15 Amazing Facts About the Seychelles Islands

The Seychelles Islands are not only beautiful, they are also fascinating and in this article I will tell you exactly why…

Facts about the Seychelles Islands

From breathtaking beaches to rare species of plants and animals, Seychelles Islands have all that you are looking for in a perfect holiday destination. It is a small African country with 115 Islands in the western Indian Ocean. The islands are filled with an amalgam of white sandy beaches and deep blue sea, giving you the best traveling experience.

So, if you’re planning to visit these breathtaking islands, we suggest going through this article since it’ll help you make the most of your trip. Here are 15 amazing facts about the Seychelles islands.

1. Seychelles are the Only Granite Islands in the World

Seychelles has 73 coral and 42 granite islands. These include the Praslin, La Digue, Mahè, Fregate, Silhouette, North, Aride, and Curieuse islands. Interestingly, these islands hold the title of “Sole Islands,” which means that they don’t have any volcanic or coral elements as they originated from a single continental mass.

Furthermore, most of the beaches of the Seychelles islands have clusters of granite rocks that make them charming and fascinating tourist attractions.

Many people have the misconception that the Seychelles islands have hard surfaces due to granite. But most of these islands have lush jungles and are habitats for diverse species of animals, birds, and plants. The granite islands of Seychelles are popular for their tropical beauty, narrow coastal strips, magnificent rocks, and mesmerizing hills.

2. Seychelles Islands have a Hidden Treasure

After the discovery of the Seychelles islands in 1502 by Vasco Da Gama, they have become hideouts for pirates around the globe. Furthermore, there are stories that this hideout has a hidden treasure.

Olivier Levasseur, who goes by the name of La Buse, is the rumored pirate who was believed to leave the stolen Portuguese treasure on Mahe Island. However, it was initially considered a folktale that was passed from one generation to another, but cryptography engraved from granite by La Buse suggests otherwise.

Several pirates devoted their lives searching for the hidden treasure, which has an estimated net worth of $ 1.4 billion. Moreover, the local people also believe that there are hidden treasures on other islands too, but the evidence for Mahe island’s treasure is stronger. So, if you’re planning your trip to the Seychelles Islands, try participating in the treasure hunt, and maybe you could be the lucky winner.

3. The World’s Smallest Capital is in Seychelles Islands

Love walking around in the streets! Well, you can visit Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles islands, and explore it in a single day on foot. The city has an amazing landscape that includes steep mountains on one side and beautiful prehistoric architecture on the other side.

Furthermore, the city has enough spots to explore the island’s culture; at the center is Victoria Clocktower, a national monument that resembles Big Ben in London. A few other notable attractions are the National Botanical Gardens, a Hindu Temple, Sri Navasakthi Vinayagar, Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa  Mosque, and Natural History Museum.

Moreover, if you want to experience the cuisine, handicrafts, and lifestyle of the world’s smallest capital, you can explore more of it by visiting the colorful Sir Selwyn-Clarke market.

4. Seychelles is Home to World’s Biggest Tortoise

Seychelles islands are a hub of diversity and a haven for wildlife lovers. These islands are known to have a few of the world’s rarest creatures, such as the “Esmeralda .”Found on Bird Island, it holds the world’s heaviest tortoise record.

This giant tortoise weighs 363 kilos and is estimated to be 170 years old, though no one knows its actual age, as it was discovered as an adult. Besides Esmeralda, the island was once home to Goliath, a giant captive tortoise weighing more than 400 kilos. Unfortunately, this tortoise passed away, and Esmeralda once again got its title back.

Moreover, there are several other giant tortoises on Bird Island, but none has been able to break Esmeralada’s record. It is considered the Queen of the tortoises, though it was later found out that it is a male, but by then, the name was stuck and hasn’t been changed. What’s better than exploring giant tortoises while corals and palm trees surround you and soft sand seeps under your feet?

5. Seychelles has Several Breathtaking Beaches

Crystal-clear seawater, greenish mountains, alluring trees, and magnificent underwater life make the beaches on Seychelles a Paradise. Every island has a diverse display of nature, and it is definitely hard to choose one.

The most visited destination is Mahe island, with 65 beaches. The island is popular for its awe-inspiring mountains, pink sand, and granite beaches, like Pointe au Sel, Anse Bougainville, Beau Vallon, and several others.

Next is Praslin island, which has two picturesque beaches, i.e., Anse Georgette and Anse Lazio, which have calm shorelines and soothing seawater. Last up is La Digue island, filled with the most exotic and fresh beaches that make you feel like a part of the scenic beauty displayed in a travel magazine.

Make sure to visit at least one of these beaches to admire the spotless nature, soft sands, soothing water, and mesmerizing palm trees.

6. Seychelles has Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The two untouched and unspoiled natural heritages, the Aldabra Atoll and Vallée De Mai are located in the Seychelles islands. These monuments made it to the list of  UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Aldabra Atoll has four coral islands enclosing a shallow lagoon; these islands are covered by a thick coral reef; every year, 1000 tourists are allowed to visit this site. Furthermore, this heritage site has the world’s largest population of giant tortoises (approximately 152,000 species).

The Nature Reserve of Vallée De Mai protects the remains of natural palm forests, keeping them in their original state. Moreover, it is also home to several endemic plants, including coco de mer and wildlife. These features make the Heritage Sites a popular destination for tourists and a treasure for nature lovers.

7. Seychelles Islands are Popular for Scuba Diving

Seychelles islands have a magical undersea life that is worth exploring. Tourists can get the best underwater experience while scuba diving in the Mahè, La Digue, and Praslin Islands.

In addition, you can also explore underwater life at the Baie Ternay Marine Park, which is 23 meters deep and has beautiful fauna. Some of the other spots to enjoy marine life, granite massif, colorful fauna, and massive sharks include the Brissare Rocks and Chuckles Rocks.

Another tourist favorite spot for scuba diving is “The Sunken Ship Dive”, specially designed to satisfy the curious nature of divers. It is around 40 meters deep, has an abandoned ship in Aldebaran, and has diverse flora and fauna, which makes it worth exploring.

8. World’s Largest Crab is Found in Seychelles

Apart from giant tortoises, you can witness the world’s largest crab in the Seychelles islands. Popularly known as coconut crab, this bulky animal possesses ten legs, is approximately a meter in length, and has two pincers, which are strong enough to open a coconut.

This is one of the reasons why the local people of  Seychelles call it coconut crab. However, the natives have other interesting names for the crab as well; these include “the palm thief” and “the robber crab.”

Due to its capability to carry a 30 kg coconut straight from the palm tree, people call it “the palm thief .”It climbs the palm tree, snatches the fallen fruit, and returns to its home to enjoy the food in peace.

9. Seychelles has a Spice Garden

Seychelles islands were once a hub for the spice trade. Even today, you can get the essence of these spices by visiting Le Jardin Du Roi Spice Garden, located on the hills of Anse Toyale beach on the Southeast coast of Mahè island.

The Spice Garden has an on-site museum where tourists can learn more about the traditional spices. Moreover, you can also visit the spice shops nearby to buy something as a memory of your trip. Le Jardin Du Roi Spice Garden also has restaurants where tourists can get the ultimate culinary experience.

In addition, the garden has hiking trails where visitors can admire the stunning scenic views. Tourists can avail the opportunity of taking a guide with them on the hike or renting cars to reach the destination.

10. Rare Bird Species are Found in Seychelles Islands

The Seychelles islands are a dream destination for bird lovers, a place with rare and diverse species of birds; among these, 12 are classified as endemic.

One of the rarest species is the Seychelles black parrot; with only 1000 remaining on earth, it is endangered. It is a medium-sized bird, which is gray in color, contrary to its name. Moreover, the Black Parrot is also the national bird of the Seychelles islands.

Another endangered species in Seychelles is the green-tinted warbler. There were only 26 of them left in 1968 on Cousine Island. But thanks to the endangered species conservation efforts, this extinct species came back to its normal status. As of today, there are almost 3500 of these beautiful creatures on the island.

Lastly, the scops owl is another endangered species, and they have large golden yellow eyes and bare legs. As of today, the Seychelles Islands only have 250-280 birds remaining. Though Wildlife federations around the globe are putting effort into recovering these species, it is still a long shot. So, if you’re a bird lover, we suggest you visit this place of unique and rare creatures before it’s too late.

11. Seychelles Islands is Home to Endemic Flora

The Seychelles islands are a dream destination for plant lovers. There are several endemic plants found on the islands; one is Coco De Mer—a famous palm tree with the largest seed in the world.

In addition, another rare species is the jellyfish tree, which was once believed to be extinct but was later discovered on Mahè island. As of today, the island has around 100 trees.

Flower, Wright’s Gardenia Rothmannia annae, once grew in Praslin, Felicite, and Mahe islands, but it went extinct due to soil erosion and human population. With its beautiful and fragrant flowers, it is only found on Aride island in its natural state and is classified as critically endangered by IUCN.

If you are traveling to Seychelles, exploring this fascinating flora should be on your bucket list.

12. Beau Vallon Beach is the Perfect Spot for Watersports

Beau Vallon is a beautiful beach on the northwestern shore of Mahe island; apart from its picturesque landscape, it is a great spot for watersports. In addition, its shoreline is the longest in Seychelles, making it popular among visitors who love to enjoy outdoor sports.

Moreover, you can paraglide over the beautiful emerald water and view the captivating shoreline and get a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Some of the other sports that you can enjoy at Beau Vallon are surfing and kitesurfing.

Furthermore, water jetting and plunging can also be done, and it is never a bad idea to play a volleyball match with your loved ones. So the next time you visit Beau Vallon Beach, soak yourself in chilled water and forget all your worries.

13. One of its Specialties is Breadfruit

The most loved delicacy in the Seychelles islands is the breadfruit. With broad cut-edge leaves, it is one of the most beautiful tropical trees, producing large fruits that sweeten once it is ripe.

Due to its starchy nature, the fruit is rarely consumed raw, but you can enjoy it boiled, baked, fried, or roasted. Moreover, it is often called a tree potato because it tastes like a potato once cooked. 

Breadfruit is historical and cultural to Seychelles as in the colonial era, workers used to enjoy this fruit. Not only is it tasty, but also a great source of energy. So, if you plan to visit the islands, don’t forget to treat your tastebuds with the iconic breadfruit.

14. Seychelles Islands are a Tropical Honeymoon Destination

The romantic landscapes, palm tree beaches, white sand, and turquoise seas are irresistible, and one cannot avoid nature’s charm. Seychelles Islands is a heaven on earth and has the highest influx of honeymooners.

Most of the rural islands are far away from modern-day technology, and they don’t have public places, docks, and restaurants. This may sound boring to some but many people love to visit these places to enjoy the serenity, pristine nature, and privacy. Even Prince Willian and Princess Kate visited these islands for their honeymoon.

Whereas the Urban islands, on the other hand, offer luxury hotel rooms with a breathtaking view of the beaches, a spa treatment under palm trees, and restaurants where you can enjoy lush greenery while having your meals.

15. St Anne Park in Seychelles Islands is Haunted

The St Anne Marine National Park is believed to be haunted by spirits, which guard the important treasure left by pirates. Moreover, there are rumors that a crazy English woman named Mary Best, who was once the island’s owner, is one of the spirits and now roams in the park at night.

Others say a few pirates murdered their fellows, whose spirits now wander around the area. In 1962, a British man who bought the island claimed that he heard footsteps, knocking on doors, and voices of these spirits. However, many people visit St Anne Marine National Park to experience the adrenaline rush due to the mystery and horror that this place offers.

Summing Up

The Seychelles islands should be on every traveler’s bucket list because they have so much to offer. Whether you’re looking for romance, relaxation, adventure, or cultural immersion, these islands are the perfect destination. It’s not surprising that tourists across the globe visit this stunning location.

So why not start making plans for your ideal holiday right away? Come experience Seychelles’s beauty and discover why it is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world.

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