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There are two categories if islands, the granitic "Inner" that cluster around the principal islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue, whose verdant peaks climb skywards from virgin forest and immaculate beaches, and the "Outer", a sparkling array of flat, coralline islands extending westwards towards the coast of Africa that include legendary Aldabra, the world's largest raised coral atoll. The "Inner Islands" are the cultural focal point of Seychelles where the majority of the population lives while the "Outer Islands" remain miniature worlds, offering a unique island experience. * If we could look back through Time to its very dawn, when the shape of our planet was still evolving, we would witness the crumbling of giant super continent of Gondwanalad and see how a line of sparkling islands floated free into the Indian Ocean, finally coming to rest between Today, we know these gems are the granite islands of Seychelles, the only mid-oceanic granite islands in the world and they lie between 4-10 degrees south of the equator and 1000 miles off the east African coast. Together with others of coral formation they make up the Seychelles archipelago – 115 magnificent islands of striking beauty, spread like gemstones across more than a million miles of ocean and harboring diverse life forms that are today a prized natural heritage. Every island is different. Each with its own individual texture and feel, its own history, legends and mysteries. And that is the joy of Seychelles. THE ARABS Forgotten for centuries by all but the most intrepid Arab sailors, pirates and adventurers who were the who were probably the first to wonder, wide-eyed at her natural beauty, Seychelles remained uninhabited until the late eighteenth century. Ancient travelers bear witness to the Arab knowledge of the islands from as early as the 9th century. Certain graves on the islands point to visit to and perhaps an Arab settlement. "… the winds were singing, the sun was sky. The night like elbow rested on the seas and watched …they were listening to a tangerine, to voices far way, wafting through the night. Were sailing over dense palm trees…. are not all the riches of the world in a green valley, the wide blue sea and in a pair of clear eyes? They named the new place "Jazair - az – Zarrin", the Golden isles, and made the islands their home. THE PORTUGUESE, THE BRITISH, THE FRENCH It was the Portuguese navigator Joao da Nova, who made the first recorded sighting of Seychelles in 1501. On early Portuguese maps, Seychelles appeared as the "Sete Irmas" or Seven Sisters. Not until 1609 that a ship of the British East India Company first landed on her shores. Following a succession of expedition, a French settlement was finally established in 1770. Important estates of coconut, tea, food-crops, vanilla and other spices were established. During that period Seychelles saw the establishment of Victoria as its capital. Seychelles was granted independence from Britain in 1976 and became an independent Republic within the Commonwealth. The Seychellios people, the people of Seychelles, represent a colorful blend of different races which stem from African, European and Asian roots, all of whom have brought something of their own customs and way of life to the islands. CHARMING CREOLE CULTURE The result is a charming Creole culture. Three are three official languages, English, French and Creole. Creole today is a written as well as spoken language, which has resulted in an outburst of creativity in plays, poetry, and prose. Creole architecture is another important cultural aspect of the islands. The design of some of the grand old houses, with their steep roofs and shutters to catch the island breezes, are representative of an architecture adopted for comfortable living in the tropics. Music and dance are an integral part of all Seychelles festivities. The broad range of Creole cuisine is reflection of the diverse ethnic mix of the islands. It is a features the subtleties and nuances of French cooking, the exoticism of Indian dishes and the piquant flavors of the Orient. A dazzling array of fresh fish is readily available and is easily transformed into a wide selection of succulent dishes with the help of condiments fruits, spices, and herbs. The changing face of the Seychelles accommodation scene provides visitors with ever- widening choice. Seychelles offers a great variety of the accommodation: hotels - both large and small, hotels with more than 25 beds are classified as large hotels, guesthouses - offering Creole intimacy and hospitality, self-catering establishments and island resorts on remote islands with dive centers are located on the beach. WHAT TO SEE Walk the town of Victoria, visit the National history Museum, National Culture Center, Botanical Gardens, Seychelles National Park, the Craft Village, Tea factory and tavern, art galleries, island excursions. Also Creole restaurants, walks and trails, snorkeling, Praslin Ocean Farm, The jungle tour, colonial houses, Copra factory, Vanilla plantation, some finest beaches, granite sculptures designed by Time, a stunning diversity of under sea life. Two UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites, one hosts the largest colony of giant tortoises and is breeding ground of the giant frigate bird. The second site is the "Vallee de Mair" on Praslin, an ancient forest, home to rare black parrot and the worlds largest coco nut growing wild. SEYCHELLES IN BRIEF The 115 islands of Seychelles, with a collective landmass of only 455 km, are scattered across 1.400.000 km2 of warm crystal clear waters, offering immense diversity and variety. This extends from sculptured granite boulders to coral reefs, from untouched forests and bird sanctuaries to private resorts and exotic hideaways. An efficient network of inter – island boats, aero planes and can accommodate almost any tailored schedule. The archipelago boasts over 1000 species of endemic flora and over 75 species of endemic fauna.
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