Senior Sales Consultant, Annelie, spent five glorious days at the ‘bucket list’ destination of note … the Seychelles!
Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa and only a 5-hour flight from Johannesburg. It’s home to numerous beautiful white-sand beaches, coral reefs, nature reserves, the famous coco de mer and giant tortoises.
Did you know that Seychelles has been rated as the place with the cleanest air on earth for 3 years in a row? A great bonus for sun-lovers is that Seychelles does not experience winter! Temperatures hover between 24 and 30 degrees year-round.
The first two nights were spent on the main island, Mahe. After arriving in Victoria we were transferred to our first destination – do note that driving here at night is not for the
faint-hearted and best left to the locals – through all the twists and turns and steep hills one could only imagine just how beautiful this drive along the coast would be in daylight. After an hour we made it to the gates of paradise, Constance Ephelia Resort.
We were greeted with smiling faces, COVID friendly elbow bumps and delicious ginger beer. The Junior Suites were beautifully decorated with attention to all the little details, including a
light-up makeup mirror for the ladies.
Constance Ephelia is family-friendly with plenty on offer for both young and old. When visiting Seychelles be mindful that in contrast to some other island destinations they are
extremely focused on nature conservation. Nature comes first so there are strict rules and regulations that prohibit buildings or structures on beaches. You will not find salas, loungers or restaurants on the beach. Villas are located within close proximity to the beach however, you will wake up to the view of palm trees instead of turquoise water. No trees or vegetation are cut down to provide ocean views from the rooms and this really contributes to the beauty and pristine nature of the island.
A day at Ephelia is all about relaxation, whether you opt for some time on the beach, lazing around one of the many pools or treating yourself to a spa treatment at their exquisite spa, the biggest in the Indian Ocean … you are bound to have a great time.
Constance Ephelia
Next it’s off to Praslin Island, we opted for the 15-minute scheduled flight instead of the 45-minute ferry transfer. This is recommended for anyone prone to seasickness.
A short 5-minute drive later we arrived at our destination. None other than the Leading Hotel of the World, Constance Lemuria, and what luxury it is! From the special gong-striking, traditional welcome which prompts the bulky reception doors to open, to the delicious lunch of sushi, fresh salads and cocktails at Takamaka Restaurant. Lemuria is much smaller and more intimate than its sister property on the main island. It also features an 18 hole golf course which is the main attraction for many guests. By day 2 I was greeted by name at
reception and on day 3 restaurant staff even knew my room number, attention to the smallest details is what they pride themselves on. Dinner at Diva fine dining restaurant is an experience like no other. Dishes perfectly prepared and paired with some of the best wines in the world by their sommelier extraordinaire.
Constance Lemuria
On our second to last day, we embarked on a full-day excursion to La Digue Island, only a 15-minute ferry ride away from the Praslin jetty. For anyone that enjoys the luxuries that
resorts offer, but would still like to get a feel for the local culture, this is definitely recommended. Upon arrival, we rented bicycles (the rustic kind with a shopping basket attached to the back which added to the adventure), grabbed an island map and off we went in search of what locals call ‘the most beautiful beach on the island’. Up until a few years ago, there were no cars on this island, only bicycles and wagons. Lately, there are a few vehicles mainly due to a bit of construction (building of a museum to name one) but they are still few and far between. En-route we saw the only church on the island, a graveyard, an enclosure for those famous massive tortoises and the vanilla plantations. The beaches on La Digue do not disappoint and after lunch, we headed up north to explore a little more. After a visit to Seychelles, you truly get to understand what island living is all about and feel somewhat jealous of how perfectly calm this lifestyle is. Where riding your bicycle to the beat of the music coming from the speaker in your basket is just an everyday occurrence.
On day 5 we bid the island farewell with heavy hearts, but even more so with gratitude that we were lucky enough to experience Seychelles in all its splendour!
If you are looking for the ultimate island destination and have a budget that you can stretch a little, Seychelles is one for your bucket list.
La Digue Island
