Category Archives: Seychelles

Iran is Surging Tourism Industry with Visa Free Travel to 43 countries Including Zimbabwe, Turkey, Kenya and Seychelles  Travel And Tour World

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Iran is Surging Tourism Industry with Visa Free Travel to 43 countries Including Zimbabwe, Turkey, Kenya and Seychelles - Travel And Tour World

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade (MFNPT) and the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC), officially launched the SDG Taxation Framework (STF) in Seychelles on 29 July 2024.

The SDG Taxation Framework (STF) is a comprehensive diagnostic tool that helps national and sub-national governments evaluate the coherence of their tax systems with specific SDG targets and indicators. It identifies opportunities within tax policies and administration to achieve these goals. The STF builds onexisting support to the SRC for enhanced domestic resource mobilization through strategic tax policy actions and administrative interventions. Discussions on the initiative focusing on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7, 8, and 17 began in January this year.

The launch ceremony, was attended by senior government officials from the MFNPT and the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Energy (MACCE). The Commissioner General of the SRC, along with key stakeholders from relevant agencies and the UNDP, were also present.

In his address, Jamiil Jeetoo (Ph.D.), National Economist representing the UNDP Mauritius and Seychelles Multi-Country Office, highlighted that the STF is not just a tool but a beacon of hope, emphasizing its role as a strategic instrument to help countries align their tax systems with the overarching goals of sustainable development.

H.E. Naadir Hassan, Minister for Finance, National Planning and Trade, expressed profound gratitude for the UNDPs support under theTax for SDGs project. The Minister reiterated that achieving the SDGs is a collective effort requiring strong engagement from governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society.

Dr. Amna Khalifa, the lead UNDP expert overseeing the STF process, explained the various steps involved and shared success stories from the 20 countries where the STF has been launched.

The workshop will span five days, with sessions targeting each of the three focus SDGs. Following the workshop, a self-evaluation report consolidating input from all stakeholders will be drafted and shared with the government. Subsequently, a country support plan will be developed.

The STF diagnostic framework supports governments in examining not only the magnitude of domestic tax collections but also the progressivity of the tax structure, the effectiveness and efficiency of tax administration, and the trust of citizens in the tax system. It highlights the critical role of Seychelles tax policy and revenue administration in achieving the SDGs by 2030, providing an opportunity to identify additional measures for achieving SDG targets.

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The SDG Taxation Framework (STF) Officially Launched in Seychelles - United Nations Development Programme

(Seychelles News Agency) - Seychelles Desroches Island has recorded its first sighting of a red-billed tropicbird or payanke labek rouz in Creoleby two assistant conservation officers of the Island Conservation Society(ICS).

In a press release on Thursday, ICS said the rare sighting, which is the 19thever recorded in Seychelles, occurred recently when James Wareingwas out bird-watching during the early morning hours.

I had promised Lisa, the conservation officer of ICS here on Desroches, that I wouldnot spot a new species without her, but nature had other plans, said joked Wareing. He had to rush back to find Elizabeth Hein (known as Lisa)so they could see the bird together. The duo was ecstaticas they together observed and photographed the distinctive bird with its striking red bill.

Tropicbirds are common in Seychelles but the red-billed tropicbird, with its elegant white plumage and long tail feathers and its distinctly bright red bill, is rare. It is typically found in tropical and subtropical regions across the globe, making this sighting a significant event for bird enthusiasts. They usually nest on cliff faces, so this bird would unfortunately not have found the flat island of Desroches very appealing to stay at.

Greg Berke, director for conservation and science at ICS, emphasized the importance of such sightings.

Each new species we document adds to our understanding of the islands biodiversity. The presence of the red-billed tropicbird on Desroches highlights the ecological richness and the success of our ongoing conservation efforts,he said.

The Island Conservation Society (ICS) set up a conservation Centre on Desroches in 2009 and have since then been working diligently on several projects to maintain, monitor and raise awareness about the biodiversity of the island.

Heinwho was equally thrilled about the sighting, said, Itis moments like these that remind us why conservation work is so crucial. Every species plays a unique role in our ecosystem, and itis our duty to protect them.

All sightings of birds in the Seychelles that are seen rarely or appear out of their range are reported to the Seychelles Bird Records Committee (SBRC) that collects and assesses all records of species.

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Red-billed tropicbird spotted for the first time on Seychelles Desroches Island - Seychelles News Agency

(AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed a "severe" response to a deadly strike that killed 12 youths in the annexed Golan Heights, as diplomats raced to contain escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

On a visit to the site of the deadly rocket strike in the town of Majdal Shams, Netanyahu said: "The State of Israel will not, and cannot, let this pass. Our response will come and it will be severe."

He was greeted by protests during the visit, which came after mourners gathered in the Druze Arab town to bury the last victim, 11-year-old Guevara Ibrahim.

Israel and the United States have blamed the strike on Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, which has traded near-daily fire with Israeli forces since the war in Gaza between Hamas militants and Israel began in early October.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said a flurry of diplomatic activity has sought to contain the anticipated Israeli response.

"Israel will escalate in a limited way and Hezbollah will respond in a limited way... These are the assurances we've received," Bou Habib said in an interview with local broadcaster Al-Jadeed.

Several analysts told AFP that this was likely to be the case, with Israel wary of having to fight wars on two fronts.

The United States, France and others were trying to contain the escalation, Habib added, while Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that "talks are ongoing with international, European and Arab sides to protect Lebanon and ward off dangers".

On Monday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said he was "confident" a broader war could be avoided.

New Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose country supports Hezbollah and Hamas, warned Israel against attacking Lebanon, which he said would be "a great mistake with heavy consequences".

Pezeshkian spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, with the Elysee Palace saying Macron told his counterpart "all must be done to avoid a military escalation" and urged Tehran to "cease its support for destabilising actors".

Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the Majdal Shams rocket attack, though the group claimed multiple strikes on Israeli military positions that day.

Israel said Hezbollah fired a Falaq-1 Iranian rocket. This type of projectile is unguided and an analyst called them inaccurate weapons.

- Travel warning -

Hezbollah has evacuated some positions in south and east Lebanon, a source close to the group told AFP.

Some airlines, including Air France and Lufthansa, have suspended flights to and from Lebanon, with one Syrian-German traveller at Beirut airport telling AFP she was trying to find a new flight, but they're all either packed or cancelled".

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, meanwhile, said on social media platform X that his government was "advising British nationals to leave Lebanon and not to travel to the country. This is a fast-moving situation."

On Monday, Hezbollah said it had launched "dozens of Katyusha rockets" at an Israeli military site following the killing of two of its fighters.

The group later claimed additional strikes against military positions in Israel's north. Official Lebanese media said a Syrian national died from wounds after an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon.

The cross-border violence has already killed more than 500 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters, and dozens of civilians and soldiers on the Israeli side.

Hezbollah has said its attacks are in support of Hamas, and that they would stop if a ceasefire was reached in Gaza, where war broke out on October 7 when the Palestinian militants attacked southern Israel.

Months of effort have failed to secure a ceasefire and hostage release deal, though mediators and Israeli negotiators met on Sunday in Rome to discuss the latest proposal.

"The negotiations on the main issues will continue in the coming days," an Israeli statement said.

Hamas, however, again accused Netanyahu of hindering a deal, saying in a statement that he had set new conditions in "a retreat" from an earlier draft.

The Hamas attack on southern Israel that started the war resulted in the deaths of 1,197 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also seized 251 hostages, 111 of whom are still held captive in Gaza, including 39 the military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,363 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, which does not provide details on civilian and militant deaths.

Hundreds of Gazans were fleeing the vicinity of the Al-Bureij refugee camp on Monday, witnesses said, after Israeli forces announced they would "operate forcefully" against fighters in the area.

- Soldiers detained -

Since the war began, rights activists, UN agencies and others have alleged abuses of Palestinians during Israeli detention.

On Monday, Israel's military said nine soldiers were being held for questioning in a case of suspected abuse of a detainee at a facility known to be holding Palestinians arrested from Gaza.

After the soldiers' detention, Israeli civilians protested outside a military base where the nine were being held, while several others -- also in an attempt to show support -- broke into the facility where the alleged abuse occurred.

"Take your hands off the reservists," Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's far-right National Security Minister, wrote on X.

Other top Israeli officials, however, including Netanyahu and army chief Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi, condemned the mob action.

"We are in the midst of a war, and actions of this type endanger the security of the state," Halevi said of the unrest.

Agence France-Presse

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Lebanon on alert as Israel vows 'severe' response to rocket deaths - Seychelles News Agency

Heres a nesting spot, beckons my turtle patrol guide, Dominique Dina, who gingerly leads me towards a dense canopy of shrubs, where the last batch of the hawksbill turtles have stealthily laid their eggs in late April, a stones throw away from the pristine beach.

Judging by the number of holes dug by crabs around the spot, we know that the eggs are about to hatch crabs are very sensitive to movement in the ground, shares Dina, who is also the environment manager at luxury resort Waldorf Astoria Platte Island.

I am on Platte Island, a tiny 1.3km-long strip island 130km south of Mahe, the largest island of Seychelles, an African archipelago sprinkled in the middle of the Indian Ocean, with its closest neighbours being Madagascar and Kenya. Platte (French for flat) Island is one of a handful of nesting sites for the endangered hawksbill and green turtles.

Dina estimates that around 600 to 700 turtles come ashore from September to July during the nesting season.

With the resort coexisting with these precious nesting sites, turtle patrol walks are one of the more popular activities for guests. During the peak nesting season, hawksbill turtles emerge from the sea to dig sand chambers along the beach to lay their eggs, which can number up to 200 each time.

If the stars are aligned, guests can be whisked away to witness the hatching process newborn turtles sticking their heads out of the sand chambers and dizzily crawling towards the sea.

During a morning walk around the coconut tree-fringed island, Dina shares that these hatchlings have a one in a thousand chance of surviving the short but precarious journey to the sea.

The path is fraught with predators, such as crabs (there are plenty of ghosts and brown crabs scurrying around the island) and cats. Rising sea levels are eroding coastlines and making nesting options more scarce.

Dina conducts twice-daily patrols along the coast, scouting for new nesting spots and keeping track of the hatching status, which typically takes place two weeks after the nests are discovered. If a nest is at risk of damage, his team transfers the entire nest, egg by egg, to a safer spot.

The Seychellois says, While preserving turtles is hard work, I get satisfaction from seeing the number of turtles grow on the island, and guests become more aware of the environment.

Eco-tourism is a key pillar of the Waldorf Astoria Platte Island, which opened in January. The 50-villa resort, accessible only by private plane, is the most luxurious of the six properties of hospitality giant Hilton in Seychelles. The island was a guano-harvesting station and a coconut plantation before Hilton announced its hotel plans in early 2021.

The US$200 million ($270 million) development, designed by Singapore architecture firm Eco.id, includes fan-shaped villas with roofs fashioned after the shell of a hawksbill turtle, a state-of-the-art spa complex shaped like the coco de mer nut, an emblem of Seychelles, and an Aldabra giant tortoise enclosure.

Foodies can have a field day at the six dining establishments, including Maison Des Epices, helmed by local chef Colvin Beau, which presents innovative Latin-Creole dishes such as a moreish grilled octopus with papaya chutney and prawn and crab curry in salted coconut.

Other popular activities at the watersports centre include fly fishing, kite surfing and free diving.

Despite the abundance of activities, the resorts biggest asset is undisputedly the bowl-shaped lagoon in the crater of a prehistoric volcano. The island is encircled by a 13-km barrier reef, which forms a wildlife sanctuary for many young marine creatures. Crystal-clear waters are given in Seychelles world-class beaches, but one that is teeming with marine life is another.

During my hour-long reef walk around the islands perimeter, Dina points out schools of juvenile mangrove whiprays and sea porcupines swimming around seagrass meadows in the shallow, tranquil waters.

Seeing saucer-like whiprays fluttering away at close quarters, followed by a sicklefin lemon shark skimming through, feels like being in a front-row seat in an open-air aquarium, but with sand between your wet toes.

The sheer solitude of the island is best savoured in the capacious one-bedroom Hawksbill pool villa that I stayed at for two nights (each villa comes with a personal concierge). The fan-shaped building encases a private pool that can be accessed from expansive glass doors that open out to a spacious wooden deck.

Looking out to coconut-framed blue skies from the pool offers blissful views of tropical nirvana. The villas are also designed to coexist harmoniously with wildlife they are set back from the oceanfront and are shrouded in trees to minimise light pollution (a semi-private patch of beach is a mere 30-second stroll from each villa).

The balmy outdoors is brought into the villa through a cream and taupe palette and design elements of rope, rattan, bamboo, and seashell drapes. The colossal poster bed is dramatically draped with white linen that soars towards the tall roof, permeating a dreamy cloud-like aura.

The equally roomy bathroom, attached to an outdoor shower area, has an island Apaiser stone bathtub centrepiece that looks out to the garden.

As a seasoned city dweller, I found the reclusiveness of this respite invigorating. During my reef walks, I enjoyed being the only person for miles along stretches of beach with hovering brown noddy birds and lush vegetation for company.

Come nightfall, a post-dinner walk on the closed runway is magical. Looking at the bright moon, which lit up most of the tarmac, and listening to the light rustle of coconut trees waving to the cool breeze, it was my moment of meditative bliss.

As Seychelles largest island, Mahe is the epicentre of social, cultural and business life. The East African nation is a melting pot of communities that include African, European, Indian, Arab, and Chinese that have crossed paths on the multicultural island. It is also home to numerous beaches or anse (theres one at every turn of the road). The national pastime involves mingling with bottles of SeyBrew beer at a barbecue party. We highlight some of the must-dos on Mahe Island.

The worlds smallest capital boasts a compact town centre, where locals throng markets and shopping complexes, mostly on Saturdays. At the heart of town, the landmark clock tower is a miniature replica of the one on Vauxhall Bridge in London. It was brought here in 1903 when Seychelles were under British rule.

Foodies should visit Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, which sells freshly caught fish such as jobfish, groupers and red snappers in the morning, alongside fruit and vegetables. Also, go for spices such as curry powder, cinnamon, vanilla pods, and tea.

The multicultural city also has a 40-year-old South Hindu temple with an eye-catching gopuram, cathedrals, and a Chinese cultural centre. Walking to the citys key sights, including a history museum housed in a former colonial-style courthouse, can be completed within an hour.

The park is a cluster of six small, lush islands encapsulating a shallow turquoise water lagoon. It is so clear that you can see rippled reflections on the sandbed while wading from one island to another.

A day trip from Eden Island on Mahe includes a chartered glass-bottom boat excursion that offers a view of the abundant marine life before heading to Cerf Island, a popular snorkelling and diving spot. You can also look out for some paragliding action on the neighbouring islands. The parks entrance fee is priced at RS200 ($20).

spga.gov.sc/parks/st-anne

The Seychellois rum brand, founded in 2002, has become synonymous with the country, with numerous bars serving it in cocktails. About three-quarters of its rum is exported overseas. La Plaine St. Andr aptly occupies a former sugarcane plantation house, houses a distillery, museum, medicinal garden, and a rum shack in a large garden that hosts weekend markets.

Takamakas classic rums include coconut, pineapple, and tropical spices with papaya and vanilla. Sign up for a free tour on weekdays and Saturdays to learn more about the brands storied heritage.

takamakarum.com

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Get up close and personal with wildlife at the Waldorf Astoria Platte Island resort in Seychelles - The Peak Singapore

The Port Victoria Management Information System (PVMIS) is for all those using the Seychelles' portsto conduct business. (Seychelles Ports Authority)

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Organisations and individuals that are in some ways using the Seychelles' ports are asked to join the Port Victoria Management Information System (PVMIS), a centralised information system where all the forms needed at the departure for boats and ships to conduct their business can be filled out earlier and in real time.

The system has incorporated several systems, such as accounts, procurement, accounting, and web-based solutions designed for real-time planning and management of port operations.

The Seychelles Port Authority (SPA) in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport made the request in a press conference on Monday.

The Minister for Transport, Antony Derjacques, told reporters that as of August 1, 2024, the phased rollout for the manual system will begin with the intention of transitioning to becoming fully digital.

"The system has been working in parallel with the manual system since it was soft launched in October 2023. The PVMIS, when fully functional, will eventually become mandatory because it has been noticed that as long as stakeholders still have the option of the manual system running parallel, they do not give priority to using the PVMIS and continue with the manual paper-based version which they are more comfortable with,"he explained.

Derjacques added that as of August 1, there is a list of stakeholders including shipping agentsand carrier companies, among others, that will be joining the system. He saidthat they intend to make the system mandatory by January 2025.

For the phasing out process starting in August, the minister clarified that the other processeswill involve the import, from vessel stop-over declaration through the gate-out exit. This will be primarily for selected port users who have been using the system only for the past few months.

"This means that the manual system will be discarded almost completely for these selected users while the others, who for one reason or another have not been included in this first phase, will be added gradually at other roll-out phases which will be continuous until the end of the year. This will also allow SPA to manage the change process and continue to monitor and improve the system along the way,"said Derjaques.

The chief executive of the SPA, Sony Payet, said that at the moment, there are 141 clearing agents in the country out of which only 30arepart of the official association for clearing agents.

Payet said that these clearing agents are also amongthe groups that SPA is asking to come forward to join the PVMIS.

"The PVMIS is meant to make the different port processes more efficient. This will benefit all stakeholders. For example, in the case of the clearing agents, with this system, they will not need to visit five different offices in person each time they are working, they can simply do it on their device,"he explained.

The Mahe Quay or Port Victoria as it is most commonly known was officially opened on October 6, 1973, and remains one of the most important industrial fishing, cruise and super yacht port destinations in the southwest Indian Ocean.

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Ports: Digital access to Seychelles' PVMIS to be mandatory by 2025 - Seychelles News Agency

Tourism Seychelles has concluded a successful roadshow across the USA's West Coast, promoting the archipelago as a premier travel destination. The event, which ended on 18 July 2024, visited Phoenix, Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, and San Diego, attracting over 100 top-tier travel advisors.

Led by Tourism Seychelles executives Natacha Servina and Rolira Young, the roadshow highlighted Seychelles' pristine beaches, world-class diving, and luxurious accommodations. Local partners from Eden Bleu Hotel, Constance Group, Creole Travel Services, and Blue Safari Seychelles also participated.

The event featured engaging presentations, one-on-one networking sessions, and giveaways of seven-day trips with airfare to four lucky attendees. Notably, only two of the seasoned travel professionals present had previously visited Seychelles, underscoring the importance of such educational events.

Tourism Seychelles emphasised sustainable tourism practices and the islands' commitment to preserving their natural beauty. The roadshow's success is expected to boost American long-haul travellers to Seychelles, already a top-10 visitor demographic for the island nation.

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Source: ETurbo News

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Seychelles Tourism Roadshow wowed US West Coast - African Travel and Tourism Association

This includes developing the exchange market, facilitating bilateral trade and direct investment, and remittance settlement

Khaled Mohamed Balama, governor of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), and Caroline Abel, governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS), signed two Memoranda of Understanding in Abu Dhabi. These agreements focused on enhancing the use of local currencies for settling cross-border financial and commercial transactions, as well as interlinking payment and messaging systems between the two countries.

The first MoU aims to establish a framework to promote the use of the UAE dirham and the Seychellois rupee in settling bilateral commercial transactions. This includes developing the exchange market, facilitating bilateral trade and direct investment, remittance settlement, and financial market development. The agreement outlines several elements to enable the settlement of commercial transactions in the two local currencies, in accordance with the laws and regulations of each country.

Under the second MoU, the CBUAE and CBS will consolidate cooperation and mutual benefit from the services of instant payment platforms, electronic switches, and messaging systems. This involves directly linking the Instant Payments Platform (IPP) that the CBUAE is developing within its Financial Infrastructure Transformation Program, and the similar platform in Seychelles. Additionally, the central banks will explore the possibility of linking their messaging systems and collaborating on FinTech and Central Bank Digital Currencies.

Commenting on the occasion, Balama stated that the MoU signing reflects the CBUAEs commitment to expanding its relations with regional and international counterparts to enhance the UAEs economic and commercial partnerships globally. He explained that the use of the two countries currencies for cross-border transactions will contribute to reducing costs and saving time in settling transactions, while also developing the foreign exchange market in the UAE dirham and the Seychellois rupee.

Read more: CBUAEs foreign assets surge 2.55 percent to $204.27 billion in April 2024

Moreover, Abel underscored the importance of an effective and efficient financial system to facilitate trade for small open island economies like Seychelles. She stated that the MoUs, guided by relevant laws to safeguard the soundness and integrity of the respective financial systems, can assist in this endeavor. Abel also noted that the agreement to promote the use of the UAE Dirhams and the Seychelles Rupees in cross-border transactions can further facilitate trade relations between stakeholders across the two jurisdictions. She further added that the opportunity to collaborate on interlinking payment and messaging systems will facilitate the processing and settlement of cross-border financial transactions between the UAE and Seychelles, as the Central Bank of Seychelles continues to modernize and develop the Seychelles national payment system in line with the governments digital economy agenda.

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UAE and Seychelles partner to promote local currency usage, interlink payment and messaging systems - Economy Middle East

Big Pete has a habit of creeping up on you when you least expect it. The 90-year-old is a natural flirt and the closest thing to a celebrity on Desroches Island, in an isolated archipelago in the Indian Ocean. But Im not talking about a nonagenarian of the human kind, rather a giant Aldabra tortoise.

Desroches is one of the Amirante Islands, which make up the Outer Islands of the Seychelles. It is a wild and windswept place; door to door, it takes some 24 hours to get there from London, but once you do, you instantly forget the long journey.

Your shoulders drop, your shoes come off and its like youve stepped into the pages of Robinson Crusoe.

While the Seychelles is already known for a handful of smart hotels found on its far-flung islands such as Frgate and North Island Desroches still feels firmly off the tourist path, with an unpolished essence about it, despite it being home to a sustainably minded Four Seasons resort.

For many years, the skinny island, which stretches to just 5.5km long and 1km wide, was simply a coconut plantation, producing around 20,000 of them a month for coconut oil production.

Nowadays, other than the resort, theres a small Creole village and not much else, apart from Big Pete and his companions 150 giant tortoises who potter freely around.

Big Pete (Photo: Angelina Villa-Clarke)

Big Pete is the most outgoing and the largest of the tortoises, says Nasreen Khan, one of the conservationists working with the Island Conservation Society (ICS), which also has a base on the island and runs a tortoise breeding programme.

He adores attention and will follow visitors around to see if you have any tasty leaves in your possession. Most of all, hes probably after a massage. You see him stick his neck out and stand high on his feet if you stroke his shell and neck he loves it!

There has been a hotel of sorts on the island for 30 years, the first being a simple fishing lodge. Since then a variety of low-key hotels have set up shop, but it was not until 2021, when Four Seasons opened, that Desroches started getting noticed by tourists looking for a sense of adventure with a side serving of luxury.

Most guests arrive after a pit stop in Mah, the main island of the Seychelles where the capital, Victoria, is found. Four Seasons Resort Seychelles is located here, and guests can spend time there to break up the journey, whether for a few hours or a few days, before taking a 35-minute flight, 250 miles south to Desroches.

Landing strip on Desroches Island (Photo: Four Seasons)

The landing strip on Desroches cuts dramatically through the centre of the island, crooked, towering palms fringing it on either side, with the hotel tucked away along the western shore.

You stay in one of 71 villas, which have colourful interiors and winding paths to the beach.

Inside, the aesthetic is a nod to the Seychellois Creole culture, a multiracial blend of African, Asian and European influences. Youll find cheery pops of colour, such as an oversized, fuchsia-pink peacock chair and green palm print cushions.

Grand, high beds are swathed in mosquito net curtains and laid with crisp linens, while a vintage, wooden chest hides the TV. The ceilings are vaulted and the walls have oversized copper bowls as decoration.

The huge bathrooms continue the rustic theme with plenty of natural details, such as curvy stone baths, wooden vanity units and traditional woven rugs.

Plunge pool at Desroches Island (Photo: Four Seasons)

Central to the ethos of the Four Seasons resort is sustainability and conservation and it works alongside ICS and WiseOceans, which runs marine discovery programmes here, to support the regions precious wildlife and environment.

As well as looking after a further 174 tortoises in a breeding programme, ICS supports WiseOceans with research and rehabilitation of sea turtles, sea birds, coral reefs and seagrass meadows and guests are encouraged to get involved via the resorts Discover Centre and the Tortoise Sanctuary.

The ICS centre opened in 2009, explains Nasreen. Our main objectives have always been to protect wildlife and to make sure Desroches Island is an environmental rehabilitation success.

One area we are working on at the moment, for instance, is the eastern end of the island. We are restoring it to its former natural state and replanting native Broadleaf trees to help maintain the biodiversity of the island.

By day, you can immerse yourself in all of this by making a slow cycle ride across the islands nine miles of trails, to land at beautiful tropical beaches.

Madame Zabre and Bombay Beach both offer arcs of shell-scattered, talcum-powder sands, lapped by impossibly azure waters but, you are spoilt for choice, as there are 14km of beach in total.

Desroches beach (Photo: Angelina Villa-Clarke)

As you pedal, youll skirt the dark, dense interior of forest, brushing against fragrant frangipani and avoiding skittish geckos, while huge orange butterflies dance in front of you. You might spot a bright red Madagascar Fody bird balancing on a branch or perhaps see a regal Grey Heron dipping its feet in the sea.

As well as helping with tortoise monitoring, guests of all ages can get involved with a variety of conservation activities, from planting coral to beach clean-ups.

The snorkelling and diving are also exceptional here, with a variety of sharks, dolphins and rays often spotted, as well as Green and Hawksbill Turtles.

The Desroches atoll also hosts some of the healthiest seagrass meadows in the western Indian Ocean an important feeding habitat for a wide variety of marine life so you will swim into a kaleidoscopic, rainbow world of Yellowscale Parrotfish, Peacock Grouper, Giant Clams and Sea Stars.

On the eastern tip of the island, a white, wooden lighthouse is home to the islands smartest restaurant, the Island Grill. Climb to the top for sunset views across the Indian Ocean over an Island Breeze, made with sweet, local Takamaka rum, passion fruit, pineapple and lime.

Afterwards, you can tuck into a menu that uses locally sourced ingredients and offers plenty of vegetarian options from a beetroot tartare to tamarind-glazed aubergine steak.

The Lighthouse at Four Seasons Desroches (Photo: Four Seasons)

For guests staying longer than a few nights, theres no risk of getting bored, with plenty of dining spots to choose from across beach bars and relaxed restaurants.

Take breakfast at Claudine, for instance, and you can indulge in a vast buffet with a fresh bakery corner, as well as an la carte menu, which includes delicious cinnamon crpes and healthy tropical fruit-laced granola bowls.

By night, the restaurant offers creole-influenced cuisine, such as Desroches Hearts of Palm Salad, Capsicum Curry and Saffron Rice and a standout Takamaka Caramelised Pineapple (a must for sweet-toothed guests).

All dining spots also offer inventive child and teenage menus to keep all ages happy. In fact, as far-flung as Four Seasons Desroches is, it is incredibly family-focused with more than 70 island experiences to pick from whether you fancy surfing tuition, paddleboarding, creole cooking lessons or beach volleyball competitions, all run from the Castaway Centre.

Adults may want to sneak off for a rum-tasting session, showcasing locally made varieties.

Night descends quickly on Desroches, like star-spangled curtains coming down, while the day starts early. At sunrise, you can join a yoga class on the islands runway or take a dip in your private pool before the temperatures soar.

For those wanting some me time, the Circle of Connection Spa offers nature-inspired treatments, such as the Sound of the Waves massage, which sees the therapist use a rolling technique to mimic the sound and motion of the ocean.

All in all, its blissful. No wonder Big Pete is still so sprightly.

Flights from London to the Seychelles cost from 802pp with Qatar Airways.

Rates at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island start at around 620 per night, including breakfast but excluding taxes.

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The Seychelles: island life in the slow lane - The Jewish Chronicle

The Seychelles and Burundi lock horns at the Berkane Municipal Stadium in Berkane, Morocco on Tuesday for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. While the former are still searching for their first point of the campaign, their rivals from East Africa are looking to close the gap on the group's first two teams.

Ranked 197th in the world, the Seychelles are one of the weakest sides in the world, and their terrible results in these qualifiers have been a testament to the same. The Pirates were crushed 9-0 by Ivory Coast in the opening game, before a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Kenya. On Saturday, Gambia inflicted further damage on the island nation with a 5-1 trouncing.

Having conceded 19 times in just three games, Ralph Jean-Louis' side have the worst defensive record of any side in the CAF zone. Burundi can smell blood in the water here, and they will be looking to pounce on Seychelles' vulnerability to ignite their qualifying run.

With four points in three games, the Swallows are in fourth position, level with Kenya but behind on goal difference. They are winless in their last five official clashes, losing three (all coming in a row) before drawing twice. The East African side will feel they have a chance to return to winning ways here.

Seychelles have been terrible in these qualifiers, with their defense hopelessly cut open by their opponents, who've scored a combined 19 goals in three games. The Swallows will surely look to capitalise on their vulnerabilities and secure a big win, something they are fully capable of.

Prediction: Seychelles 0-3 Burundi

Tip 1 - Result: Burundi to win

Tip 2 - Goals over/under 2.5: Over 2.5 goals

Tip 3 - Both teams to score: No

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Seychelles vs Burundi Prediction and Betting Tips | 11th June 2024 - Sportskeeda