Beach Resorts

* There are beach resorts on all the main islands with a range of accommodation standards.

* All types of water sport are available.

* 2 monsoon periods; the south east monsoon from May to October is the cool and with less rain and the north east monsoon from December to March is calmer but warmer with heavier rain.

African Safari Club
- Splendour of the Seychelles: UK Mombasa flight, Mombasa 6 days, Mahe (Seychelles) flight, Nosy Be (Madagascar), Mayotte, Zanzibar, Mombasa-UK flight.
Departures:
- Voyages of Discovery: UK-Mombasa flight, Mombasa 3 days, Zanzibar, Mayotte, Nose Be (Madagascar), Mahe, Praslin, Mombasa, Mombasa-UK flight.
Departures:
- Around the Horn of Africa: UK-Mombasa flight, Mombasa 3 days, Zanzibar, Mayotte, Nosy Be (Madagascar), Mahe, Praslin, Aden, Djibouti, Djibouti-UK flight.
Departures: (itinerary operates in reverse order).

* Cruise ships do operate to West Africa from time to time, often calling at Dakar.

* Seychelles Rupee divided into 100 cents.

* Credit Cards:
Visa, Mastercard, Access, American Express and Diners Club are widely accepted in good hotels, restaurants and also in some stores in the capital.

* Banking hours:
0815 to 1600 Monday to Friday.

* Currency restrictions:
There are no limits to the importation of local or foreign currency. A maximum of 100 Rupees may be taken out of the country.

* Agriculture: Agriculture is the most important sector: fruit, vegetables, cinnamon, copra, fishing and livestock.

* Mining: None of significance.

* Manufacturing: light industry: soap, brewing, plastics, furniture, cigarettes, soft drinks, steel fabrication.

* Official name: Republic of Seychelles.

* Population: 73,000 (1991 estimate).

* Situation: Island group in the south west of the Indian Ocean. Main Islands Mahe, Praslin, La Digue.

* Timezone: GMT + 4.

* Area: 115 islands scattered over 1,374,000 square kilometers / 530,000 square miles. The actual land mass is 445 square kilometers / 172 square miles.

* Borders with: None.

* Coasts: Indian Ocean.

* Capital: Victoria.

* Chief Port: Victoria.

* Religion: Roman Catholicism (95%).

* Rest Day: Sunday.

* Electricity: 240 Volts AC, 50Hz.

* The Seychelles islands were uninhabited until fairly recent times.

* The islands were first sighted at the beginning of the 16th century, by Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese navigator, but the Portuguese did not attempt to settle there.

* The first settlers arrived in the 1770's, these were French planters and their slaves.

* In 1810 the British took control of the islands and administered them from Mauritius until the beginning of the 20th century, when they were made a separate Crown Colony.

* It wasn't until 1964 that political parties surfaced, and at this point two parties formed: the Seychelles People's United Party (SPUP) led by France-Albert Rene and the Democratic Party (SDP) led by James Mancham.

* The SPUP demanded complete independence, but the SDP wanted the Seychelles to have association with Britain.

* The first elections in the country resulted in stalemate.

* Although in the 1970 elections the SDP won by a majority, Mancham could not persuade Britain that association would be better than complete independence.

* In 1976 independence was granted, and the first government was formed through an amalgamation of both the SPUP and the SDP. The president of this group was Mancham and the prime minister was Rene, Mancham only remained in power for a very short time due to his extravagant plans and in 1977 when he was away attending a Commonwealth Conference in London, a coup was staged, and Rene assumed the presidency.

* In 1981 a group of mercenaries attempted a coup, this nearly succeeded, but its cover was blown when going through airport customs an officer discovered a sub-machine gun.

* Official: English, French.

People

* Creole, mainly descendants of 18th century French colonialists and freed African slaves.

Seychelles

Visas

* A Visitors Permit valid for one month is issued on arrival and in effect, nobody needs a visa. The visitors Permit can be extended up to 3 months and is only issued to those arriving with an onward or return ticket.

* VISA SERVICES

* Advice and information and full visa service from:

* Action Visas
for worlwide visa service, central London based:
phone # 0171 388 4498
fax # 0171 916 0671
from foreign contries:
phone # 44 171 388 4498
fax # 44 171 916 0671