Seychelles: holidays, events, climate
Public holidays
Date | Holiday |
January 1 | New Year |
April | Good Friday |
April | Easter Saturday |
1st of May | Labor Day |
June 5 | Liberation Day |
June 19 | Corpus Christi |
June 29 | Independence day |
15th of August | Assumption Day |
November 1 | All Saints Day |
December 8 | Immaculate conception |
December 25th and 26 | Christmas |
Source: Countryaah – Seychelles Holidays
Cultural events
An annual fishing competition is held in April. The Liberation Day on 5 June and Independence Day on 29 June are celebrated with parades and a festival in Victoria. In October, the Kreol Festival takes place on the main island of Mahé. Traditional dances are performed and Creole music is played. The SUBIOS underwater festival is celebrated in October and November.
Sport in the Seychelles
There are golf courses on Mahé and Praslin. All kinds of water sports such as deep sea fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, diving and sailing are offered in the Seychelles. Horseback riding is offered on Mahé and La Digue. There are good hiking opportunities with varying degrees of difficulty on Mahé.
Climate
The following table shows a range of climate data for the country. It should be noted, however, that these mean values have been determined over years and are therefore only conditionally suitable for the current holiday weather.
Month | Average number of rainy days | Mean maximum temperatures (in °C) | Mean minimum temperatures (in °C) |
January | 14-15 | 30 | 22 |
February | 09-10 | 30 | 22 |
March | 09-10 | 30 | 24 |
April | 10-11 | 30 | 22 |
May | 08-09 | 30 | 22 |
June | 08-09 | 28 | 22 |
July | 08-09 | 26 | 22 |
August | 06-07 | 26 | 22 |
September | 07-08 | 26 | 22 |
October | 109-0 | 28 | 22 |
November | 12-13 | 30 | 23 |
December | 14-15 | 30 | 23 |
Seychelles: national customs
A matriarchal society
The Seychelles society is shaped by matriarchy. Here women and mothers set the tone. Women are largely responsible for the household and the interests of their children. Unmarried mothers are the social norm in the country, and Seychelles legislation is geared towards requiring fathers to (financially) support their children. While men often act as (sole) breadwinners, their domestic role is quite marginal.
Family
affairs Women are usually financially supported by adult children or family members who still live at home. It is also perfectly normal for modern families in the Seychelles to be unmarried. As for the children, they mostly grow up with their grandparents, as many Seychelloises are employed.
Daily contact
You will quickly notice that the Seychellois are very friendly and open-minded people who have a smile ready for everyone. If you can speak a few words of French, you will of course have faster access to people. But even the inexperienced can quickly score with a simple “Bonjour, Monsieur/Madame” or a Bonsoir, Monsieur/Madame “.
Music
There are many different styles of music in the Seychelles. For example, the folkloric music of the islands is a mixture of different directions, which of course also include African rhythms as well as zez and bom, European contredanse, mazurka, polka, French pop music and Sega from Mauritius and Réunion, soukous, taarab and many more. Also popular is a special form of percussion music called contombley, as well as moutya, a mix of local rhythms with Kenyan benga.
Names
Despite the large historical and political ties to Great Britain, the Seychelles culture is more French. This can be seen from the Seychellois surnames, of which around 70% are of French origin – in contrast to just 20% of English origin. Both languages are often mixed up, so that it is not uncommon to find English first names combined with French surnames or vice versa.
Tipping
Most services already include a tip of 5 to 10%, so it is not mandatory to give an extra tip on the islands. Nevertheless, every obolus that increases the income is of course gladly accepted.
Nudist ???
FFK beaches are in vain in the Seychelles, as nude bathing is prohibited by law on the islands. There are some tourists who (albeit) swim topless within their hotel complexes. But one should keep in mind that it is not liked to be seen and is perceived as disrespectful and hurtful to the feeling of shame.
Please note:
There is a minimum of 3 years imprisonment for drug offenses. Photography is prohibited at the Army Head Quarters of the Seychelles.
Seychelles: sightseeing
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Presents the way that SC stands for the nation of Seychelles as a two-letter acronym.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Aldabra Atoll
The largest atoll in the Indian Ocean is the Aldabra Atoll, it belongs to the Seychelles and the Outer Islands.
The atoll was able to largely preserve its flora and fauna because it is very strictly protected. Its foundation is a volcano at a depth of around 1,000 m.
The Aldabra Atoll consists of the four main islands West Island with an area of approx. 9.4 km², South Island with an area of 116 km², Polymnie with an area of approx. 5 km² and Middle Island with an area of approx. 27 km². The area of the lagoon is 224 km².
The four large islands form the outer ring of the atoll – smaller islands lie in the lagoon. The rare mushroom corals form bizarre rock islands. The mangrove forests are strikingly beautiful. But most of all, the Aldabra giant tortoises are protected on the atoll as they are about to become extinct. Furthermore, numerous bird species live there – in addition to many seabirds also 13 land bird species such as the white-throated claw, the Malegasse nectar bird, flamingos, frigate birds, the nectar bird, heron, booby and the endemic (only living there) aldabra drongo and aldabra shrimp. At high tide, sharks, dolphins, and even the rare fork-tailed manatees can also make their way into the lagoon. The Aldabra Atoll is only inhabited by conservationists. It was added to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage list in 1982
Mai Valley National Park (Vallée de Mai National Park)
The palm forest in a remote high valley on the Seychelles island of Praslin is particularly special because the seeds of this plant can weigh up to 20 kg. The nuts on the palm trees are huge. This species of palm is native (endemic) and is protected. The rare Vasa parrots still live here.
The cinnamon tree imported from present-day Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) poses a threat to native plants in this park. In 1983, the park was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Cities
There is only one real city in the Seychelles, namely the capital Victoria. The other places on the islands are little more than larger villages.
Victoria (also Port Victoria)
The largest settlement with around 25,000 residents, the capital and only city of the Republic of the Seychelles, nestles on the northeast coast of the main island of Mahé. The city was founded in 1778 as the seat of the British colonial government and, thanks to the international airport established in 1971, is the transport and economic heart of the country. The smallest capital in the world, named after the former English Queen Victoria, is a lovely place with a city center reminiscent of the concept of a British colonial city of the 20th century. Small boutiques and shops, colorful souvenir shops, a narrow old town and a new town with wide streets and a tropical garden characterize the lovable city, where everyone knows everyone. The center of Victoria is indicated by the clock tower, a copy of London’s famous Big Ben, near which the courthouse rises. The pedestrian zone near the Clock Tower impresses with several historic wooden houses and a pleasant liveliness. Other buildings worth seeing are the Catholic Cathedral with the Capuchin House, the National Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, a colorful place full of chaos and charm.
Special buildings and structures
Arab tombs
The Arab tombs at Anse Lascars testify that Arab sailors landed on the Seychelles from the 9th century onwards.
Capuchin House in Victoria
The imposing Capuchin House in Victoria is located between the cathedrals of the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches, but steals the show because of the beautiful architecture. Incidentally, the Capuchin House serves as a seminary, i.e. a training center for priests.
Cathédrale de la Conception Immaculée de Victoria
I raise the Cathédrale de la Conception Immaculée (German: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception) in Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles on the island of Mahé. It was built in 1874 and can accommodate up to 700 people at a time. The cathedral functions as the main Catholic church on the islands and is not too far from the Anglican Cathedral of Victoria.
Bell Tower in Victoria
The eight meter high bell tower of Victoria was built in 1903. Between 1964 and 1982 he was in London for construction work. Only then did he return to the Seychelles and henceforth again set the symbol of Victoria. The clock tower, modeled on London’s Big Ben, rises in the middle of Independence Avenue in a pedestrian zone where many older wooden houses and shops have settled.
State House in Victoria
The State House is the official residence of the President of the Seychelles. It was built in 1910 when the British were still colonial masters of the islands and called it Government House. The Governor General Sir Walter Davidson was the first to reside in what is now the State House from 1912. Nowadays it is used as an office and occasionally as the President’s residence.
More Attractions
Herbarium of the Seychelles in Victoria
The herbarium of Victoria, with its scientific collections of plants, dates back to the time of the first French settlers. In their time they investigated the vegetative conditions of the islands that were still unknown to them. And the herbarium is still used by scientists to identify plants.
Market in Victoria
If you are visiting the capital Victoria on the main island of Mahé, you should definitely not miss the Sir Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market. In this market hall, numerous goods are offered daily until 4:00 p.m. There are fruit and vegetables here, but also numerous exotic spices. A must for the visitor is the fish section of the market, where, to the astonishment of the visitors, cattle egrets roam freely. But on closer inspection one notices that the birds devour the numerous annoying flies and thus decimate them a little.
National Museum in Victoria
In the Seychelles capital Victoria you can visit the National Museum of the Seychelles, which focuses with its exhibits on the documentation of the time of slavery and piracy.
Natural History Museum in Victoria
If you are in Victoria on the main island of Mahé, you should definitely visit the Museum of Natural History. The city’s natural history museum includes numerous exhibits on the natural history of the Seychelles.
National parks
Morne Seychellois National Park
The Morne Seychellois National Park is located in the northern part of the main island Mahé, on which the capital Victoria is also located. Here is also the highest mountain in the Seychelles with 905 m – the Morne Seychellois.. In addition, the m high Morne Blanc. The park covers an area of about 30 km² and is mostly overgrown by dense jungle. But there are some marked trails there. Up until around 50 years ago there were extensive vanilla and cinnamon plantations here, but all of them except for a small state tea and coffee plantation have been abandoned. But cinnamon trees have survived and can be found here in large numbers. The cinnamon tree, which belongs to the lobe family, grows up to approx. 12 m high and originally comes from today’s Sri Lanka (formerly: Ceylon).
Ste. Anne Marine National Park
The Ste. Anne Marine National Park is located in the sea off the capital Victoria.
More natural beauties
Anse Source
d’Argent on the island of La Digue The almost breathtakingly beautiful beach Anse Source d’Argent is known for countless commercials, so it was chosen as the backdrop for the marketing of Bacardi and Rafaello. It spreads on the 9.81 km² island of La Digue over a length of approx. 1.1 km with a width of approx. 20 m and is said to be the most photographed beach on earth.
The natural jewel is “guarded” by granite rocks and dreamy palm trees.
The offshore reef also protects the beach from larger waves or sharks.
You will find a restaurant and toilets here.
Anse Source d’Argent presents its most beautiful side, especially at sunset.
Beau Vallon
This bay on the north-western coast of Mahé has Beau Vallon Beach, probably the most popular and most visited beach on the island. It is not only suitable for swimming and sunbathing, but also offers good snorkeling and diving conditions, because the water is clear and the coral reefs are close by. Beau Vallon has numerous hotels, of which Le Meridien, dating from 1943, is the oldest on Mahé.
Denis Island Denis Island,
one of the most beautiful Seychelles Islands, rises only a little from the turquoise-blue water of the Indian Ocean and is surrounded by a coral reef that is the habitat of countless tropical fish. As a diver or snorkeler, you can experience the colorful, shimmering coral life right in front of your eyes. But other animals such as the Seychelles warbler, the Seychelles weaver or giant tortoises can also be observed on Denis Island. The island, which used to function as a pirate hideout, is privately owned and can therefore only be visited if you also stay in the island’s upscale resort.
Mangrove forests
There is an extensive mangrove area near Port Glaud in the northeast of the main island of Mahé.
Mont Fleuri Botanical Gardens Seychelles (also Victoria Botanical Gardens) in Victoria
The 6 hectare Botanical Garden of Victoria spreads in the district of Mont Fleuri and has existed since 1901. The gardens are particularly popular with tourists. It stretches out directly on Mont Fleuri, a 150 meter high mountain from which the park got its name. In the botanical garden you can see over 30 palm, 66 tree and three screw tree species as well as Aldabra giant tortoises and Seychelles fruit bats. If you turn to the upper part of the garden, you come to a piece of forest that represents the last original primeval forest in the Seychelles. The botanical garden is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Mount Copolia Forest
The Mount Copolia Forest is a forest area in the vicinity of the mountain of the same name and is located south of the capital Victoria. The carnivorous plant Nepenthes pervillei grows in relatively large numbers on the slopes of the 498 m high Mount Copolia. This plant is native here and only occurs in the Seychelles. The plant catches the insects with the help of its leaves-like vessels that are filled with a liquid that can digest insects that fall into it.
Beaches of the Seychelles
The beaches of the Seychelles have received multiple awards for their beauty and uniqueness, for example the Baie Lazare in the south of the main island of Mahé. On weekends and on public holidays, tourists and locals meet on this dazzling white sandy beach. The Plantation Club Hotel is located in the northern part of the approx. 2 km long bay. In the middle of the bay the small river Rivière Baie Lazare flows into the ocean. The Anse Solei bathing bay is located in the southwest. Another attractive sandy bay, which is particularly suitable for snorkelling, is Petite Anse – also known as Anse la Liberté – in the southwest. Shelter from the strong sunlight can be found under a number of takamaka trees.