Seychelles for October Break

We just spent an amazing 10 days in the Seychelles for the kids’ October break.   Of the 115 islands in the Seychelles archipelago, we slept on three (Mahé, La Digue, and Praslin), visited two others (Curieuse and Cousin), and snorkeled around one more (St. Pierre). 

Mahé

We spent two nights on Mahé, so Matt could meet with a few people for work.  We enjoyed the gorgeous beach, the pool at the apartments where we were staying, and the first of many beautiful sunsets (somehow we luckily were always staying on the west side of the island).  Anderson even helped some fishermen throw back some of the small fish from their net.

 

La Digue

Next we took two ferries to La Digue (Mahé to Praslin, and Praslin to La Digue).  Two nights here and our favorite of the three islands.  Bike rides, one of the regularly named best beaches in the world, and almost no cars…what’s not to love?  Anderson and Ashlyn both tried our host’s octopus curry;  big hit with Anderson and Ashlyn says it was a bit chewy but okay. 

  

Anse Source D’Argent Beach

Said to be the most photographed beach in the world with good reason.  Clear, calm water.  Striking granite boulders.  And one very friendly butterfly fish.  Despite being one of the most famous beaches, we were able to find our own private cove for most of the day. 

    

Bike rides to the beach and to our guest house.

 

And, of course, more lovely sunsets.

 

Praslin

We spent the last 5 nights at a resort on Praslin, Coco de Mer, named for the endemic coco de mer palm found only in the Seychelles.

Curieuse Island:  Land Tortoises and (very hot) hike to beautiful beach

 

Snorkel around St. Pierre:  Tierney is getting really good at diving down with her snorkel on. 

       

Cousin Island :  birds, hawksbill turtle nesting, and more land tortoises (and horrible, horrible mosquitoes)

Vallée de Mai:  UNESCO world heritage site and home to many of the islands’ coco de mer palms. A really nice hike through the palm forest.

From the female palm:

The male coco de mer palm (with a lizard on it):

   

Time to take a flight back to Mahé to catch our flight to Nairobi.  We thought we’d try this instead of the ferry for the way back (almost the same price, so why not?). 

Matt was a champion and did the drive back from Nairobi almost all of it after dark; it was nice to be home and sleep in our own beds.  Anderson was up playing soccer with Petro before 8am.  A great trip, but always good to come home.