Honeymoon in the Seychelles
Our trip to the Seychelles was meant to be a wonderful honeymoon experience. Our expectations kept growing right up until our departure. And we can honestly say they were exceeded. It was an unforgettable time for us. We went from one beach to the next, always searching for an even more beautiful corner of the world, tried to experience as much Creole culture as possible and were not disappointed.
Our holiday began with our approach to Mahé. We were completely exhausted after the overnight flight, but the view from the window of the turquoise water below woke us up in an instant. The airport is right by the sea. Like most of the other passengers, we pressed our noses against the window after landing to enjoy the sea views as we taxied to the gate. It felt as though the aircraft was travelling no more than 5 metres from the water’s edge. Naturally, this made us even more excited to explore the island.
During our first week on Mahé, we got to know the ‘big city’ of the Seychelles. Everything here is always that little bit busier. The traffic is heavier. There is even a tiny motorway. And, of course, more people live here. We decided to travel by bus, which was certainly a rather wild yet safe and enjoyable experience. So there was no need for us to hire a car. The Sir Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market in Victoria is definitely worth a visit, and you should remember to look up at the ceiling as you wander between the aisles. Although Mahé has more of a city feel, it does not detract from the impression of being on a tropical island.
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The Wild South bus tour we had booked took us once again via the market in Victoria, then inland to a tea plantation, former slave quarters from a bygone era and, of course, a great many viewpoints. There is something quite special about seeing a real cinnamon tree and smelling its bark, or watching a wild pineapple in bloom. The highlight of this trip was a magnificent buffet featuring freshly grilled fish and other Creole delicacies.
Next, we took the ferry to Praslin. We were looking forward to more adventures, and we certainly found them. Using bicycles from our resort, we were able to explore the surrounding area, go shopping or simply enjoy a leisurely ride. However, we also travelled around this island by public bus, which was just as bumpy and fast-paced here. We visited the Black Pearl Farm and learnt how genuine Seychellois black pearls are formed. We also discovered a very lovely jewellery shop where the pearls could be purchased beautifully set in jewellery or individually for your own creations.
Naturally, we also wanted to visit one of the many nature parks. We chose the Fond Ferdinand nature reserve, with its seemingly endless Coco de Mer palms, almost artistically constructed termite mounds, various bird species and beautiful viewpoints. These are your reward after climbing around 530 steps up the mountain through the jungle on a guided tour. The steps naturally seemed rather daunting at first, but the effort we had feared was broken up by the guide’s many explanatory stops, turning it into an enchanting jungle tour. We often found ourselves staring upwards, open-mouthed in amazement. And in the end, all those steps were not bad at all.
For us, Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette, both in the north, were the most beautiful beaches on Praslin. The sight of the magnificent sandy beaches and turquoise-blue water made for a wonderful day. As elsewhere in the Seychelles, the sand is powder-fine and white, while the water feels like pure bliss. However, the waves at both beaches should not be underestimated, so we did not feel confident enough to go snorkelling or swimming here. But standing in the water and occasionally throwing yourself into the tall waves is tremendous fun. The beach is so spacious that you never feel crowded on your towel. At Anse Lazio, there are several beach restaurants, while at Anse Georgette, a friendly stallholder serves chopped coconut, mango, papaya and much more on a large banana leaf.
By contrast, the beach by our accommodation, Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or), is very calm and shallow. While exploring it, we found a small bay slightly secluded from the main beach, which we chose as our peaceful retreat. Once again, it was beautifully framed by palm trees and granite rocks, with hardly anyone else around. We loved coming here to float and relax in the water. When we waded into the sea, we often encountered a ray basking in the sand in the warm, shallow water. Naturally, it swam away as soon as it noticed us; otherwise, we would never have spotted it beneath the sand.
We also paid a visit to Curieuse Island. A small boat collected us from the beach by our accommodation, Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or), and we arrived in just 20 minutes. At the enormous tortoise breeding centre, with its countless giant tortoises of every size, you can feed and stroke them, take photographs or simply observe them. We could have spent hours there, had there not been more sights to see. We then set off for a remote former leper colony, crossing wooden walkways through an enormous mangrove forest filled with all kinds of crabs scurrying across the ground, countless snails and much more. Had we travelled to the Seychelles at a different time of year, we could have seen the mangrove forest flooded by the sea and inhabited by several baby sharks. On arriving at the former colony, you come across another tortoise or two and can explore the site free of charge. Naturally, the beach there is also an experience in itself. It is ideal for snorkelling, so many boats anchor there to take the numerous visitors back to their islands.
The highlight of our holiday was the island of La Digue. We spent the whole day cycling along the cycle paths on our hired bicycles. There are no cars driving around or traffic noise to disturb you here, because they simply do not exist. Apart from a small number of vehicles used for local logistics, cars are banned. There are no buses either. Instead, countless cyclists passed us along the way. At the L'Union Estate Park, situated right by the sea, we enjoyed the vanilla plantation, an old, beautifully preserved colonial house from a bygone era, as well as countless palm trees, enormous granite boulders and yet more giant tortoises. Every so often, you reach the sea and can enjoy a wonderful view. The crowning glory of the park, however, is Anse Source d'Argent. Here, we came across many bridal couples having their photographs taken, along with their ox carts decorated for the wedding. Once we saw the dreamlike beach, we understood why. We simply could not stop marvelling at it. We could have walked along the beach forever, partly on the sand and partly, as the tide came in, through ankle-deep water. Our camera was in constant use, with arrangements of granite rocks providing the most beautiful pictures. As we were on our honeymoon too, we also stood beneath a floral arch decorated for bridal couples. This beach must also be excellent for snorkelling, as we saw snorkellers everywhere. It was a shame we had not brought our equipment with us. However, we still had several other places we wanted to visit by bicycle. In general, many of La Digue’s beaches are beautiful, but none could quite match Anse Source d'Argent in terms of appearance.
Conclusion: During our 19-day stay in the Seychelles, we experienced adventurous, romantic and also many joyful and inspiring moments. We hope to return one day to discover more islands, experience even more of the culture and, above all, enjoy the relaxed nature of the local people. We have never encountered such understanding and patience as we did in the Seychelles, where someone can stop their car in the middle of a junction, get out and chat to a passer-by on the pavement for 20 minutes without an approaching driver sounding their horn furiously about the vehicle blocking the junction. Instead, they simply drive around it. Just wonderful, and certainly an inspiration to take home with us.
