Seychelles is one of those places that I’d love people to see at least once in their lives. It’s as beautiful as the postcards make it out to be, and has a local culture and work environment that South Africans seem to love – judging by how many have chosen to live there permanently. For our March 2017 issue, writer Caroline Webb and I got the excuse to explore parts of this gorgeous island archipelago.
It’s also notorious for being expensive, if you go the typical hotel route. We discovered ways to make your trip more affordable, but without missing out on any of the experiences that make for lifetime memories. Read how we did it in the latest issue of Getaway magazine, out on shelves now.
Our first sunset, at the aptly named Sunset Beach.
Early morning swims and afternoon cocktails- that’s how you fill a day in the Seychelles.
Baobab Pizzeria. Service is somewhat slack but food and location are spot on.
Sunset strolls along the popular beach of Beau Vallon.
Coconut nibbles as we drove around Mahe.
A dip in the ocean to cool off amidst boats bobbing in the bay.
The picturesque Cap Lazare.
Onwards by ferry to La Digue, an island of bicycles, granite boulders and palms.
The incredibly beautiful beach of Anse Source d’Argent.
Cycling along palm-lined roads.
Fruit cocktails on the beach at Anse Source d’Argent.
We took an unexpected evening walk from Anse Source d’Argent back to our hotel, after a miscommunication with our taxi driver.
Arguably the best view site on La Digue is high up above the town, where a restaurant serves drinks and food to those that make the trek.
These kids entertained us while we ate a late lunch on the beach
Here’s a quick timelapse of the sun going down from this same view spot. Colours get stronger as the sun sets, deepening in saturation to orange and blue before light disappears for the night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cus5jDBDgc
You cycle past beautiful, clear blue water on La Digue Island
Slow days on La Digue’s pristine beaches
I took an early-morning bicycle ride to a deserted Anse Source d’Argent, where hues of purple and blue greeted the new day.
Some of the famous attractions of the Seychelles – Takamaka rum, Frangipani flowers and the Coco de Mer
Anse Lazio on Praslin Island is voted one of the top beaches in the world, and it’s easy to agree when you’re lying underneath palm fronds and watching people swim in transparent waters.
We booked a boat cruise to visit the giant tortoises on Curieuse Island, have a beach braai and snorkel off Chauve Souris islet.
The snorkelling off Chauve Souris islet was gorgeous – I saw a turtle, rays, two small black-tipped sharks and clouds upon clouds of small fish.
This swim pretty much consisted of me seeing amazing fish and regretting not having a GoPro.
Still evening waters at Anse Kerlan in Praslin. These two boys had helped push out their father’s boat for nighttime fishing.
A quiet moment’s fishing as the sun set over Anse Kerlan beach.
Anse Forbans was one of my favourite places. The water was deep and cool, and the walk along the beach led to a lovely spit of land jutting into the sea, ideal for sundowners.
Saturday afternoons at Beau Vallon are for gatherings: groups played volleyball and families set up around picnics while I discovered how great SUP paddling over clear waters can be.
A last, fiery sunset on Sunset Beach, looking out in the direction of Beau Vallon.
Read more from this story in the March 2017 issue of Getaway magazine.
Our March issue features a self-catering trip to the Seychelles that you can afford, a secret Karoo retreat, learning to fly-fish in Rhodes and a Joburg road trip for beer lovers.
