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For further information on Seychelles, please check out Expat Seychelles, an excellent resource on Seychelles living.
Location
Indian Ocean, 1600km (990 miles) east of Kenya.
Time
GMT + 4.
Area
455.3 sq km (176 sq miles).
Population
81,100 (official estimate 2005).
Population Density
177.7 per sq km.
Capital
Victoria (Mahe). Population: 71,000 (2005).
Geography
The Seychelles Archipelago occupies 400,000 sq km (150,000 sq miles) of the Indian Ocean northeast Madagascar and contains 115 islands and islets. These fall into two groups of markedly different appearance, stemming from their distinct geologies:
Granitic: A dense cluster of 43 islands, the only mid-ocean group in the world with a granite rock formation. Their lush green vegetation is tropical in character, with a profusion of coconut palms, bananas, mangoes, yams, breadfruit and other tropical fruit. Indigenous forest exists on the higher slopes, where cinnamon and tea are planted. All, including the second largest, Praslin, are less than 65km (40 miles) from Mahe.
Coralline: Isolated coral outcrops speckling a vast area of the Indian Ocean to the southwest of the granitic group. They rise only a few feet above sea level but are covered with rich and dense vegetation due to fertilisation by copious amounts of guano. There is no permanent population. Aldabra, the largest atoll in the world, contains one-third of all Seychellois land and is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site.
The largest island in either group is Mahe, lying 4°S of the equator. It is 27km (17 miles) long by 8km (5 miles) wide and contains Victoria, the capital and main port, and 90 per cent of the population. Mahe is typical of the Granitic Islands, being mountainous and covered with jungle vegetation. Its highest point, indeed the highest point in the Seychelles, is Morne Seychellois (905m/2970ft). The isolated nature of the Seychelles has given rise to the evolution of many unique species of flora and fauna, including the coco-de-mer palm and unique varieties of orchid, giant tortoise, gecko, chameleon and 'flying fox' (fruitbat). National Parks and reserves have been set up to protect this heritage. The Seychellois are descended from a mixture of French and British landowners, freed African slaves and a small number of Chinese and Indian immigrants, creating a unique culture.
Government
Republic since 1976. Gained independence from the UK in 1975. Head of State and Government: President James Alix Michel since 2004. Recent history: In April 2004, after more than a quarter of a century in power, Albert Ren? retired and handed presidency over to his vice-president, James Michel. Michel promised to introduce a more open dialogue, particularly over economic matters, and to involve the private sector in the national economy. Michel was re-elected in the July 2006.
Language
Creole, English and French.
Religion
83 per cent Roman Catholic with Anglican, Seventh Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i and other minorities.
Social Conventions
The people live a simple and unsophisticated island life and tourism is carefully controlled to protect the unspoilt charm of the islands. Before the international airport opened in 1971, the islands could be reached only by sea, and since they are miles from anywhere, visitors were few and far between and the people were little influenced by the outside world. They developed their own language and culture which - like so many things on the islands - are unique. Shaking hands is the customary form of greeting. The Seychellois are very hospitable and welcome guests into their homes. When visiting someone's home, a gift is acceptable. A mixture of imperial and metric systems operates. For example, petrol is dispensed in litres, whilst bars sell bottled and draught beer in half-pint measures. Casual wear is essential and formal clothes are only worn by churchgoers. Swimwear should only be worn on the beaches.
Electricity
240 volts AC, 50Hz. British three-pin plugs are in use.
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Passport
Required? |
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British |
Yes |
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Australian |
Yes |
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Canadian |
Yes |
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USA |
Yes |
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Other EU |
Yes |
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Visa
Required? |
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British |
No |
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Australian |
No |
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Canadian |
No |
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USA |
No |
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Other EU |
No |
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Return
Ticket Required? |
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British |
Yes |
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Australian |
Yes |
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Canadian |
Yes |
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USA |
Yes |
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Other EU |
Yes |
Passports
Passport valid on the date of entry to and exit from the Seychelles required by all nationals of countries referred to in the chart above.
Visas
Visa not required by nationals of countries referred to in the chart above as long as they have:
(a) onward or return ticket (if not, onward or return ticket must be purchased on arrival);
(b) proof of sufficient funds (between US$100-150 per day) and organised accomodation for the duration of the stay.
A visitor's permit, valid for up to one month, is issued on arrival, subject to possession of (a) and (b) as above; alternatively, a deposit may be made by 'security' bond in lieu. The permit may be renewed, provided the applicant holds a valid open return ticket and applies at least one week before the permit's expiry. For further information, contact the nearest Seychelles Tourist Office.
Currency
Seychelles Rupee (SCR) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of SCR100, 50, 25 and 10. Coins are in denominations of SCR5 and 1, and 25, 10 and 5 cents.
Tourists must pay hotel bills in foreign currency (in the form of cash, traveller's cheques or credit or debit cards). Payment in local currency is only allowed if an exchange receipt can be shown as proof of the conversion from foreign currency into local currency. The duty free shop at the airport only accepts credit cards or foreign cash.
Currency Exchange
Exchange facilities are available at the airport banks, which are open for all flight departures and arrivals. The following banks have branches in the Seychelles and will exchange traveller's cheques and foreign currency: Barclays Bank, Bank of Baroda, Banque Fran?aise Commerciale, Central Bank of Seychelles, Development Bank of Seychelles, Habib Bank Ltd, Nouvo Banq and Seychelles Savings Bank. Currency exchange receipts should be kept in order to facilitate re-exchange on departure.
Credit / Debit Cards and ATM's
Access, American Express, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted; Diners Club has more limited use. ATMs are available in Mahe and Praslin.
Travellers Cheque Advice
Accepted in most hotels, guest houses, restaurants and shops. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.
Currency Restrictions
The import and export of local and foreign currency is unlimited. The import and export of local currency is limited to SRs1000.
Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 0830-1430, Sat 0830-1100.
Food and Drink
Seychellois Creole cuisine is influenced by African, Chinese, English, French and Indian traditions. The careful blending of spices is a major feature and much use is made of coconut milk and breadfruit. Breadfruit is prepared in similar ways to the potato (mashed, chipped, roasted and so on) but has a slightly sweeter taste. Other locally produced fruits and vegetables include aubergines, calabashes, choux choutes, patoles, paw-paws (papaya), bananas, mangoes, avocados, jackfruits, grapefruits, guavas, lychees, pineapples, melons, limes and golden apples. Lobster, octopus, pork and chicken are used more frequently than beef or lamb, which must be imported. Most restaurants offer a few items of what is termed 'international' cuisine, generally with a bias towards preparations of fresh fish and shellfish, as well as the Creole delicacies mentioned above. There are Italian and Chinese restaurants on Mahe. Some of the main hotels have bakeries and home-baked bread is also a feature of some of the small guest houses and lodges. Waiter service is the norm. All restaurants which are members of the Seychelles Restaurateurs' Association quote an average price per person for a three-course meal inclusive of two glasses of wine and coffee. A wide range of wines, spirits and other alcoholic beverages is available in the Seychelles. The same company produces Guinness under licence and soft drinks. Local tea is also popular.
Nightlife
Largely undeveloped and unsophisticated. There is, however, much to be enjoyed in the evenings, and a speciality is the local camtolet music, often accompanied by dancers. Several hotels have evening barbecues and dinner dances. Theatre productions are often staged (in Creole, English and French) and there is one cinema in Victoria and casinos at Beau Vallon Bay Hotel and the Plantation Club.
Shopping
Local handicrafts include work with textiles (such as batik), fibres (such as basketwares, table-mats and hats) and wood (such as traditional furniture, ornaments and model boats). Pottery and paintings may also be bought. Special souvenirs might include jewellery made from green snail shells. Tea-growing and manufacturing in the Seychelles is done on a small scale. Local tea can be bought in the shops or when visiting the tea factory on Mahe, where many blends of tea may be sampled at the Tea Tavern. Vanilla is cultivated as a climbing plant around the base of trees as it can be pollinated by hand. Pods can be bought in shops and used as flavouring. Cinnamon grows wild on all the islands. It can be bought as oil or in quills made from dried bark which can be freshly grated before use. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700, Sat 0800-1200. Some shops close weekdays 1200-1300.
Economy
Tourism is the largest industry in the Seychelles' economy; it now accounts for over 20 per cent of GDP, and draws 70 per cent of foreign exchange earnings. The service sector as a whole covers three-quarters of the Seychelles' economy.
Despite a shortage of fertile land, the agricultural sector produces copra for export, a variety of cash crops including tea and vanilla, and staple foods like cassava and sweet potatoes for domestic consumption. Fishing became increasingly important from the 1980s onwards, both through expansion of domestic operations and the lucrative sale of licences to foreign fleets. Industry comprises a small mining sector which extracts guano (rich in minerals) and some natural gas, plus light and small-scale industries including food and drinks (notably a tuna-canning operation), boat-building, metals, chemicals, wood products and tobacco. There is also a thriving re-export business based on a recently established export-processing zone. Extensive searches for offshore oil and gas reserves have so far been unsuccessful. The economy's heavy dependence on tourism makes it especially vulnerable to external factors (such as the September 11 attacks on the USA). In 1995, in an attempt to diversify the service economy away from tourism, the Government started to promote the Seychelles as an 'offshore' financial services centre. This has been moderately successful, especially given that this is now a highly competitive and - because of concerns about fraud and money-laundering - controversial field.
After several years of recession, the economy is growing slowly. The main financial problem is the size of the country's external debt. The Seychelles must import many essential products - an expensive process given the islands' location - and this consumes the bulk of the foreign exchange earned from tourism.
The Seychelles is a member of the African Development Bank and the Indian Ocean Commission (which provides for regional economic cooperation).
Business Etiquette
- GDP: US$626 million.
- Main exports: Canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra and petroleum.
- Main imports: Machinery and equipment, foodstuff, petroleum and chemicals.
- Main trade partners: UK, Spain, France, Singapore, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Germany and Italy.
Businessmen do not wear suits and ties, although a smart appearance is advised. Most executives speak English and/or French. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600.
Commercial Information
Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry
PO Box 599, Ebrahim Building, Victoria, Mahe
Tel: 323 812.
E-mail: scci@seychelles.net
Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 248. Phonecards are available. SEYTELS offers a 24-hour service for telegrams, telephones and faxes via SEYTELS/Cable & Wireless Ltd, Francis Rachel Street, Victoria, Mahe.
Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies.
Internet
There are several internet cafes on Mahe. Most of the larger hotels have arrangements for visitors to obtain a temporary guest account.
Post
The main post office is in Victoria. Airmail collections are at 1500 weekdays and 1200 Saturdays; airmail to Western Europe normally takes up to one week. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600, Sat 0800-1200.
Main Airports
Mahe Island (SEZ) (Seychelles International) is 10km (6 miles) southeast from Victoria (travel time - 20 minutes). To/from the airport: Some coach services are provided by agents and taxis are available. Facilities: Duty free shop, banking and currency exchange facilities, car hire and restaurant/bar.
Approximate flight times
From Mahe to London is 12 hours (10 hours direct) and to New York is 20 hours and 40 minutes (via London).
Please remember, there is no need to actually travel to the country if you do not want to, all services can be carried out remotely by us!
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