The Republic of Seychelles is an island nation in the Indian Ocean.

It consists of approximately 115 islands (42 granite islands and 73 coral islands), divided by location into two groups: Inner Islands and Outer Islands.

Geographically they belong to Africa, sitting on the northern and western section of the Mascarene Ridge. To the south lie the island nations of Madagascar, Mauritius and the Comoros.

The Inner Islands sea area, comprising 32 islands, is also known as the Seychelles Bank. It covers an area of around 31,000 km². The main island is Mahé (154 km²), followed by Praslin (38 km²) and La Digue (10 km²). The Inner Islands are the most densely populated group in the country. Other beautiful islands include: Silhouette (20 km²), Île du Nord (2 km²), Frégate (2 km²), Île Aride (1 km²) and Île Denis (1.4 km²).

On Mahé stands the country's highest point, Morne Seychellois (905 m).

Beyond the Seychelles Bank, the Outer Islands archipelago spreads across a maritime area of 400,000 km² and includes the following island groups: the Amirantes with their main island Desroches, Alphonse, Aldabra, Cosmoledo Atoll, Farquhar, Platte and Coëtivy.

On the many coral islands, the low elevation (the highest points barely reach nine metres above sea level!) and the scarcity of fresh water mean that only a handful of small settlements exist.

• It is believed the islands that are now the Seychelles were first discovered by Arab traders.
• In 1502, ships from the fleet of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama anchored at the islands of the Amirantes.
• Although they were known to the western world from that point, permanent settlement did not follow until 150 years later, when the French established a colony.
• In 1756 the Seychelles were annexed as French territory. At the same time as the Seven Years' War raged in Europe, coalition wars were being fought in North America and Asia, while a bitter naval conflict between France and Great Britain played out in the Indian Ocean around Mauritius — leaving the settlers largely to fend for themselves.
• From 1794 to 1811, another bloody war between the French and British fleets ended in British victory. The Seychelles were annexed and, under British rule, became part of the colony of Mauritius.
• On 31 August 1903, the Seychelles were granted the status of a separate Crown Colony.
• Independence came in 1976; the island republic remained within the Commonwealth.
• 26 December 2004. The tsunami triggered by an undersea earthquake off Indonesia reached the Seychelles as well. Three people were killed. Eyewitnesses reported the sea level suddenly rising by at least two metres after the water had first drawn back. The wave flooded beaches and coastlines across the islands.

Because the Seychelles are largely surrounded by more or less intact coral reefs, the tsunami caused relatively little structural damage. Many corals — already weakened by excessively warm water and sun bleaching — broke off in the surge.

The rainy season (monsoon) runs from December to March.

Between May and September comes the drier but windier season.

Severe storms are rare, however.

Temperatures range between 24 °C and 30 °C throughout the year; sea temperature stays at around 26 °C year-round.

Rainfall on Mahé varies between 2,880 mm in the capital Victoria and 3,550 mm in the mountainous interior. Humidity is high — usually above 80 percent. The best time to visit the Seychelles is from May to October.

Condor, Air Seychelles, Emirates and Qatar Airways operate nonstop flights from Frankfurt to Mahé.

Regular ferry services — in some cases several times daily — connect Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. The ferries are mostly schooners operated by private companies. The crossing from Mahé to Praslin takes around one and a half hours; from Praslin to La Digue it is about half an hour.

Citizens of most Western countries, including Germany, do not require a visa. A visitor's permit for the duration of the stay is issued on arrival at the border. Entry requirements include a valid passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond the travel dates), a return ticket, proof of accommodation and sufficient funds.

Important: The entry permit must remain valid for the entire duration of your stay.

Proof of a return or onward journey is required even if you plan to depart the Seychelles by boat or ship rather than by air.

Customs allowances: Alcohol: 2 litres of spirits and 2 litres of wine; Perfume: 200 ml; Tobacco: 200 cigarettes or 250 g of tobacco. Any applicable customs duties must be paid in cash.

Drug offences carry a minimum prison sentence of 3 years.

Photography and filming are strictly prohibited around the Seychelles Defence Forces Army Headquarters.

Vaccinations:

No vaccinations are mandatory for travellers arriving directly from Germany. However, standard routine vaccinations should be kept up to date. Travellers arriving from a yellow fever zone (e.g. mainland Africa) must present proof of a valid yellow fever vaccination. The Seychelles are malaria-free.

Tap water is not reliably safe — bottled water is recommended. With food, the rule is: cook it or peel it.

Dengue fever, a viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes, is present throughout the islands. Mosquito repellent is the only preventive measure; no vaccine is currently available.

Information provided without guarantee.

Money & Practicalities:

The Seychellois Rupee has been freely convertible since September 2008. All transactions can be conducted in local currency. Major credit cards and traveller's cheques are accepted almost everywhere. ATMs dispense cash in local currency only. Traveller's cheques can be cashed at hotels. Both credit card and Maestro (EC) card terminals are widely available. The euro has become more widely used than the US dollar. Illegal street money changing can result in deportation from the Seychelles.