The mere mention of the Seychelles conjures up
images of sundrenched beaches with powder-soft-sand and turquoise blue water.
It isn’t surprising that Irish brides Jennifer McGuire and Rosanna Davidson
choose to enjoy their post nuptials on this delightful archipelago in the
Indian Ocean. However, my husband and I are under no pretence that we are embarking
on a second honeymoon, as we set off with our ten-year-old daughter, Nicole and
teenage son, Mark to see what the Seychelles has to offer families. The kid’s first
question – where is the Seychelles? One-thousand miles from Africa’s east coast
and a couple of degrees south of the equator. Our mission as a family is to Island hop around four islands
and get to meet some giant tortoises. The excitement mounts as I inform the
kids that one of the islands we will be visiting is where the Thunderbirds
movie was filmed.
We spend our first three nights on popular Beau
Vallon Beach which is a good base to explore the Seychelles largest and most
populated Island, Mahe. The five-star Savoy hotel boasts the largest swimming
pool in the Seychelles, which ticks the boxes for the kids and the adjoining
rooms mean privacy for parents! The kids get to fish and try their hands at
kayaking but for the more adventurous diving and paragliding is also on offer.
The capital, Victoria, is only a few kilometres away
and our first excursion en famille.
Named after the British Queen who ruled over the islands in the nineteenth
century it’s a thriving
town, with high activity around the replica, silver Big Ben clock in the middle
of the main street. “It’s a present from the British,” our guide Chris informs
us. He’s kitted out in a Liverpool shirt and bonds instantly with my son who
has found a kindred spirit. “You should see this place at carnival man...the
whole town goes crazy.” Victoria
plays host to a colourful carnival every year that rivals Rio. Twenty five
countries took part in the festivities last year and it is ever growing. Next
year it runs from 24th – 26th April and three days of fun
filled action for all the family is guaranteed. Chris describes the
beautiful girls from around the world wearing little more than feathers and my
son already has plans to return someday. “...and we drive on the left side of
the road too like the British.” The plug sockets are standard three pin as in
the UK and Ireland so there’s no need for a continental adaptor.
First stop is Victoria Market – a bustling centre
for all culinary delights. The kids watch aghast as a shark is portioned up at
a fish stall. A variety of exotic fruits and foods are on offer and the trip is
proving to be an education, even for the adults. The Seychelles is a
matriarchal society, with women making up fifty percent of the government and
children are adored and well catered for. The locals speak good English, but my
son and I can make out a few words of the local Creole, which is a mixture of
French and English.
A colourful Hindu temple catches Nicole’s eye as
we leave the market. With her camera in hand, she excitedly captures the
ceremony being performed by the holy men inside. Most of the Seychellois were
converted to Catholicism after the erection of a mission, established by the
British in the mid-nineteenth century. The lodge, on one of the islands highest
points, is no longer standing but the remaining site is one of the best viewpoints
on the island and Chris insists on taking us there – which doesn’t disappoint.
A short drive down the hill brings us to Seychelles tea factory on Morne Blanc.
Here the kids get to see the entire tea process from picking to blending and
bagging in the factory.
After
three days we embark on our first island hop. The journey to Praslin, the
Seychelles second largest island, takes one hour on the high speed Cat Cocos catamaran.
Home to the UNESCO heritage site of
Vallée de Mai, the suggestion by some that Praslin is the location of the Biblical
Garden of Eden comes as no surprise. This is the only place on the planet where
the legendary Coco-de-Mer tree grows in abundance. The kids are quick to point
out that the unusual shaped fruit bears a striking resemblance to certain
private parts of the human anatomy. Praslin is paradise. Coconuts hang lushly
from spindly palms and tiny orange birds, the red-headed forest fody, jump from
perch to perch. On arrival at our hotel,
La Domaine de La Reserve, one of these little birds lands on our porch and sings
a welcoming tune. It is this kind of interaction with nature that makes us feel
instantly chilled. Nicole squeals with delight as a tiny bright-green-lizard,
scurries up the wall of our porch.
La Reserve hotel has four special family rooms
which are stylishly kitted out with prime views of the private coral beach.
Three small steps outside our veranda and we are walking on the coral sand and
picking up colourful shells from the turquoise water – a shoal of silver fish
brush by our ankles. This hotel is set among unique conditions that are perfect
for snorkelling in safety and privacy. Wifi is on offer around the hotel but
with a huge swimming pool open all day and night the kids don’t have time for
social networking. Night time is spent watching out for shooting stars outside
our veranda. With a half board option of varied cuisine the kids love the food.
Entertainment follows dinner each evening and our favourite is the Creole evening
where the entire family go native and get involved in coconut shelling and
traditional dancing. The hotel offers free bike hire and we set off for some
wave jumping on Anse Lazio, on what is considered by many to be the most
beautiful beach in the world. The south east monsoons make May to October the
windiest months but it is also the least humid time of year and perfect for the
kids.
After two nights on this paradise we set off
early with Creole travel on an excursion to Curieuse Island. We are met by ranger
Paul – a man who loves his job, and who can blame him. He is guardian of the
200 giant tortoises who roam this once leper colony. Since 1969 it has belonged
to the animals and he takes us on a trail of the mangroves and hills from one
side of the Island to the doctor’s house on the other side. On route we feast
on husks of coconut and berry, while hermit crabs and giant millipedes cross
our path. “I made a good crab curry with a fellow like this last night,” Paul
beams. We can tell that it was delicious by his description. The already
digested bodammier fruit however does not appeal. The giant tortoises feast on
this small purple fruit when it falls from the trees but the centre nut is left
intact and apparently delicious. However, even the kids are satisfied just to
take Paul’s word for it and not tempted to taste when he rips it from the
tortoise pooh!
The catamaran anchors for a delicious Creole BBQ and some
snorkelling before leaving us off on La Digue. At the end of an exhilarating
day we have arrived on our fourth island. The
rock formations on La Digue are famous. Pale pink and ochre granite forms, they
rest along the crystal shoreline and look like Dali himself sculpted them for
our personal pleasure.
Breadfruit hangs on every road verge, ripe for
the taking – a versatile fruit that can be compared to our own potato. The
breadfruit proves a big hit with Nicole. It can be chipped, boiled, fried,
eaten as salad or dessert and lies scattered on the ground. Legend has it that if you eat the breadfruit
you will return to the Seychelles – needless to say we schoffed bags of the
crunchy fruit that are bought for 60cents each and taste like an exotic crisp.
We stay in a small but exquisite family run guest house on this island that is
only 5 km long and easily walked around in less than a day. The Cabanas des
Anges guest house has a small swimming pool but our crew love the fact that it
is right outside our veranda.
The
fairy terns dive and swoon in pairs around the clear blue skies – as much a
symbol of love as nature can provide. We lose ourselves in this primitive
paradise where the locals commute on foot or by bicycle. The alternate mode of
taxi is ox and cart and possibly the slowest but most fun way to get around the
island.
We explore the famous Anse Source d’Argent beach and wonder how so many
beautiful beaches can be on such a small island. Anse Source d’Argent is also the setting for those dreamy
adverts for the Bounty Bar that pop up on our TV on cold winter nights. It’s easy to find a spot to ourselves and suddenly
we are the Swiss Family Robinson. While
Nicole and her brother play x’s and o’s on the sand with a piece of driftwood,
hubby and I kick back on the sand and pretend we are on a second honeymoon.
The Seychelles is an incredible destination and
worth paying that bit extra to experience something truly special for the whole
family. With idyllic weather that doesn’t drop below 26* or rise above 33*
every month is a perfect time of year to
visit. We travelled through the night and with a convenient one stop commute to
Dublin airport there were no complaints from the kids. On the cold winter
nights the memories of our special time on the Seychelles will keep us warm and
the Bounty Bar advert will undoubtedly bring a smile to our faces when it pops
up on TV.
Fact
box
Seychelles Tourist Office for UK and
Ireland
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 730 0700
Economy Class return fares, inclusive of all
taxes and prices start from:
1. Adult - Euro 704
2. Adult and child aged between 2 - 11 Euro 1271
These prices are currently available for autumn
2014 and April 2015.
Creole Travel
Services Seychelles
Creole Travel Services can facilitate all aspects of a
holiday to Seychelles, from hotel reservations to flights and excursions
bookings.
It ensures that clients experiences the true essence of
Seychelles through its excursions which operate from Mahe, Praslin and La
Digue. You can choose from a selected range of excursions, whether it is
romance, adventure or family fun. Or you can even tailor your experience to
your own desire.
But probably the most indulgent feature of cruising is the
cuisine. Reflection has the most incredible range of restaurants and we had two
personal favourites. Qsine is a dining experience with a difference. 
