The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa. It’s home to numerous beaches, coral reefs and nature reserves, as well as rare animals such as giant Aldabra tortoises. Mahé, a hub for visiting the other islands, is home to the capital Victoria. It also has the mountain rainforests of Morne Seychellois National Park and beaches, including Beau Vallon and AnseTakamaka.
Seychelles, one of the world’s smallest countries, is composed of two main island groups: The Mahe group of more than 40 central, mountainous granitic islands and a second group of more than 70 outer, flat, coralline islands. The islands of the Mahe group are rocky and typically have a narrow coastal strip and a central range of hills. The overall aspect of those islands, with lush green tropical vegetation, is that of high hanging gardens overlooking silver-white beaches and clear lagoons. The coralline islands, rising only a few feet above sea level are flat with elevated coral reefs at different stages of formation. These islands are largely waterless, and very few have a resident population.
