festivites
Here are some of the major festivities and holidays in Seychelles:
1. Independence Day - celebrated on June 29th every year, this holiday commemorates the country's independence from British colonial rule in 1976. The day is marked with a parade, speeches by government officials, cultural performances, and fireworks.
2. National Day - celebrated on June 18th, this holiday honors the country's history and culture. The day is marked with parades, traditional dances, music, and food.
3. New Year's Day - celebrated on January 1st, this holiday marks the beginning of the new year with fireworks, parties, and family gatherings.
4. Easter - celebrated in March or April each year, this Christian holiday marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Seychellois usually celebrate with church services, Easter egg hunts, and feasting with family and friends.
5. All Saints Day - celebrated on November 1st, this holiday is a time to remember loved ones who have passed away. Families usually visit cemeteries to clean and decorate graves, light candles, and offer prayers.
6. Christmas Day - celebrated on December 25th, this holiday marks the birth of Jesus Christ. Seychellois often attend midnight mass, exchange gifts, and enjoy special meals with family and friends.
7. Festival Kreol - celebrated in October every year, this festival celebrates Creole culture with music, dance, food, and arts. It is held in various locations across the country, including Victoria, Praslin, and La Digue.
These holidays and festivities provide an opportunity for Seychellois people to come together, celebrate their traditions and culture, and strengthen their sense of community.
seasons
Seychelles generally has two tourist seasons:
1. High season: This runs from December to April, with the peak period being around Christmas and New Year's. During this time, the weather is hot and dry, and there are fewer chances of rain. The sea is calm and ideal for swimming and water sports. However, prices for flights and accommodation are at their highest, and availability may be limited due to high demand.
2. Low season: This runs from May to November, with the peak period being July and August. During this time, the weather is cooler and more humid, and there is a higher chance of rainfall. However, hotel and flight prices drop considerably during this period, and there are fewer crowds, making it a good time to explore Seychelles on a budget. It is also the best time for surfing and windsurfing.
It is important to note that the distinction between high and low seasons is not always clear-cut and can vary depending on specific events or holidays. Regardless of the season, it is recommended to book accommodation in advance, especially during peak periods, and to bring appropriate clothing and gear for the activities you plan to do.
visa
Citizens of all countries are currently allowed to visit Seychelles without a visa for up to 3 months. However, visitors must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to departure and must have valid travel health insurance that covers COVID-19-related expenses.
Note: Visa rules and fees may change over time. It's recommended to check with the relevant embassy or consulate for up-to-date information.
souvenirs
Here are some popular souvenirs to buy in Seychelles along with their average prices and where to buy them:
1. Takamaka Rum: A bottle of Takamaka Rum costs around SCR 300-400 and can be bought at the distillery or at local supermarkets.
2. Black Pearl jewelry: Authentic black pearl jewelry can be found at the Black Pearl Farm and other jewelry stores. Prices range from SCR 200-2000 depending on the piece.
3. Creole spices: You can find a variety of Creole spices such as curry powder, cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg at the Victoria market for an average price of SCR 50-100.
4. Coco de Mer: This rare and unique coconut can only be found in Seychelles and is sold at the Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve gift shop for an average price of SCR 500-1000.
5. Local handicrafts: Handmade crafts such as woven baskets, hats, and wall hangings can be found at markets and souvenir shops around the islands. Prices vary but typically start at SCR 100-200.
Note: Prices may vary depending on the store and location.
If you have 1 week
Great to hear that you're in Seychelles! You are lucky to be surrounded by some of the most incredible natural beauty on earth. Here's a one-week itinerary for you:
Day 1: Head over to Anse Source d'Argent, located on La Digue Island, and spend your day relaxing on the soft white sand and swimming in the crystal-clear turquoise waters. This beach is famous for its stunning rock formations and calm shallow waters.
Day 2: Explore the stunning Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve on Praslin Island, which is home to the rare Coco de Mer palm tree. Take a hike through the UNESCO World Heritage Site and see if you can spot some of the unique wildlife, including the black parrot and the Seychelles bulbul.
Day 3: Visit Morne Seychellois National Park, located on Mahé Island, and take a guided tour to discover the rich history and diverse flora and fauna of the area. The park has a variety of hiking trails, so choose one that suits your ability and immerse yourself in the lush surroundings.
Day 4: Check out the local markets and shops in Victoria, the capital city of Seychelles, and learn about the culture and history of the country. Visit the Victoria Clock Tower, which was modelled after the Little Ben clock tower in London. Don't forget to try some of the local street food!
Day 5: Take a ferry to Cousin Island, which is a protected nature reserve and bird sanctuary. You can take a guided tour to learn about the variety of bird species that live on the island or simply relax on the beautiful beaches surrounded by lush vegetation.
Day 6: Go fishing! Seychelles is known for its abundant marine life, and you can charter a fishing boat for the day and try your luck at catching some of the local fish species, like marlin, tuna, and sailfish.
Day 7: End your trip with a visit to Anse Lazio, one of the most beautiful beaches in Seychelles. Located on Praslin Island, this beach has clear blue water, soft white sand, and is surrounded by lush greenery. Spend some time soaking up the sun and enjoying the stunning views before heading back home.
These are just a few suggestions for your one-week itinerary in Seychelles. There's so much to see and do here, and I hope these recommendations will help you make the most of your time in this stunning country!
If you have 2 weeks
Seychelles is such a beautiful place located in the Indian ocean, known for its pristine beaches, lush green mountains and vibrant culture. Here's a suggested itinerary for your two-week trip:
Week 1:
- Visit La Digue Island: This island is known for its unspoiled natural beauty, with stunning beaches, granite boulders and crystal-clear waters. You can explore the island on foot or rent a bike to tour around the small island.
- Go snorkelling at Anse Source d'Argent: This beach is one of the most photographed beaches in the world due to its picturesque setting. It boasts impressive rock formations that provide a unique snorkelling experience.
- Hike to Morne Seychellois National Park: This park is home to some rare bird species, including the Seychelles bulbul and fruit pigeon. It also offers some incredible views of the island from the summit.
Week 2:
- Visit Victoria: The capital city of Seychelles, Victoria is a bustling hub of activity with a mix of modern and colonial architecture. The city has various markets where you can find souvenirs and local cuisine.
- Explore the Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve: This reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its untouched forests and Coco de Mer palms. It also provides a chance to spot some rare bird species.
- Relax on Beau Vallon Beach: This beach is known for its calm and shallow waters and is perfect for swimming and paddleboarding. There are also many restaurants along the beachfront serving delicious seafood.
These destinations offer something for everyone, from adventure-seekers to those looking to relax and unwind. Whether it's exploring the natural wonders of Seychelles or immersing yourself in the local culture, this itinerary promises to be a memorable two weeks.
Culture
A National Art Gallery was inaugurated in 1994 on the occasion of the official opening of the National Cultural Centre, which houses the National Library and National Archives with other offices of the Ministry of Culture.
At its inauguration, the Minister of Culture decreed that the exhibition of works of Seychellois artists, painters and sculptors was a testimony to the development of art in Seychelles as a creative form of expression, and provided a view of the state of the country's contemporary art.
Painters have traditionally been inspired by Seychelles’ natural features to produce a wide range of works in media ranging from watercolours to oils, acrylics, collages, metals, aluminium, wood, fabrics, gouache, varnishes, recycled materials, pastels, charcoal, embossing, etching, and giclee prints. Local sculptors produce fine works in wood, stone, bronze and cartonnage.
Music and dance have always played prominent roles in Seychelles culture and local festivities. Rooted in African, Malagasy and European cultures, music characteristically features drums such as the tambour and tam-tam, and simple string instruments. The violin and guitar are relatively recent foreign imports which play a prominent role in contemporary music.
Among popular dances are the Sega, with hip-swaying and shuffling of the feet, and the Moutya, a dance dating back to the days of slavery, when it was often used to express strong emotions and discontent.
The music of Seychelles is diverse, a reflection of the fusion of cultures through its history. The folk music of the islands incorporates multiple influences in a syncretic fashion. It includes African rhythms, aesthetic and instrumentation, such as the zez and the bom (known in Brazil as berimbau); European contredanse, polka and mazurka; French folk and pop; sega from Mauritius and Réunion; taarab, soukous and other pan-African genres; and Polynesian, Indian and Arcadian music.
Contombley is a popular form of percussion music, as is Moutya, a fusion of native folk rhythms with Kenyan benga. Kontredans, based on European contra dance, is also popular, especially in district and school competitions during the annual Festival Kreol (International Creole Festival). Moutya playing and dancing often occur at beach bazaars. Music is sung in the Seychellois Creole of the French language, and in French and English.
In 2021, the Moutya, a slave trade-era dance, was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List as a symbol of psychological comfort in its role of resistance against hardship, poverty, servitude and social injustice.
Staple foods of Sechelles include fish, seafood and shellfish dishes, often accompanied with rice. Fish dishes are cooked several ways, such as steamed, grilled, wrapped in banana leaves, baked, salted and smoked. Curry dishes with rice are also a significant part of the country's cuisine.
Other staples include coconut, breadfruit, mangoes and kordonnyen fish. Dishes are often garnished with fresh flowers.
* Chicken dishes, such as chicken curry and coconut milk.
* Coconut curry
* Dal (lentils)
* Fish curry
* Saffron rice
* Fresh tropical fruits
* Ladob, eaten either as a savoury dish or as a dessert. The dessert version usually consists of ripe plantain and sweet potatoes (but may also include cassava, breadfruit or even corossol), boiled with coconut milk, sugar, nutmeg and vanilla in the form of a pod until the fruit is soft and the sauce is creamy. The savoury dish usually includes salted fish, cooked in a similar fashion to the dessert version, with plantain, cassava and breadfruit, but with salt used in place of sugar (and omitting vanilla).
* Shark chutney typically consists of boiled skinned shark, finely mashed and cooked with squeezed bilimbi juice and lime. It is mixed with onion and spices, with the onion fried and cooked in oil.
* Vegetables
The main daily newspaper is the Seychelles Nation, dedicated to local government views and current topics. Other political parties operate papers such as Regar. Foreign newspapers and magazines are readily available at most bookshops and newsagents. The papers are published mostly in Seychellois Creole, French and English.
The main television and radio network, operated by the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation, offers locally produced news and discussion programmes in the Seychellois Creole language, between 3 pm and 11:30 pm on weekdays and longer hours on weekends. There are also imported English- and French-language television programmes on Seychellois terrestrial television, and international satellite television has grown rapidly in recent years.
Seychelles' most popular sport is basketball, which has significantly grown in popularity in the last decade. The country's national team qualified for the 2015 African Games, where it competed against some of the continent's largest countries, such as Egypt. In 2015, Seychelles hosted the African Beach Soccer Championship. Ten years later, Seychelles will host the 2025 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup making it the first ever FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup to be ever held in Africa.
Seychellois society is essentially matrilineal. Mothers tend to be dominant in the household, controlling most expenditures and looking after children's interests. Unwed mothers are the societal norm, and the law requires fathers to support their children. Men are important for their earning ability, but their domestic role is relatively peripheral.
Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 2016. The bill decriminalizing homosexuality was approved in a 14–0 vote. The employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is banned in the Seychelles, making it one of the few African countries to have such protections for LGBT people.
Seychelles has the highest literacy rate of any country in sub-Saharan Africa. According to The World Factbook of the Central Intelligence Agency, as of 2018, 95.9% of the population aged 15 and over can read and write in the Seychelles.
Until the mid-19th century, little formal education was available in Seychelles. The Catholic and Anglican churches opened mission schools in 1851. The Catholic mission later operated boys' and girls' secondary schools with religious brothers and nuns from abroad even after the government became responsible for them in 1944.
A teacher training college opened in 1959, when the supply of locally trained teachers began to grow, and in short time many new schools were established. Since 1981 a system of free education has been in effect, requiring attendance by all children in grades one to nine, beginning at age five. Ninety percent of all children attend nursery school at age four.
The literacy rate for school-age children rose to more than 90% by the late 1980s. Many older Seychellois had not been taught to read or write in their childhood; adult education classes helped raise adult literacy from 60% to a claimed 100% in 2014.
There are a total of 68 schools in Seychelles. The public school system consists of 23 crèches, 25 primary schools and 13 secondary schools. They are located on Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette. Additionally, there are three private schools: École Française, International School and the independent school. All the private schools are on Mahé, and the International School has a branch on Praslin. There are seven post-secondary (non-tertiary) schools: the Seychelles Polytechnic, School of Advanced Level Studies, Seychelles Tourism Academy, University of Seychelles Education, Seychelles Institute of Technology, Maritime Training Center, Seychelles Agricultural and Horticultural Training Center and the National Institute for Health and Social Studies.
The administration launched plans to open a university in an attempt to slow down the brain drain that has occurred. University of Seychelles, initiated in conjunction with the University of London, opened on 17 September 2009 in three locations, and offers qualifications from the University of London.
Religion
According to the 2010 census, most Seychellois are Christians: 76.2% were Roman Catholic, pastorally served by the exempt Diocese of Port Victoria (directly subject to the Holy See); 10.6% were Protestant, (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.6%).
Hinduism is the second largest religion, with more than 2.4% of the population. Hinduism is followed mainly by the Indo-Seychellois community.
Islam is followed by another 1.6% of the population. Other faiths accounted for 1.1% of the population, while a further 5.9% were non-religious or did not specify a religion.
Demographics
When the British gained control of the islands during the Napoleonic Wars, they allowed the French upper class to retain their land. Both the French and British settlers used enslaved Africans, and although the British prohibited slavery in 1835, African workers continued to come. Thus the Gran blan ("big whites") of French origin dominated economic and political life. The British administration employed Indians on indentured servitude to the same degree as in Mauritius resulting in a small Indian population. The Indians, like a similar minority of Chinese, were confined to a merchant class.
Today, Seychelles is described as a fusion of peoples and cultures. Numerous Seychellois are considered multiracial: blending from African, Asian and European descent to create a modern creole culture. Evidence of this harmonious blend is also revealed in Seychellois food, incorporating various aspects of French, Chinese, Indian and African cuisine.
As the islands of the Seychelles had no indigenous population, the current Seychellois descend from people who immigrated, of which the largest ethnic groups were those of African, French, Indian and Chinese origin. The median age of the Seychellois is 34 years.
French and English are official languages along with Seychellois Creole, which is a French-based creole language. Seychellois Creole is the most widely spoken native language and de facto the national language of the country. Seychellois Creole is often spoken with English words and phrases mixed in. About 91% of the population are native speakers of Seychelles Creole, 5.1% of English and 0.7% of French. Most business and official meetings are conducted in English and nearly all official websites are in English. National Assembly business is conducted in Creole, but laws are passed and published in English.
According to the 2010 census, most Seychellois are Christians: 76.2% were Roman Catholic, pastorally served by the exempt Diocese of Port Victoria (directly subject to the Holy See); 10.6% were Protestant, (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.6%).
Hinduism is the second largest religion, with more than 2.4% of the population. Hinduism is followed mainly by the Indo-Seychellois community.
Islam is followed by another 1.6% of the population. Other faiths accounted for 1.1% of the population, while a further 5.9% were non-religious or did not specify a religion.
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