the rise in Japanese silk imports. Towards
the beginning of the 19th century French
and European silkworms were struck by a
disease known as pébrine. France’s
renowned chemist Louis Pasteur
was asked to investigate the cause.
While he developed a method
to control the disease, European
sericulture never fully recovered.
The Silk Road
The famous trading route the Silk
Road helped to connect the east
and west. The German geographer
Ferdinand von Richtofen originally
coined the term in the 1870s. The
road itself first emerged during the
second century AD and stretched
over 6.4 thousand km from the
capital of the Han dynasty in
Changan, today known as Xian, all
the way to the city of Antioch on
the Mediterranean Sea. There was
no single road, but many which
departed to the north and south,
through the desert of Taklamakan
and crossed what is modern day
Afghanistan. Silk was not the only
commodity to be traded along this
route; caravans from the east carried various goods such as jade, furs, ceramics and iron, and
from the west traders brought gold, precious metals and glass. It was along this historic path
that men such as Marco Polo travelled to reach China in the 13th century and religions such
as Buddhism were able to spread from India to China. Silk was by far one of the most prized
commodities transported along the road, and it served as a useful tool for negotiations between
warring tribes.
Today, numerous countries around the world produce silk such as Uzbekistan, Thailand, Brazil
and India, although China is still the world’s leading exporter and producer of raw silk. However,
it now must compete with numerous
synthetic materials that are cheaper
for consumers; nevertheless the
allure of silk has not diminished and
continues to entice new devotees.
The texture of silk can also vary
from country to country Thai silk
is known for possessing firmness,
while Chinese silk has a fluid quality.
Marianne Tuerlings who owns the
textile gallery Shirdak in Amsterdam
travels extensively across Central
Asia gathering natural textiles and
believes that silk remains popular as
it is symbolic of quality. “Silk is chic
and also very adaptable. You can easily
blend it with other fabrics such as
wool and linen”, she says. It is the
element of luxury and romance that is
associated with silk that has ensured
its popularity throughout history.
Screen legend Audrey Hepburn once
said that: “When I wear a silk scarf I
never feel so definitely like a woman,
a beautiful woman”.
Welcome to Air Seychelles VIP
Sit back and relax in one of our luxurious and beautifully decorated VIP lounges whilst we take care of all
your immigration formalities, luggage transfers on both your arrival and departure.
9
Our extensive list of facilities includes:
9 Complimentary WiFi 9
9 Cable TV 9
9 Hot & Cold Beverages 9
9 Refreshments & Snacks 9
Airside transfer to domestic charter flights
9 Airside limousine access 9
9 Duty Free 9
9 Shower facilities 9
9
Booking service for:
accommodation, boat & helicopter charters, excursions & more
Travel just got better and all yours to experience.
Office : +248 439 1220 | 1204 | Mobile : +248 253 0804
E-mail : [email protected]
Mark Twain
An American in Mauritius
Samuel Langhorne Clemens may not be a
name that you’re familiar with but Mark Twain –
Clemens’ pen name – is known to many people,
writes Tony Smart.
T
he author of such great novels as The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures
of Huckleberry Finn, Twain wrote profusely
throughout much of his adult life. He also
authored The Prince and the Pauper and A Connecticut
Yankee in King Arthur’s Court and has been lauded as ‘the
father of American literature’ by William Faulkner. One
of America’s greatest authors, Ernest Hemingway, once
said that “All modern American literature comes from one
book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn.”
Twain’s path to successful writing was not an easy one.
Born in the village of Florida in the US (United States) state
of Missouri on 30th November 1835, just two weeks after
the closest approach to Earth of Halley’s Comet, his family
moved to Hannibal, a port town on the Mississippi River,
when Twain was four. By the age of 12, he had started work
as a printer’s apprentice and three years later he had become
a typesetter and contributor of articles and humorous
sketches for the Hannibal Journal, a newspaper owned by his
brother Orion.
Two years later he left Hannibal and worked as a printer
in New York City, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Cincinnati,
educating himself in public libraries in the evenings. A couple
of years later Twain’s career path took a radical change.
Whilst on a voyage to New Orleans down the Mississippi,
steamboat pilot Horace E. Bixby inspired Twain to become
a pilot himself. This appealed to Twain because it was a very
well paid job and one that exceeded the steamboat’s captain
in prestige and authority.
It was this change of job that gave Clemens his pen name
because ‘Mark Twain’ was a shout the pilot would make
to indicate the current river depth was two fathoms (one
fathom equals 1.8288 metres). Twain worked as a pilot until
the American Civil War broke out in 1861 and traffic along
the Mississippi was stopped.
After a brief two week flirtation with the southern
Confederacy at the start of the war Twain moved to Nevada
to work for his brother Orion again who had become
secretary to the governor of Nevada, but this was another
brief job and Twain became a silver miner in Virginia City,
Nevada. He quickly failed at this new career and started
work on a Virginia City newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise,
where he used his pen name Mark Twain for the first time.
After little more than a year here Twain moved again, this
time to San Francisco where he continued to work as a
journalist and where he achieved his first success as a writer
when his humorous story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog
of Calaveras County, was published in a New York weekly,
The Saturday Press, on 18 November 1865. It brought him
national attention. A year later he began his career as a
travel journalist, travelling to the Sandwich Islands (now
Hawaii) and then the Mediterranean for local newspapers in
California.
It was on this latter trip that Twain wrote a popular
collection of travel letters, which were later compiled as
The Innocents Abroad in 1869, and was shown a photo of
his future wife Olivia Langdon by her brother Charles. Twain
claimed to have fallen in love on first seeing the photo
and when he returned to the US he began corresponding
with Olivia who rejected his first marriage proposal but
then changed her mind and in 1870 Twain and Olivia were
married.
Air Seychelles flies three times a week to Port Louis, Mauritius.
History
Initially they lived in New York but, after the birth of
his first daughter, Twain moved his family to Hartford,
Connecticut in 1873. The family, which quickly expanded
to three daughters, stayed there for 17 years and it was
during this time that Twain wrote many of his most
famous novels including those mentioned above.
Twain made a substantial amount of money from
his writing but whilst a great writer he was a lousy
businessman and lost a great deal of that money and
most of his wife’s inheritance through badly judged
investments and in 1893 he had to file for bankruptcy.
Desperate to raise money to pay his creditors Twain
accepted an offer from Robert Sparrow Smythe and
embarked on a year-long, around-the-world lecture tour
in July 1895, a long, arduous journey during which he
was sick much of the time, which took him to Hawaii, Fiji,
Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, Mauritius, South
Africa and England.
Following this trip Twain wrote the 712page book Following the Equator which
includes two chapters on the 10 days he
spent in Mauritius.
In his notes from Curepipe Twain comments further on
the island’s fascination with Paul et Virginie. “Apparently,
there has been only one prominent event in the history
of Mauritius, and that one didn’t happen. I refer to the
romantic sojourn of Paul and Virginia here. It was that
story that made Mauritius known to the world, made the
name familiar to everybody, the geographical position of
it to nobody.”
After five days on Mauritius Twain noted the horrific
cyclone of 1892 that ‘killed and crippled hundreds
of people,’ then moved on to further observations of
the island. ‘The roads are hard and smooth; some of
the compounds are spacious, some of the bungalows
commodious, and the roadways are walled by tall
bamboo hedges, trim and green and beautiful; and there
are azalea hedges, too, both the white and the red; I
never saw that before.’
Further notes in Following the Equator are
on local foods of the time like ‘camaron’
and ‘palmiste’, lengthy observations on
the devastation wrought by the 1892
cyclone, and the Mauritian monkeys of
which Twain writes ‘The monkeys live
in dense forests on the flanks of the toy
mountains, and they flock down nights
and raid the sugar-fields. Also on other
estates they come down and destroy a
sort of bean-crop – just for fun, apparently
– tear off the pods and throw them down.’
Mark Twain
was a truly
amazing man, a
real ‘fish out of
water’ ...
After a three month stint in India
Twain quickly fell in love with the
Indian Ocean, noting whilst still on the
boat taking him to Mauritius ‘We are
far abroad upon the smooth waters of the
Indian Ocean, now; it is shady and pleasant and
peaceful under the vast spread of the awnings, and
life is perfect again – ideal.’
He arrived in Mauritius in the early hours of 15 April
1896, the boat anchoring off Port Louis, and when it
was daylight Twain quickly noted the
island’s ‘inviting’ beauty in his journals,
adding that the island was the ‘scene
of the sentimental adventure of Paul
and Virginia’, a romantic novel that still
pervades Mauritian life to this day.
When he went ashore to Port Louis
the next day Twain found ‘a little
town, but with the largest variety of
nationalities and complexions we
have encountered yet. French, English,
Chinese, Arabs, Africans with wool ...
East Indians ... and great varieties in
costumes and colours.’ Nothing much
has changed in Port Louis since then
except that it’s no longer a little town
and I think it’s safe to say that Twain, though a great lover
of science, technology and time travel who developed
friendships with Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison in his
later years, would be astonished at what he found had
he been able to travel forward in time and become A
Connecticut Yankee in Port Louis in 2014.
After exploring Port Louis Twain took the afternoon train
to Curepipe, a two hour journey then, and enjoyed what
he saw along the way writing,‘What a contrast, this
frantic luxuriance of vegetation, with the arid plains of
India; these architecturally picturesque crags and knobs
and miniature mountains, with the monotony of the
Indian dead-levels.’
Twain left Mauritius enchanted by the island. ‘What
there is of Mauritius is beautiful,’ he wrote. ‘You have
undulating expanses of sugar-cane – a fine, fresh green
and very pleasant to the eye; and everywhere else you
have a ragged luxuriance of tropic vegetation of
vivid greens of varying shades, a wild tangle of
underbrush, with graceful tall palms lifting their
crippled plumes high above it; and you have
stretches of shady dense forest with limpid
streams frolicking through them,....and here and
there and now and then a strip of sea with a
white ruffle of surf breaks into view.”
Upon his return to the US Twain continued to
write and was also much in demand as a guest
speaker at men’s clubs and society dinners.
But he sank into a deep depression after the
death of his daughter Susy from meningitis in
1896 and the death of his wife in 1904, and
he eventually died of a heart attack on 21
April 1910. The previous year he was quoted
as saying “I came in with Halley’s Comet in 1835. It is
coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it. It
will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I don’t
go out with Halley’s Comet. The Almighty has said, no
doubt: “Now here are these two unaccountable freaks;
they came in together, they must go out together.” And
sure enough his death was just one day after the closest
passing of the comet to earth.
Mark Twain was a truly amazing man, a real ‘fish out of
water’ who found his place in life and society through
his great writing and his adventurous spirit. He will
always be remembered as one of America’s greatest
writers.
Air Seychelles flies three times a week to Port Louis, Mauritius.
1
Don’t Pay To Take Your Clubs On Holiday With You.
Many airlines now charge you for checking in any hold
baggage, let alone golf clubs. Indeed some airlines charge
up to US$100 each way for carrying a golf bag, which
seriously increases the cost of your golf holiday. But there
are still some good airlines that let you take your clubs
with you for free, including Air Seychelles. Check before
booking your flights if the airline will carry your golf clubs
for free.
Alternatively see if there are any companies like Paul
McGinley’s ClubstoHire.com, which rents full sets of new
clubs from the likes of Callaway and TaylorMade for as little
as €35 a week in many European countries, at your chosen
golf destination. Or just rent a set at the courses you’ll be
playing.
10 TIPS
For Getting the Best out of your Golf Holiday
By TONY SMART
2
Choose All-Inclusive Golf Destinations.
Another way of making your golf holiday extraexpensive is by having to pay green fees every time you
play. However many resorts with courses have ‘Stay and
Play’ packages which allow you unlimited free golf on their
courses, or at least a certain number of free rounds. The
Constance Lemuria in The Seychelles offers free golf to all
hotel guests. Costa Navarino in Greece offer an Experience
Golf package which includes seven nights’ accommodation
and five rounds of golf on either of their two great courses.
www.golfasian.com offers ‘Stay and Play’ packages all over
Asia. You can find hundreds of deals on the internet.
Sports
3
Make Sure The Courses You’ll
Be Playing Will Be In First Class Condition.
Try and pick good quality courses that you know will be in
good condition for your golf vacation. Nothing ruins a golf
holiday more than having to play golf courses that look and
play like cow pastures. Ways to avoid this include going to
championship venues, looking closely at the latest photos on
your chosen courses’ websites, picking venues that are fairly
new and need to establish a good reputation, choosing courses
that are in your chosen destination’s top ten (www.golfdigest.
com lists the top courses in 203 countries around the world),
or even phoning/e-mailing your chosen destination and asking
them what condition their courses will be in when you visit
(you’d be surprised at how many honest answers you get!).
4
Choose Famous Courses/Destinations.
Choose a destination that has lots of great, famous golf
courses like St Andrews, Pebble Beach, Mission Hills in China,
or Dubai. Bragging rights are surprisingly important at golf
clubs and telling an opponent on the first tee that you just
played the Old Course at St Andrews, Pebble Beach, the World
Cup Course at Mission Hills or the Emirates Golf Club (where
Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els and the late, great Seve
Ballestros have all won the Dubai Desert Classic) can put you
one or two up before a stroke has been played.
5
Use A Sturdy Golf Flight Bag.
This may be obvious to regular golf travellers but you’d
be amazed at how many golfers I see just checking in their
golf bags without a sturdy flight bag cover. With the way
that baggage handlers toss baggage around this can result in
broken club shafts or even missing/stolen clubs if your bag is
not covered with a sturdy, lockable flight bag. Arriving at your
chosen destination with missing or broken clubs is definitely
going to ruin your golf holiday. Recommended golf flight bag
covers include the Bag Boy T-2000, Nike NG141 and the Ogio
Monster. Flight bag covers are usually roomy and you can put
extra bits of luggage inside that won’t fit into your suitcase.
6
Locks.
A few years back I went on a golf trip to the US (post
9/11) with a brand new suitcase and lock. When I retrieved
the suitcase from the baggage carousel in the US the lock had
disappeared and inside my suitcase was a polite notice from
the US Customs saying they’d had to cut the lock to check
inside the suitcase for dangerous materials. No compensation
was offered. Use TSA locks for your suitcases and golf flight
bags. These combination locks can be opened by all country’s
customs officers with a special tool and then relocked by
them. They’re also extraordinarily difficult for bag
snatchers to open.
7
Check If Your Chosen
Courses Allow Buggies.
The world’s number one golf resort, Bandon
Dunes in Oregon, US, does not allow
buggies, which is fine if you’re young
and fit enough to walk 18 or 36 holes
every day. But for those of us who
are older and not as fit as we’d like
to be, buggies are an important,
enjoyable part of holiday golf. So,
unless you’re happy walking, check
before you book that your chosen
courses allow buggies.
8
If Money is Tight Choose an Emerging Golf
Destination For Your Golf Vacation.
Golf will usually be much cheaper in new
emerging golf destinations desperate to establish a
reputation for themselves in the global golf market.
Accommodation and dining may also be significantly
cheaper in the resorts in these countries as they fight
for a slice of the golf tourism market. Some great
courses have recently opened at resorts in emerging
golf countries like Vietnam, Bulgaria, Greece, Morocco,
Tunisia, Turkey, and Cambodia. Also try China and
India.
9
Take In A Tournament.
For a keen golfer there is nothing better than to
watch the game’s greats playing a major tournament
at a course and then playing the same course a couple
of days later. At the 2012 Open Championship at
Royal Lytham & St Anne’s you could have watched
Ernie Els win the tournament on the Sunday and
played the same course on the Tuesday. Amazing. This
is not possible at Augusta National of course, nor at
most US Open or US PGA Championships courses
as they’re ultra-exclusive. But you can do this every
year at the Open in Britain and you can do it at most
other tournament courses. Just call the course as far
ahead of your chosen tournament as possible, book a
tee-time for as soon after the tournament finishes as
possible, and have the golf holiday of a lifetime.
10
Treat Yourself To A Caddy.
Most of us can’t afford a caddy every time we
play golf and they’re also very expensive if you’re
playing golf in Ireland, the UK or the US. But if you’re
playing golf in a country where caddies are cheap
(frequently they will only cost between US$5-10 a
round, cheaper than a buggy) then treat yourself.
They’re usually very good, can show you the right
places to aim for off the tee, help you to find lost
balls, give you the right club for your approach shot
after a couple of holes of learning how far you hit the
ball, and are great at reading putts on strange greens.
And they’re usually very positive about your game no
matter how badly you play. Plus you get extra exercise
from walking. It’s a win-win situation! And, if you can
afford to, tip them well. If they’re only getting US$510 for humping your big golf bag around for 4-5 hours
then they must be poor.
10+1
Look After Yourself.
Nothing ruins a golf holiday more than
getting sick. Be careful what you eat. If you’re in a
country where you can’t drink the tap water
then don’t have ice in your drinks because it’ll
only be frozen tap water and freezing doesn’t
kill the germs. If you’re going to a hot, humid,
tropical country make sure you have a wide
brimmed hat and take lots of high factor
sunscreen and mosquito repellent. Wear
shorts where possible but don’t forget to
apply sunscreen to your legs. Ask before you
play if there may be snakes or other nasty
things in the rough. And make sure you drink
plenty of bottled water during your round to
stay hydrated.
Seychelles Plus Joins Etihad Guests Loyalty Programme
We are pleased to announce improved benefits, services
and flexibility for our valued and loyal travellers. Since 16
June 2012, the Air Seychelles Plus Programme has been
fully integrated into Etihad Guests, the award winning
loyalty programme of Etihad Airways.
All members of the Air Seychelles Plus Programme
have automatically become new Etihad Guest members,
earning eight Etihad Guest Miles for every Seychelles Plus
point in their account as at 15 June 2012.
Their current Seychelles Plus tier level has been carried
over to their new Etihad Guest membership. For example,
Air Seychelles Plus Gold Members have automatically
been enrolled as Etihad Guest Gold members.
On becoming an Etihad Guest member, they now enjoy
more benefits and rewards, including:
• Immediate rewards - with the 1 Mile Redemption
feature, fly once and enjoy instant rewards.
• Anytime availability - all seats on a flight, including
the very last seat, are available at any time. Redeem
open seats at a mileage cost equivalent to the
commercial price of the seat on any Etihad flights.
• The widest choice - redeem for flights, products or
services using the exclusive Etihad Guest Reward
Shop.
• Expanded network - redeem and earn points on over
3000 routes worldwide, with Etihad Airways and its
partner airlines, including Air Berlin, Virgin Australia
and American Airlines.
•
•
•
Also, as Etihad Guest members, our Guests can
automatically earn and redeem Etihad Guest Miles
with the entire Etihad Guest Partner network
worldwide, which includes international hotel
chains, car hire companies and retailers as well as
15 airline partners.
Seat selection upon availability
25% Tier Bonus Miles
Gold Tier
Guest Enjoys
• 15 kgs excess baggage
• Priority Check-in
• Lounge Access
• Priority Boarding
• Fast track immigration/baggage
• 50% Tier Bonus
• Earn Etihad Guest Tier Miles for journey
• Redeem Etihad Guest Miles for journey
/Upgrades/kilos
• Seat selection upon availability
Guest Programme
This level enables the member to enjoy permanent
membership to the programme after earning 500 miles.
Guest Enjoys
/Upgrades/kilos
• Redeem open seats at a mileage cost equivalent
to the commercial price of the seat on any Etihad
flights.
Gold Elite Tier
Guest Enjoys
• Priority Check-in
• Lounge Access
• Priority Boarding
• Fast track immigration/baggage
• 75% Tier Bonus
• Redeem Etihad Guest Miles for journey/Upgrades
Silver Tier
Guest Enjoys
• Waitlist priority
• Lounge access
/Upgrades/kilos.
For more information call us on +248 4391069 / 4381016 / 4391366 / www.airseychelles.com/guest
John David Turner
John David Turner
John David Turner
John David Turner
1167 2695 6467
1167 2695 6467
1167 2695 6467
1167 2695 6467
Valid Thru 05/2014
Valid Thru 05/2014
Valid Thru 05/2014
Valid Thru 05/2014
Air Seychelles Plus rejoint le programme de fidélisation Etihad Guest
Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer une amélioration
de prestations, de nos services et de la flexibilité
pour notre fidèle clientèle. Depuis le 16 Juin 2012,
le programme Air Seychelles Plus a été entièrement
intégré dans celui d’Etihad Guest, le programme de
fidélisation primé d’Etihad Airways.
Tous les membres du programme d’Air Seychelles
Plus deviennent automatiquement des nouveaux
membres d Etihad Guest, obtenant huit miles d’Etihad
Guest pour chaque point sur leur compte au 15 Juin
2012.
Les membres d’Air Seychelles Plus conserveront
le même statut dans le nouveau programme d’Etihad
Guest. Par exemple, les membres Gold d’Air Seychelles
ont été automatiquement inscrits comme membres
d’Etihad Guest Gold.
En devenant membre d’Etihad Guest, ils vont
maintenant bénéficier de plus d’avantages et de
récompenses, y compris:
• Des récompenses immédiates – avec la formule 1
Mile Redemption, voyagez une fois et de profitez
des récompenses immédiatement.
• Disponibilité à tout instant - tous les sièges sur un
vol, y compris le dernier, sont disponibles à tout
moment. Échangez vos miles pour les open seats
à un coût equivalent au prix commercial du siege
par kilométrique sur n’importe quels vols Etihad
Airways.
• Le plus grand choix – échangez vos miles contre
des billets d’avion, des produits ou services
en utilisant la boutique exclusive Etihad Guest
Reward Shop.
• Un réseau étendu – échangez et accumulez des
points sur plus de 3000 destinations à travers le
monde, avec Etihad Airways et ses partenaires,
dont Air Berlin, Virgin Australia et American
Airlines.
• Par ailleurs, en tant que membres d’Etihad
Guest, nos clients peuvent obtenir
automatiquement et échanger leurs milles
avec l’ensemble de ses partenaires à travers
son réseau mondial qui comprend des chaînes
hôtelières internationales, les compagnies de
location de voitures et les boutiques, ainsi que
15 compagnies aériennes.
Guest Programme
Ce statut permet de devenir membre permanent du
programme après avoir obtenu 500 miles.
Avantages
• Optenez des miles pour chaque voyage
• Echanges de miles contre des billets d’avion/
surclassement /kilos
• Échangez vos miles pour les open seats à un
coût equivalent au prix commercial du siege
par kilométrique sur n’importe quels vols Etihad
Airways.
Silver
Avantages
• Liste d’attente prioritaire
• Accés au salon
• 10 kgs d’excédent de bagages
•
•
•
•
La sélection de sièges selon disponibilité
25% de bonus sur les miles
Gagnez des miles pour chaque voyage
Echanges de miles contre des billets d’avion/
surclassement /kilos
Gold Tier
Avantages
• Priorité au Check-In
• Accès au Salon
• Embarquement prioritaire
• Trace rapide immigration/bagage
• 50% de bonus sur les miles
• Gagnez des miles pour chaque voyage
• Echanges de miles contre des billets d’avion
/ surclassement /kilos
• Sélection de siège selon la disponibilité
Gold Elite Tier
Avantages
• Priorité au Check-In
• Accès au Salon
• Embarquement prioritaire
• Trace rapide immigration/bagage
• 75% de bonus sur les miles
• Gagnez des miles pour chaque voyage
• Echanges de miles contre des billets d’avion
/surclassement /kilos
• Sélection de siège selon la disponibilité
Pour plus d’informations appelez-nous au +248 4391069/4381016/4391366 / www.airseychelles.com/guest
Green Corner
Vallée de Mai
30 years of discovery
Text courtesy of Seychelles Islands Foundation in collaboration with Air Seychelles.
Photo © Camerapix
S
ince the arrival of the early explorers to the Seychelles,
the Vallée de Mai has inspired wonder and amazement
in all those who visit. Named the ‘Garden of Eden’ by
General Gordon in 1881, this prehistoric forest has long
been a place of discovery and adventure. Part of a global network
of natural and cultural heritage sites under the umbrella of UNESCO
(United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization)
the majestic Vallée de Mai was recognised as an area that needed
protection as early as 1966 when it was declared a nature reserve by
the Seychelles government. 2013 was a historic year for the Vallée
de Mai when it celebrated its 30th anniversary as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site on 9th December.
Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), a public trust, manages both
Seychelles UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the Vallée de Mai has
been under the protection of SIF since 1989. Known as the ‘Green
Heart’ of Praslin, the Vallée de Mai has literally stepped out of the
shadows in the past 30 years. Although famed for the Coco de
Mer and Black Parrot, this ancient forest’s secrets are starting to be
unearthed with ongoing research finding many treasures. In 2009, a
new species of frog was uncovered in the Vallée de Mai which occurs
only on the island of Praslin. In the same year a forgotten species
of chameleon, that was lost to science for nearly 200 years, was
re-discovered in the forest. One of the largest gecko species in the
world, the Giant Bronze Gecko, was described just 10 years ago and
is found only in this palm forest, making it one of the world’s rarest
reptiles. In addition to this, an array of plants and animals has been
studied increasing our knowledge of the many unique species that
make up this mysterious palm forest.
There have been many achievements over the past 30 years but
despite this the Vallée de Mai is still in danger. Poaching
of the beautiful and valuable Coco de Mer nuts puts
With
the future regeneration of the forest in peril, and
enhanced visitor
services and effective endemic plant species fight for space with virulent
invasive plants threatening the native biodiversity
conservation
management the Vallée of the site. Firm action has been taken against
these threats with an EC funded project tackling
de Mai has become
a world class tourist the invasive plant species and an expanded
environmental education programme growing the
attraction.
conservationists of the future. With enhanced visitor
services and effective conservation management the Vallée
de Mai has become a world class tourist attraction. Seychelles’
number one visitor attraction, a visit to the Vallée de Mai is like a
step back in time, to a world where dinosaurs roamed the earth.
A ‘must do’ for any visitor to Seychelles!
After 30 successful years, what is next for the Vallée de Mai? With
such a rich wealth of biodiversity that we are only just beginning
to understand, the next 30 years will surely bring a great deal
more research to help us to protect and manage the splendour
of this forest. Alongside this, collaborative projects with the local
community will ensure that there are ‘forest custodians’ for many
years to come.
Green Corner
Photos courtesy of S4S
Clean
Keeping Seychelles
Contributed by Uvicka Bristol for Sustainability for Seychelles
V
isitors to Seychelles often comment on the natural beauty and
cleanliness of our small island country. Seychellois are also proud of
the beauty of our islands, and of our commitment to environmental
protection. According to international environmental consultant Steve
Raaymakers, Seychelles has one of the best organised waste collection systems
of all small island states in the world. Most roadsides and beaches are cleaned by
contractors on a daily basis.
However, as Seychelles continues to develop to accommodate the growing
population and tourism industry, waste management is becoming an increasingly
challenging problem. More goods are being imported into the country than ever
before and all of these goods arrive well-encased in packaging: plastics, polystyrene,
carton boxes, glass bottles, plastic bottles etc. Most of the packaging ends up in
the landfill, and the goods themselves do too, once they come to the end of their
useful life.
The government of Seychelles, recently launched a new waste policy to address
this growing mound of waste; the policy vision is that ‘solid waste is sustainably
managed and results in an improved quality of life for the population, protection of
the environment, and increased economic activity.’ This can only be achieved with
the full participation of all sectors of society: government, the private sector and
civil society. The tourism sector also needs to be fully engaged – not only the hotels,
restaurants and other tourism-related establishments, but even visitors to our islands.
The major challenge faced in regards to waste management for small islands like
Seychelles is the limited space for landfills. The best way to properly manage waste
is to control the amount and type that we import and produce. There are several
types of rubbish that are collected and exported to be recycled such as PET bottles,
aluminium cans and scrap metals. Other than that, most of our waste goes to
the landfills. This is why the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle implementation is given
so much importance.
Even if your stay in Seychelles is a short one, as a
visitor, there is so much you can do to help in our
aim to sustainably manage waste! Here are some
simple eco tips that you can follow to reduce the
amount of waste that you send to our landfill.
1 When travelling, a lighter load is always better!
The lighter the load, the less the waste.
2 Be diligent! Recycle your plastic bottles and
aluminium cans (you can just place them next to
the normal bin and someone will collect them for
recycling).
3 Avoid plastic bags, buy a reusable bag and use it
for all your shopping.
4 Take your batteries home with you if you have a
hazardous waste program back home.
5 Get involved! Ask your hotel if they are
participating in any local waste management
programs and advise them on how they could
adopt more eco-friendly practices! Tell them to
check out www.s4seychelles.com for tips what can
and cannot be recycled in Seychelles.
6 When out exploring or on the beach, use the
bins along roadsides and beaches to dispose your
rubbish. If you don’t see a bin, hang on to your
rubbish until you find one.
Seychelles is a popular tourism destination and to keep it
beautiful, every effort counts! If you notice any littering
or illegal dumping please contact our Greenline on
2722111. Contact Sustainability for Seychelles on info@
s4seychelles.com if you have any ideas or suggestions on
how we can better reduce, re-use or recycle waste.
Guest
Feedback
1
“We found Meryl and Williana
extremely helpful and friendly.
What a joy to have these hostesses
serving you.Yes, Friendly doing what
they have to do with an open friendly
face that clearly states that they
enjoy serving you. Nice hostesses,
explaining and telling you all you want
to know, creating a very positive and
happy atmosphere in the plane.”
2
“We are so sad that we cannot
fly with Air Seychelles anymore.
Air Seychelles was the best airline in
the past to get to Mahé. The service
onboard has been very chic and very
good. The staffs were friendly and
kind. The partnership with Etihad is
good but the service Etihad BerlinAuh Dhabi was bad. The service
AUH-SEZ was very good. My opinion
is that it would be better in the
future to fly from Frankfurt directly
to Mahé only with Air Seychelles.”
3
“We had a great flight and some
wonderful crew. Very nice and
helpful. Hope to be back onboard
soon.”
4
8
“I am back in Seychelles after a long
business trip and I hasten to say
thank you for the excellent service and
attention I received from your cabin crew
during my previous travel from Abu Dhabi
to Seychelles on 6 March 2014 on the Air
Seychelles A330-200 Flight HM 019. I
reckon passengers are often more prone to
report shortcomings and incidents but I feel
that when the job is neatly done, it warrants
a word of appreciation. The entire crew was
so affable and cordial during a long waiting
time on the Abu Dhabi airport tarmac and
during the travel on that day that I must
commend all its members to you. This
solicitude was even more appreciated as the
airport had a crisis day due to failure in the
landing systems which caused much delay.
In such a combusted atmosphere, the crew
members responded with a very professional
and friendly posture. As a frequent traveller
and Gold Card holder on Air Seychelles,
I thought it was my duty to share these
feelings with you. I have even taken the
pain to search for the names of the entire
crew and I am pleased to list them. Cynthia
Berlouis, Jemmy Edmond, Natasha Pillay,
Meryl Jean, Julia Gamatis, Juan Nourrice,
Verma Mondon, Vanessa Emile and Teressa
Balisa.
9
“We find your service always
friendly helpful and very
accommodating. I had the privilege
of getting very schanmangled and
flabbergasted by your awesome
service. Congratulations to the
happy couple you assisted in getting
engaged. I am really looking forward
to flying with you guys again.”
“I would like to compliment the team who
was working onboard HM061.The service
provided was excellent and as a Seychellois
flying with the Air Seychelles Airline I
feel proud. I would like to make a special
mention for Kevin Laporte for his Excellent
Service and I am forever grateful for his
exceptional service and treatment. Keep up
the good work.”
5
10
“Nous tenons a vous remercie
pour la grande gentilesse du
personnel de bord pendant tout le vol
et la grande qualite du service et en
particulier de Anielle.merci encore. A
bientot nous esperons..”
6
“Air Seychelles has definitely
improved. Great service.Great
flight. Great hospitality. Hoping that
the next flight will be enjoyable.”
7
“Just two lines to let you know
that I’m very happy with the
outcome of the meeting I had with
your ground staff recently. I’m
pleased to see that the ground staff
can match the professionalism of
the Pearl Class cabin crew on board
the airline we love to fly.”
“Service was done with
professionalism with an air of
friendliness prevailing at all times. Keep up
the good work.”
11
“Hello Air Seychelles. Thanks for the
great service especially from Lisa,
Andrya, Nicollette, Joella and Sabrina.
They were all super. Thanking all your
Cabin Crew as they are the best.”
12
“Just a short note to say how much
we enjoyed flying Air Seychelles,
having the extra sports allowance was
with another airline from Cape Town, and
their method was not client friendly or
helpful. We had the extra bonus of being
upgraded, and we flew business class to
the Seychelles. What an early Christmas
Present!”
13
My wife and I would like to express
our thanks and appreciation for the
high quality in-flight service experienced
on flight HM061/11 Feb’14 and HM061/16
Feb’14. As internal customers travelling
J/Class, we were impressed with the
performance of your cabin staff. The
professionalism in combination with
creole warmth service delivered by the
team of Mervin Arrisol on HM061 notably
Michael Agathine is commendable. On
the return flight HM060, Mona Henri and
team were very professional and tactful
in their approach to sort out a catering
issue which could run out of hands and
seriously impact on the service. They
remained connected with their guests
throughout the flight and I was proud to
note and felt the true creole warmth in
the service. Please extend our thanks and
appreciation to both team members as
they made us proud in truly saying “Air
Seychelles is a 4 Star Airline”. Keep up
the good work! ”
14
“Having flown with Air Seychelles
for many years, it is such a great
pleasure to be able to experience the
remarkable improvement in the airline.
I must make mention of the fantastic
service experience onboard a recent
flight HM 60 on 21 November 2013. In
particular, Vanessa Emilie and the entire
crew have delivered a truly world class
service, comparable to the very best
possible service in the airline industry.
Congratulations on creating a truly
remarkable turnabout on the entire
experience onboard Air Seychelles “
15
“The Seychelles was an exceptional
holiday, apart from the physical
beauty of the islands. We were so
impressed by the civic pride of each
individual. We also got the impression,
that other’s people possessions were
respected. Our son, so concerned, with
getting his fishing equipment onto the
aircraft, he left an envelope of dollars
on the counter, of the passport
control, only to realize his
mistake later. He went
back to the counter with a
quaking heart, only to find
it had been safely kept
untouched for him.We
will certainly recommend
Air Seychelles, and the
Seychelles for a very special
holiday.”
Your garden of Eden
Be there in
15 minutes
Praslin
Start your forever today when you fly to one
of our Island’s most idyllic and charming
location - Praslin. Say “I do” to getting there
faster with over 20* daily departures.
Charter services are also available upon request.
For more information and bookings call
+248 439 13 66 or contact your travel agent.
Mahé
H e a l t h y Tr a v e l l i n g
These gentle exercises, which you can carry out easily during your flight, will help blood circulation and reduce any
tiredness or stiffness that may result from sitting in one place for several hours. Check with your doctor first if you have
any health conditions which might be adversely affected by exercise.
Foot pumps:
Start with both heels on the
floor and point feet upward
as high as you can. Then put
both feet flat on the floor.
Then lift heels high, keeping
the balls of your feet on
the floor. Continue cycle in
30-second intervals.
Knee lifts:
Lift leg with knees bent while
contracting your thigh muscles.
Alternate legs. Repeat 20 to 30
times for each leg.
Forward flex:
With both feet on the floor
and stomach held in, slowly
bend forward and walk your
hands down the front of your
legs towards your ankles. Hold
the stretch for 15 seconds and
slowly sit back up.
Shoulder roll:
Hunch shoulders
forward, then upward,
then backward, then
downward, using a
gentle, circular motion.
Overhead stretch:
Raise both hands straight up
over your head. With one hand,
grasp the wrist of the opposite
hand and gently pull to one side.
Hold stretch for 15 seconds.
Repeat on the other side.
Shoulder stretch:
Reach right hand over left
shoulder. Place left hand
behind right elbow and
gently press elbow toward
shoulder. Hold stretch for 15
seconds. Repeat on the
other side.
Arm curl:
Start with arms held at a
90-degree angle: elbows
down, hands out in front.
Raise hands up to chest
and back down, alternating
hands. Do this exercise in
30-second intervals.
• For your own comfort try
and travel light.
• Wear loose clothing and
elasticated stockings made
of natural fibre.
Knee to chest:
Bend forward slightly.
Clasp hands around the
left knee and hug it to
your chest. Hold stretch
for 15 seconds. Keeping
hands around knee, slowly
let it down. Alternate legs.
Repeat 10 times.
OTHER TIPS FOR A
COMFORTABLE FLIGHT
Ankle circles:
Lift feet off the floor, draw a circle
with the toes, simultaneously
moving one foot clockwise and
the other foot counterclockwise.
Reverse circles. Do each direction
for 15 seconds. Repeat if desired.
Neck roll:
With shoulders relaxed, drop
ear to shoulder and gently
roll neck forward and to
the other side, holding each
position about five seconds.
Repeat five times.
• Increase your normal
intake of water and only if
need be, drink alcohol but in
moderation.
• Use moisturising cream to
keep your skin from drying out.
• Take off shoes in the plane
to prevent your feet from
swelling up or wear shoes
that will cope with expanding
ankles.
• Avoid heavy meals during
the flight.
• Short walks once every
two hours are excellent for
circulation.
• Try to touch your toes
when waiting in the aisle to
stretch your hamstrings.
• On arrival at your
destination, have a hot
shower or a relaxing bath.
• On arrival a quick jog, brisk
walk, or a vigorous scrub
will help stimulate your
circulation.
Air Seychelles disclaim any responsibility in the unlikely event that you may suffer an injury as a direct result of these gently exercises.
International Route Map
Codeshare Route Network
Fleet
Airbus A320
Wet-leased from
Etihad Airways
Business Class seats: 16
Economy seats: 120
Mauritius route only
Airbus A330-200
(Vallée de Mai, Aldabra)
Aircrafts: 2
Business Class seats: 18
Economy seats: 236
Maximum range: 4200 nm at maximum payload
Bird Island
Denis Island
Praslin Island
Fregate Island
Mahé Island
Domestic Route Map
Route Network
D’Arros Island
Desroches Island
Alphonse Island
IN DIAN
OCEAN
SHORTS 360-300
Aircraft: 1 •
Seat Capacity: Total 36
Range: 630 nautical miles (1,165.5 km)
DHC-6 (TWIN OTTER)
Aircraft: 4 •
Seat Capacity: Total 19
Range: 490 nautical miles ( 907.5 km)
Online Offices
South Africa
Capital: Pretoria
Languages: English, Afrikaans
Currency: Rand
Area: 1,221,037 km2
Population: 45,919,000
Air Seychelles destination: Johannesburg
Lu Dowell Representations, Greenstone Hill Office
Park Emerald Boulevard, Building 1, Unit F4.
Modderfontein, Edenvale, South Africa
Tel: (0027-11)-452-0244
Fax: 0866578741 or (0027-11) 781-2144
Email: [email protected]
Mauritius
Capital: Port Louis
Languages: French, English, Creole
Currency: Rupees
Area: 2,040 km2
Air Seychelles destination: Plaisance Airport
Rogers & Company Ltd, Rogers House 5
President John Kennedy Street
PO Box 60, Port Louis, Mauritius
Tel: (00230) 202 6671
Fax: (00230) 208 3540
United Arab Emirates
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Languages: Arabic, English
Currency: Emirati Dirham (AED)
Area: 83,600 km2
Population: 8, 264,070
Air Seychelles destination: Abu Dhabi
Omeir Travel Agency, Shk. Khalifa Street
PO Box 267
Abu Dhabi
Tel: (00971 2) 612 3470
Fax: (00971 2) 622 6799
Hong Kong
Capital: Hong Kong
Languages: Cantonese, English
Currency: Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
Area: 1,104 km2
Air Seychelles destination: Hong Kong
Walshe Group
Suite 906, Orient Tower 33 Lockhart Road
Wan chai
Hong Kong
Tel: 00852 3979 3488 or 00852 3979 3489
Wo r l d w i d e O f f i c e s
Seychelles
Air Seychelles Ltd,
PO Box 386
Victoria
Mahé, Seychelles
Tel: +248-439 10 00
Fax: +248-439 1005
Web: www.airseychelles.com
Dubai
Asian Air Travel and Tourism
PO Box 65006
Dubai
Tel: +971-4 286 8008
Fax: +971-4 283 2115
Mobile: +971-50 2244713
Qatar
Qatar Tours
PO Box 1683
Doha
Tel: +974-4411414/ 4436002/ 4419753
Fax: +974-4433 197/ 4351926
Taiwan
Aviation Travel Services Co Ltd
8fl.-1 no. 146 Sung Chiang Road
Taipei, Taiwan r.o.c.
Tel: +886- 2 2567 8956
Fax: +886- 2 2563 7596
General email: [email protected]
English-Creole
Hello
How are you?
I am well
Thank you
Very much
Goodbye
Hotel
Room
Bed
Food
Coffee
Beer
Cold
Hot
Tea
Meat
Fish
Bread
Butter
Sugar
Salt
Bad
Today
Tomorrow
Now
Quickly
Slowly
Hospital
Police
Mr.
Mrs.
Miss.
I
Bonzour
Konman Sava?
Byen Mersi
Mersi
Mersi bokou
orevwar
Lotel
Lasanm
Lili
Manze
Kafe
Labyer
Fre
So
Dite
Lavyan
Pwason
Dipen
Diber
Disik
Disel
Pa bon
Ozordi
Demen
Konmela
Vitman
Dousman
Lopital
Gard
Msye
Madanm
Manmzel
Mon
You’re welcome
Where do you come from
I come from.......
What is your name?
My name is....
Can you speak Kreol?
Only a little
I would like to learn more
How do you find Seychelles?
I like it here
The weather is hot, isn’t it?
Where are you going?
I am going to...
Please stop here
How much?
Wait a minute
I have to get change
Excuse me
Where is the toilet?
In the back
Where may I get a drink?
You
He, She
We
They
What?
Who?
Where?
When?
How?
Why?
Which?
Yes
No
To eat
To drink
To sleep
To bathe
To come
To go
To stop
To buy
To sell
Street/road
Airport
Shop
Money
Cent
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Pa dekwa
Kote ou sorti?
Mon sorti......
Ki mannyer ou apele?
Mon apel.....
Ou kabab koz Kreol?
Zis en pe
Mon oule apran ankor
Ki mannyer ou war Sesel?
Mon kontan isi Sesel
Letan i so, wi?
Kote ou pe ale?
Mon pe al......
Aret isi silvouple
Konbyen?
Esper mwan en pti moman
Fodre mon ganny larzan sanze
Ekskize
Kote kabinen i ete sivouple?
Deryer lakour
Kote mon kapab ganny en
keksoz pou bwar?
Ou
Li
Nou
Zot
Kwa? /Ki?
Ki? /Lekel?
Kote?
Kan?
Ki mannyer?
Akoz?
Lekel?
Wi
Non
Manze
Bwar
Dormir
Bennyen/Naze
Vini
Ale
Arete
Aste
Vann
Lari/Semen
Erport
Laboutik
Larzan
Sou
Enn
De
Trwa
Kat
Senk
Sis
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
Twenty-two
Twenty-three
Twenty-four
Twenty-five
Thirty
Forty
Fifty
Sixty
Seventy
Eighty
Ninety
One hundred
Where is the hotel?
Good morning
Good afternoon
Good evening
Please come in
Please sit down
How much does this cost?
That’s quite expensive
Help!
No, thanks
Please
You’re welcome
No problem
Ok
That’s right!
A little bit
Is everything ok?
Not now
Attention/watch out!
We are looking for...
I’m very thirsty
I am hungry
Where are we?
How old are you?
What do you need?
What do they call that in Creole?
How do they say... in creole?
Set
Wit
Nef
Dis
Onz
Douz
Trez
Katorz
Kenz
Sez
Diset
Dizwit
Diznef
Ven
Venteen
Vennde
Venntwa
Vennkat
Vennsenk
Trant
Karant
Senkant
Swasant
Swasanndis
Katreven
Katrevendis
San
Kote lotel i ete silvouple?
Bonzour
Bonnapremidi
Bonswar
Antre silvouple
Asize silvouple
Konbyen i vann?
I ase ser
Ed mwan! / O Sekour!
Non, mersi
Silvouple
Pa-de-kwa
Napa problenm
oke
Wi i bien!
Piti piti
Tou keksoz i oke?
Pa kounye-a
Atansyon!
Nou pe rod
Mon swaf
Mon lafen
Kote nou ete?
Ki laz ou anan?
Ki ou bezwen?
Koman zot dir sa an Kreol?
Koman zot dir an Kreol ?
Tr a v e l Fa c t s
Currency
Language
The Seychelles Rupee (SCR1 = 100 cents). Notes SCR 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500.
Coins SCR 1, 5 and Cents 1, 5, 10, 25. Most credit cards and travellers’ cheques
are accepted. There is no restriction on the import and export of domestic and
foreign currency in the country. Banks and Bureaux de Change are authorised
dealers in foreign currency. For rates of exchange contact authorised dealers for
which information can be otained on Central Bank’s website at www.cbs.sc
Creole, English and French are the official languages of the Seychelles.
Restaurant bills normally include a service charge. Although not widely
expected, tips are warmly received for personal service.
Clothes
Credit Cards
American Express, Mastercard, Diners Club and Visa cards are widely accepted.
Time
Seychelles is four hours ahead of GMT and three hours ahead of Central
European Time.
Public Holidays
New Year
Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday
Labour Day
Liberation Day
National Day
Corpus Christi
Independence Day
Assumption Day, (festival on La Digue)
All Saints Day
Immaculate Conception
Christmas
Tipping
January 1
April 18, 20 & 21
May 1
June 5
June 18
June 19
June 29
August 15
November 1
December 8
December 25
Climate
26°-29° C all year round. Annual rainfall totals approximately 90 inches, with
heavy showers between November and February. As the Islands lie beyond the
cyclone belt, high winds and thunderstorms are rare.
Electricity
Very casual. For men, shorts and T-shirts during the day, and slacks for
evening. Jackets and ties are rarely worn. For women, cotton wrap-arounds
or shorts for daytime, cool dresses for evening wear.
Transport:
An efficient bus service operates on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue between
0530-1900. Taxis are available and cars can also be hired on Mahé and
Praslin and bicycles on La Digue. A valid international license is required
for self-driving. Air Seychelles operates flights between Mahé and Praslin
throughout the day. Charter flights are also operated to other islands. An
inter-island ferry service operates daily between the islands of Mahé, Praslin
and La Digue. L’Air Dezil operates a shuttle service between Mahé, Praslin
and La Digue and other islands.
Customs
Duty Free items are permitted for up to:
- 200 millilitres of Perfume and Eau de Toilette.
- 2 litres of beverages with less than 16% alcohol i.e beer, wine.
- 2 litres of beverages with more than 16% alcohol i.e whisky, gin, rum etc.
- 250 grammes of tobacco or 200 cigarettes.
- Personal goods worth SCR 5000 for adults and SCR 3000 for under 18 years.
For more information visit www.src.gov.sc
Accommodation
Tourist Information
Seychelles offers a variety of accommodation, from international resorts
and medium-sized hotels with all facilities to guest houses, lodges and
chalets on the smaller islands. Camping is not allowed.
The Seychelles Tourist Office is located in Independence House,
Victoria, Mahé.
Sports and Watersports
240 volts AC 50 Hz. Adaptors are provided by hotels.
Emergency Services
The Emergency number for fire, police or ambulance is 999.
Victoria Hospital: 4388000.
Medical Services
Victoria has a large and efficient hospital and most islands have health clinics.
Some hotels provide duty nurses. Private doctors are available on call at all
hotels – contact reception.
Many hotels have excellent facilities for watersports centres offering a wide
range of activities. Some also have dive centres and tennis courts. There
is an 18-hole golf course at Lemuria Resort on Praslin and Seychelles Golf
Course, a 9-hole golf course at Anse aux Pins, Mahé.
Museums and Libraries
The central office in Victoria is open from 0800-1600 Monday-Friday and
0800-1200 Saturday.
The History Museum is situated on Francis Rachel Street, Victoria in the
National Library Building. The Natural History Museum is situated on
Independence Avenue, Victoria near to the Post Office. Kenwyn House
directly opposite the main entrance to the National Library on Francis
Rachel Street is one of the best preserved 19th century buildings of Victoria,
renovated in 2005.
Telecommunications
Shopping
Post Office
Cable & Wireless Seychelles (CWS), the islands leading communications provider,
is the operator of choice across mobile (3G+), broadband and fixed services. As
a subsidiary of Cable & Wireless Communications PLC (listed on the LSE), the
company delivers first rate business and consumer solutions including turnkey
solutions for major international investors. CWS’ mission is “To provide world
class communication services and solutions wherever and whenever people work,
play and have fun”. No one knows Seychelles better.
Telecom (Sey) Ltd, AIRTEL. Provider of Mobile GSM Telecom Services with
3G & Edge Network, Mobile broadband Data Services for High Speed Internet
Access. Roaming with over 200 operators worldwide. Prepaid starter kits &
recharge options available at Airtel Centres in Victoria, Providence, Praslin &
selected retail outlets on main islands. Coverage on Mahè, Praslin, La Digue,
Inner Islands, Fregate & Coetivy.
Local handicrafts include basketware, table-mats, hats, jewellery
and paintings. Shops are open from 0800-1700 hours Monday-Friday and
0800-1200 hours Saturday. Some open Sunday morning.
Restaurants
A range of cuisine is also available, from traditional Creole and French
cuisine to Chinese. In addition to hotels and restaurants, several take-away
outlets can be found in Victoria.
Nightlife
Most hotels offer programmes for evening entertainment ranging from
barbecues and dinner dances to folk singing. There are two cinemas in Victoria.
Theatrical productions are sometimes staged in Creole, English and French.
Informations Utiles
Devise
Une roupie seychelloise = 100 sous. Il existe des billets de 10, 25, 50 , 100 et
500. Il existe de la monnaie à 1 et 5 roupies, 1, 5, 10 et 25 sous. La majorité
des cartes de crédit et des chèques de voyage sont acceptés. Il n’y a pas de
restriction sur l’importation et l’exportation de devises étrangères et locales
dans le pays. Les banques et les bureaux de change sont autorisés pour toutes
les transactions en devises étrangères. En ce qui concerne les taux d’échange,
prenez contact avec les courtiers autorisés qui obtiennent leurs informations
de la Banque Centrale ; site web : www.cbs.sc
Cartes de crédit
Les cartes American Express, Mastercard, Diners Club et Visa sont
généralement acceptées.
Décalage horaire
Les Seychelles ont trois heures d’avance sur Paris.
Jours fériés
Nouvel An1 janvier
Vendredi saint, Dimanche de Pâques
18, 20 & 21 avril
Fête du travail
1 mai
Jour de la Libération
5 juin
Fête Nationale
18 juin
Fête Dieu
19 juin
Fête de l’Indépendance
29 juin
Fête de l’Assomption (La Digue)
15 août
Toussaint1 novembre
Immaculée Conception
8 décembre
Noël25 décembre
Climat
Entre 26 et 29 degrés Celcius, tout au long de l’année. Saison des pluies
entre novembre et février (env. 200mm de précipitation). Les Seychelles
étant hors de la zone des cyclones, les tempêtes sont rares.
Electricité
Courant alternatif 240 volts.
Les hôtels mettent des adaptateurs à disposition.
Information Touristique
Langues
Le créole, l’anglais et le français sont les langues officielles des Seychelles.
Pourboires
Le service est compris dans la plupart des restaurants. Bien qu’ils ne
soient pas obligatoires, les pourboires sont toujours reçus avec un grand
sourire.
Tenue vestimentaire
Décontractée. Pour les hommes le port du short et du T-shirt la journée
et du pantalon le soir. Pour les dames le port du short ou d’une jupe en
coton la journée et robe légère le soir.
Transport :
Un service de bus efficace fonctionne sur Mahé, Praslin et La Digue entre 5h.30
et 19 heures. Des taxis et des voitures en location sont aussi disponibles sur
Mahé et sur Praslin et des bicyclettes peuvent être louées sur La Digue.Un
permis valable de conduite international est exigé en cas de location de voiture
sans chauffeur.
Air Seychelles fournit des vols entre Mahé et Praslin durant la journée. Des
vols charter sont aussi organisés vers les autres îles. Un service de ferry interîles fonctionne aussi entre les îles de Mahé, Praslin et La Digue. L’ »Air Dezil »
propose aussi une navette entre Mahé, Praslin, La Digue et d’autres îles.
Les produits hors-taxe sont limités à :
- 200 ml de parfum et eau de toilette
- 2 litres de boisson contenant moins de 16% d’alcool, par ex. la bière, le vin.
- 2 litres de boisson contenant plus de 16% d’alcool, par ex. le whisky, le gin, le rhum etc.
- 250 grammes de tabac ou 200 cigarettes.
- des biens personnels pour une valeur de 5.000 Rs par adulte et de 3.000 Rs pour les jeunes de moins de 18 ans. Pour plus d’informations, visitez notre site: www.src.gov.sc
Hébergement
Les Seychelles disposent d’une grande diversité d’hébergement – allant
des hôtels de grande, moyenne et petite capacité aux “lodges”, chalets et
bungalows sur les plus petites îles.
Sports et sports nautiques
Urgences
Beaucoup d’hôtels ont d’excellents centres de sports nautiques offrant une
large gamme d’activités. Certains ont également des clubs de plongée et
des courts de tennis. Il y a un golf de18 trous à l’hôtel Lémuria à Praslin, et
le Seychelles Golf Course, un neuf trous à Anse aux Pins, à Mahé.
Pour toutes urgences (ambulance, police, pompiers),
il faut composer le 999. Victoria Hôpital: 4388000.
Museums et librairies
L’office du tourisme est situé à L’Independence House à Mahé.
Services médicaux
Victoria est dotée d’un hôpital tandis que la plupart des îles possèdent une
clinique. Certains grands hôtels ont un service d’infirmerie.
Bureau de poste
Les heures d’ouverture du bureau de poste à Victoria sont: de 8:00h à
16:00h, du lundi au vendredi et de 8:00h à 12:00h le samedi.
Télécommunications
Cable & Wireless Seychelles (CWS), le principal opérateur de
télécommunications de l’archipel, propose des services de téléphonie
fixe, mobile (3G+) et internet (ADSL). En tant que filiale du Groupe Cable
& Wireless Communications PLC (coté à la bourse de Londres), la société
offre des prestations innovantes pour les entreprises et les particuliers,
ainsi que des solutions intégrées pour les grands comptes internationaux.
Notre mission est “de fournir des solutions et services parmi les meilleurs
au monde, partout et pour chaque instant de la vie”. Personne ne connaît
mieux les Seychelles que nous.
Telecom (Sey) Ltd, Airtel propose des Réseaux GSM, 3G, et Edge avec
couverture intérieure/extérieur dans les îles de Mahè, Praslin, La Digue,
Frégate et Coetivy. Des cartes de téléphone cellulaires sont disponibles
dans les bureaux d’Airtel et des locaux spécifiques. L’accès au réseau
‘roaming‘ avec plus de 200 opérateurs internationales.
Le Musée d’Histoire est situé dans la rue Francis Rachel, à Victoria, dans le
bâtiment de la Bibliothèque Nationale. Le Museum d’Histoire Naturelle
est situé dans la rue de l’indépendance, à Victoria, près du bureau de
Poste. Kenwyn House, en face de l’entrée principale de la Bibliothèque
Nationale dans la rue Francis Rachel, est l’un des bâtiments du 19ème
siècle les mieux préservés à Victoria. Il fut rénové en 2005.
Shopping
L’artisanat local offre des travaux en fibre (chapeaux, paniers etc.) en
coquillages, en nacre ou encore en or (bijoux et objets décoratifs) ainsi
que des œuvres d’artistes locaux. Les heures d’ouverture des magasins sont
de 8:00h à 17:00h du lundi au vendredi et de 8:00h à 12:00h le samedi.
Certains commerces restent ouverts le dimanche matin.
Restaurants
Les Seychelles offrent une cuisine variée: créole et internationale. En dehors
des établissements hôteliers et des restaurants, des services traiteurs sont à
votre disposition à Mahé (Victoria) ainsi qu’à Praslin.
Vie nocturne
La plupart des hôtels organisent des spectacles nocturnes: danses
traditionnelles, dîners dansant ou barbecues sur la plage. Il y a deux
cinémas à Victoria. Régulièrement, des pièces de théâtre en français, en
anglais et en créole sont à l’affiche. Il existe aussi des boîtes
de nuit à Victoria et Beau Vallon ainsi qu’à Praslin.
Dining Out
A LA CARTE
Al Mare Restaurant Beau Vallon
Tel: +248 462 02 40 / 251 21 17 /
251 21 13
INDIAN
Mahék Indian Restaurant
Coral Strand Hotel
Tel: +248 462 10 00
CREOLE
Anse Soleil Cafe
Anse Soleil, Mahé
Tel: +248 436 17 00
Berjaya Beau Vallou
Tel: +248 428 72 87
Boat House
Beau Vallon Mahé
Tel: +248 424 78 98
Mobile: +248 251 0898
Cap Lazare
Tel: +248 428 01 00 / 252 46 42
Chez Batista Restaurant
Takamaka, Mahé
Tel: +248 436 63 00
Domaine Du Soleil Restaurant
Tel: +248 428 55 55
Katiolo
Anse Faure
Tel: +248 4375 453
Fishtail Restaurant
Tel: 4322214
Le Marinier Restaurant
Inter Island Quay Victoria, Mahé
Tel: +248 422 49 37
Le Reduit Restaurant
Tel: +248 436 61 16 / 436 62 25
Marie Antoinette Restaurant
Serret Road St Louis
Tel: +248 426 62 22
News Cafe
1st floor, Trinity House Victoria, Mahé
Tel: +248 432 29 99
CHINESE
Le Canton Chinese Restaurant
Berjaya Beau Vallon
Tel: +248 428 72 87
The Wok Chinese Restaurant
Coco D’or Hotel
Tel: +248 424 73 31
GOURMET
Cyann “Signature Cousine”
Constance Ephilia Resort
Tel: +248 4395 001
Maia Restaurant
Luxury Resort Spa
Tel: +248 4390 000
Chilli Bar & Steakhouse
La Louise
Tel: +248 4344 155
Zez Restaurant
Four Seasons Resort
Tel: +248 4393 000 ext. 1902
Maharajas Restaurant
Tel: +248 434 68 69
SOUTH ASIAN
Kannel
Four Seasons Resort
Tel: +248 4393 000 ext. 1902
JAPANESE
Teppanyaki
Berjaya Beau Vallon
Bay Beach Resort & Casino
Tel: +248 428 72 87
INTERNATIONAL/CREOLE
Anchor Cafe
Anse a la Mouche, Mahé
Tel: +248 437 12 89
Au Jardin D’Epices
Banyan Tree Seychelles
Tel: +248 438 35 00
Aubergine Restaurant
The Wharf Hotel &
Marina Providence, Mahé
Tel: +248 467 07 00
Le Jardin des palmes
Tel: 248 438 91 00
Baobab Pizzeria Restaurant
Beau Vallon, Mahé
Tel: +248 424 71 67 / 258 38 68
Beach Side Bistro
Coral Strand Hotel
Tel: +248 429 10 00
Bel Air Restaurant
Tel: +248 422 44 16 /46 16
Bravo
Eden Island
Tel: +248 4346 020
BoardWalk Bar & Grill
Eden island Marina
Tel: 248 251 57 86
Carefree Guesthouse & Restaurant
Anse Aux Pins Mahé
Tel: +248 437 52 37
Chez Plume Resturant
Tel: +248 435 50 50
Docklands Pizzeria
New Port -Victoria
Tel: +248 4610 888
Doubleclick Seychelles
Maison La-Rosiere Palm Street
Tel: +248 461 05 90
La Voliere
Mahé Beach Resort
Tel: +248 438 53 85
Helios Restaurant
Constance Ephelia Resort
Tel: +248 4395 140
Lazare Picault Restaurant
Lazare Picault Hotel
Tel: +248 436 11 11
Kaz Zanana
Revolution Avenue
Tel: +248 4324150
Le Bourgeois Restaurant
Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove
Tel: +248 467 70 00
Konoba Restaurant Bar Launge
Angel Fish Bayside Marina
Tel: +248 4345 400,
La Scala Restaurant
Tel: +248 424 75 35
The Sea Shell
Port Launay
Tel: +248 4324026/2523968
Uncle Will’s Pizzeria
Coco D’or Hotel
Tel: +248 424 73 31
Lounge 8
Vista bay Glacis, Mahe
Mobile: +248 2746808
Green Valley
Anse aux Pins
Tel: +248 437 1670
The Hilltop Restaurant
Hilton Seychelles
Tel: +248 429 90 00
Email: reservations@
thenortholmehotel.com
Jolie Rose 2 Restaurant
Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market
Tel: +248 422 54 51
Kaz Kreol Restaurant
Anse Royale Mahé
Tel: +248 436 16 80
La Belle epoque
Eden Plaza
Tel: +248 434 67 65
La Cocoteraie Restaurant
Le Meridien Barbarons Hotel
Tel: +248 467 30 00
Email: reservation.barbarons@
lemeridien.sc
Le Cardinal Restaurant
Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove
Tel: +248 467 70 00
Le Jardin du Roi
Domaine de L’enfoncement Anse Royale
Tel: +248 437 13 13
Le Mangrovia Restaurant
Le Meridien Barbarons
Tel: +248 467 30 00
Le Rendez Vous Restaurant
Tel: +248 432 35 56
Le Surmer Restaurant
Le Surmer Hotel Pointe Conan, Mahé
Tel: +248 424 18 11
Les Cocotiers Restaurant
Tel: +248 429 90 00
Maia
Luxury Resort & Spa
Tel: +248 4390 000
Manresa Restaurant
Manresa Small Hotel
Tel: +248 424 13 88
Montezuma Restaurant
Mahé Beach Resort
Tel: +248 438 53 85
The Parrot
Berjaya Beau Vallon
Tel: +248 428 72 87
The Board Walk Lounge & Bar
Eden Island
Tel: +248 443 63 03
La Palma Restaurant
Coco D’or Hotel
Tel: +248 424 73 31
The Havana
Eden Plaza
Tel: +248 441 13 18
La Plaine St Andre
Tel: +248 4372010
Pirates Arms
Tel: +248 422 50 01
La Plage Restaurant
Beau Vallon Beach
Tel: +248 4620240
Pizzeria Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay
Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino
Tel: +248 428 72 87
La Perle Noire Restaurant
Beau Vallon
Tel: +248 462 02 20
Porto Cervo
Eden Plaza
Tel: +248 261 20 25
Diner a l Extérieur
Saffron
Banyan Tree Seychelles
Tel: +248 438 35 00
Sam’s Pizzeria
Tel: +248 432 24 99 / 32 34 95
Seselwa Bar
Constance Ephilia Resort
Tel: +248 4395182
Sea View Restaurant
Coral Strand
Tel: 248 421000
Sey si bon
Eden Plaza
Tel: +248 434 6833 / +248 251 5591
www.sesibon.com
Silhouette Restaurant
Sunset Beach Resort
Tel: +248 426 11 11
Skychef Ltd
Seychelles International Airport
Tel: +248 438 17 63
Sundown Restaurant
Port Glaud, Mahé
Tel: +248 437 83 52/ 25 88 999
Surfers beach restaurant
Anse Parnell
Tel: +248 278 3703/ 437 11 00
Takamaka Restaurant
Tel: +248 437 20 10
The Sea Shell
Port Launay
Tel: +248 4324026/ 2523968
Tyfoo Restaurant
La Plaine St. Andre Au cap, Mahé
Tel: +248 437 14 85
Vye Marmit
Domaine de Val de
Pres Au Cap, Mahé
Tel: +248 437 61 55 / 437 61 00
Zez Lounge
Four Seasons Resort
Tel: +248 4393222
RESTAURANTS – PRASLIN
CREOLE
Capricorn Restaurant
Islanders Guesthouse
Anse Kerlan, Praslin
Tel: +248 423 32 24
Coco Rouge
Baie Ste Anne, Praslin
Tel: +248 423 22 28
Le Chevalier Bay Restaurant
Anse Lazio, Praslin
Tel: +248 423 23 22
Les Lauriers Restaurant
Les Lauriers Petit Hotel
Cote D’or, Praslin
Tel: +248 423 22 41
Acajou Hotel Restaurant
Tel: +248 423 24 00
Beach Bar and Grill
Lemuria Resort Anse Kerlan, Praslin
Tel: +248 428 10 91
Beach Bar Restaurant
Acajou Hotel Cote D’or, Praslin
Tel: +248 423 24 00
Black Parrot Restaurant
Black Parrot Suites
Tel: +248 429 05 55
Bonbon Plume
Anse Lazio, Praslin
Tel: +248 423 21 36
Bonm Ange
Hotel L’Archipel Anse
Tel: +248 428 47 00
Britannia Restaurant
Britannia Hotel Grand Anse, Praslin
Tel: +248 423 32 15 / 423 39 15
Chateau de Feuilles
Pointe Cabris, Praslin
Tel: +248 429 00 00
Feuille d’Or
Hotel L’Archipel Anse
Gouvernement, Praslin
Tel: +248 428 47 00
The Fregate
Berjaya Praslin Beach
Tel: +248 428 62 86
The Britannia
Grand Anse
Tel: +248 423 32 15
Hibiscus Restaurant
Coco de Mer Hotel
Tel: +248 429 05 55
Indian Ocean Lodge
Grand Anse, Praslin
Tel: +248 423 33 24 / 23 34 57
The Jetty Restaurant
La Reserve Hotel Anse
Petite Cour, Praslin
Tel: +248 429 80 00
Kannel restaurant
Four Seasons Resort Seychelles
Tel: +248 4393222
Le Beach Restaurant
Paradise Sun Hotel Anse Volbert, Praslin
Tel: +248 429 32 93
Le Dauphin
Hotel Le Duc de Praslin
Tel: +248 429 48 00
Le Kato Noir
Palm Beach Hotel Grande
Anse, Praslin
Tel: +248 429 02 90/429 02 92
Legend Restaurant
Lemuria Resort Anse
Tel: +248 428 10 88
Octopus Diving Center
Berjaya Praslin Beach Hotel
Anse Volbert, Praslin
Tel: +248 423 22 22
Mobile: +248 271 54 41
Pool Deck Restaurant
Lemuria Resort Anse
Tel: +248 428 10 88
Pool Grill Restaurant
La Reserve Anse Petit Cour, Praslin
Tel: +248 429 80 00
Port Side Cafe
Baie Ste. Anne Jetty, Praslin
Tel: +248 277 35 18
Sea Horse Restaurant & Bar
Lemuria Resort Anse Kerlan, Praslin
Tel: +248 428 12 81
Tante Mimi Restaurant
Tel: +248 423 25 00
Touchdown Restaurant
Amitie Airport Praslin
Tel: +248 423 36 55
Village de Pecheur
Praslin
Tel: +248 423 20 00
RESTAURANTS LA DIGUE
CREOLE
Bernique
Anse Reunion
Tel: +248 423 42 29
Patatran Restaurant
Patatran Village Anse Patates, La Digue
Tel: +248 429 43 00
Tournesol
Tournesol Guesthouse La Passe, La Digue
Tel: +248 423 41 55
Zerof Restaurant
Anse Reunion, La Digue
Tel: +248 423 44 39
Cafe Le Monde
Grand Anse
Tel: +248 278 11 21/ 252 03 11
Cafe Le Monde
Baie St Anne
Tel: +248 423 21 11
Chateau St Cloud
La Passe, La Digue
Tel: +248 423 43 46
La Vanille
Anse La Blague
Tel: +248 423 21 78
La Digue Island Lodge
Anse Reunion
Tel: +248 429 25 25
L’Ocean
Anse Patates
Tel: +248 423 43 33
Pool Side Restaurant
Tel: +248 429 25 25
Pecheur Restaurant
Tel: +248 429 25 25
Restaurant Le Dauphin
C/o Le de Praslin Hotel
Tel: +248 429 48 00
Restaurant Patatran
Hotel L’Ocean Anse Patates, La Digue
Tel: +248 429 43 00
Tarosa Restaurant
La Passe, La Digue
Tel: +248 423 44 07
PIZZERIA/CAFE-BAR
Gregoire’s comples
Tel: +248 429 25 25
SEA FOOD
Cafe Des Arts
Cote D’or
Tel: +248 429 48 00
Email: café@seychelles.net
RESTAURANTS
OTHER ISLANDS
CREOLE
Jolly Roger’s
Moyenne Island
Tel: +248 429 70 00
L’habitation Restaurant
Tel: +248 432 31 11
Villa Authentique Restaurant & Bar
Villa Authentique La Passe, La Digue
Tel: +248 423 44 13
Villa Mon Reve
Anse Reunion, La Digue
Tel: +248 423 42 18
Please send updated
information to
[email protected]
Crossword & Sudoku
Take time and relax ...
have some fun
testing your wit!
1
2
5
6
7
9
8
Clues across
1. Call off (6)
7. Everything’s ok (4,4)
8. Operatic lady (4)
10. Rubbed out (6)
11. Scratch (6)
14. ‘Game xxx and match’ (3)
16. Was unwell (5)
17. Requests (4)
19. UK unit of currency (5)
21. Grizzly, or polar, for instance (5)
22. Long for (5)
23. Market (4)
26. Taxes (5)
28. Buddy (3)
29. Representatives (6)
30. Dairy spread (6)
31. This German goes both ways! (4)
32. Person marooned on a desert island (8)
33. Dash (6)
4
3
11
10
15
14
17
19
18
12
13
16
20
21
22
26
23
27
24
25
28
30
29
31
32
33
Clues down
Answers down
1. Camera 2. Crises 3. Laid 4. Ash-cans 5. Pedal 6. Bleed 8. Mask 9. Met 12. Rid 13. Peter 15. Board 18. Scrag
19. Pea 20. Urn 21. Best man 22. Yen 23. Matter 24. Alto 25. Turbot 26. Ranch 27. Terse 28. Put 30. Boys
Answers across
1. Cancel 7. All’s well 8. Mimi 10. Erased 11. Scrape 14. Set 16. Ailed 17. Asks 19. Pound 21. Bears 22. Yearn
23. Mart 26. Rates 28. Pal 29. Agents 30. Butter 31. Otto 32. Castaway 33. Sprint
1. Photographic apparatus (6)
2. Major problems (6)
3. Eggs are produced this way (4)
4. Dustbins (old name) (3-4)
5. Push this with your foot (5)
6. Cut yourself and you will do this (5)
8. Facial disguise (4)
9. Encountered (3)
12. Did away with (3)
13. An important Saint (5)
15. Directors sit on this (5)
18. Lean end of neck of mutton (5)
19. Green vegetable (3)
20. Vase (3)
21. Important person at a wedding (4,3)
22. Japanese unit of currency (3)
23. Substance (6)
24. Singing voice (4)
25. European fish (6)
26. Cowboys are here (5)
27. Abrupt (5)
28. Place (3)
30. Young males (4)
Sudoku
Place a number from 1 to 9 in
every empty cell so that each
row, each column and each 3x3
box contains all the numbers
from 1 to 9. No number can
appear twice in a row, column
or 3x3 box. Do not guess – you
can work it out by a process of
elimination.
Good luck!
5
1
6
7
1 3
2
6
1
7 8
2
5
3
9
4
4
4
9
6
7
3
5
7
9
1
3
6
5
WE WANT YOUR VIEWS!
We aim to keep Silhouette as interesting and informative as possible to a
wide cross-section of readers. Please let us have your views on the contents
of this magazine. What do you like about it? Is there anything that you do
not like? Are there any topics that you would like to see more of? With your
feedback we can make the magazine even better in future.
Please drop a line to the publishers: Camerapix Magazines Ltd.
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Thank you.
Rukhsana Haq, Editorial Director
4
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Cable & Wireless (Seychelles) Ltd. Francis Rachel Street, Victoria, Mahé.
facebook.com/CableAndWirelessSeychelles
@CWSeychelles
Tel: (+248) 428 4000 Fax: (+248) 432 2777 www.cwseychelles.com

silhouette1_2014 - We Love Seychelles – Sesel Sa

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