The Seychelles archipelago covers an area of 453 sq. km, it consists of 115 islands that spread over an Exclusive Zone of 1,000,000 sq. km. Represented by a few dots on the map of the world, the Seychelles Islands are quite literally, a thousand miles from everywhere.
Seychelles lies in the western part of the Indian Ocean, it is between 4 and 5 degrees south of the equator at a longitude between 55 and 56 degrees east. The Country is an isolated archipelago of outstanding natural beauty comprising about 115 islands.
The granite islands support luxuriant tropical forest on the mountain slopes. The coral islands are also densely covered with vegetation more characteristic of sandy coral soils. Generally, the most common trees are the coconut palm and casuarina. Others include banyans, screw pines and tortoise trees and the giant coco de mer palm, which is unique to the Seychelles and lives for up to 1,000 years. Of about 200 plant species, 80 are indigenous, including the bois rouge, the giant bois de fer and the capucin.
Fruit bats, flying foxes, geckos and skinks are common and there are more than 3,000 species of insect. The giant tortoise (which appears on the Seychelles coat of arms) survived near-extinction; there are now several thousand on Aldabra. There are many species of rare bird, such as the bare-legged scops owl, Seychelles kestrel, black parrot, magpie robin and paradise flycatcher. Four islands are bird sanctuaries, including Bird Island, which is inhabited by millions of fairy terns.
Although tropical and generally warm and humid, there are nonetheless two distinct seasons.
May - September. South-east trade winds bring cooler, lower humidity (average 70%) and less rain along with gentle breezes.
November - March. Northwest monsoons bring more rain, sometimes in heavy squalls, higher humidity (average 80%) and warmer weather.
The transition periods of April and October are fairly hot, with little breeze and calm seas.
Seychelles archipelago lies outside the cyclone belt and enjoys stable weather year round. Seychelles has a mean maximum temperature of 29ºC and 12 hours of daylight.
Detailed weather forecasts and information can be obtained from the Seychelles Meteorological Office.
The granite islands support luxuriant tropical forest on the mountain slopes. The coral islands are also densely covered with vegetation more characteristic of sandy coral soils. Generally, the most common trees are the coconut palm and casuarina. Others include banyans, screw pines and tortoise trees and the giant coco de mer palm, which is unique to the Seychelles and lives for up to 1,000 years. Of about 200 plant species, 80 are indigenous, including the bois rouge, the giant bois de fer and the capucin.
Fruit bats, flying foxes, geckos and skinks are common and there are more than 3,000 species of insect. The giant tortoise (which appears on the Seychelles coat of arms) survived near-extinction; there are now several thousand on Aldabra. There are many species of rare bird, such as the bare-legged scops owl, Seychelles kestrel, black parrot, magpie robin and paradise flycatcher. Four islands are bird sanctuaries, including Bird Island, which is inhabited by millions of fairy terns.
Although tropical and generally warm and humid, there are nonetheless two distinct seasons.
May - September. South-east trade winds bring cooler, lower humidity (average 70%) and less rain along with gentle breezes.
November - March. Northwest monsoons bring more rain, sometimes in heavy squalls, higher humidity (average 80%) and warmer weather.
The transition periods of April and October are fairly hot, with little breeze and calm seas.
Seychelles archipelago lies outside the cyclone belt and enjoys stable weather year round. Seychelles has a mean maximum temperature of 29ºC and 12 hours of daylight.
Detailed weather forecasts and information can be obtained from the Seychelles Meteorological Office.