Seychelles : Basic Information
Full Country Name: The Republic of Seychelles
Area: 455 sq km of land scattered over 650,000 sq km of ocean
Population: 82,250 (2003 est)
Capital City: Victoria
People: Predominantly African with French, Malagasy, Chinese, Indian, British infusions
Languages: English, French and Creole
Religion(s): Roman Catholic (89%), Anglican (6%), Moslem (3%), Hindu (2%)
Currency: Seychelles Rupee
Government system: Parliamentary democracy
Major Political Parties: Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF), Seychelles National Party (SNP), Democratic Party (DP)
Government: Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF)
Head of State: President James Michel
Foreign Minister: Jeremie Bonnelame
Related Travel Information
Seychelles : Health Tips
Seychelles is close to the Equator so the sun is strong and hats/caps and sunglasses are usually needed. Bring sun protection creams and insect repellents with you, as local supplies are erratic and expensive.
Medical facilities in Seychelles are limited, especially on the more remote islands where doctors are often unavailable. The main hospital is in Victoria.
You should check the Department of Health website at: www.dh.gov.uk, or contact your own GP for up to date advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis.
Following recent flooding, the Seychelles authorities have reminded people to take precautions against mosquito bites, to reduce
Morne Seychellois National Park
This 11-square-mile (30 km2) park covers much of north¬west Mahe, with altitudes ranging from sea level to 2969 feet (905 m). There are hiking trails from Sans Souci Road to Copolia (1630 ft./497 m), Morne Blanc (2188 ft/667 m) and Trois Freres (2293 ft./699 m). Birdlife includes the blue pigeon, Seychelles bulbul, Seychelles kestrel, cave swiftlet, sunbird and Seychelles white-eye.
Flora in the park includes five different species of palm trees, the vanilla orchid (Vanilla phalaenopsis), the extremely rare jellyfish tree (Medusagyne oppositifolia) and bwa-d-fer (Valeria seychellarum).
Malawi: Basic Information
Full Country Name: The Republic of Malawi
Area: 118,000 sq. km
Population: 11,651,239 (est. 2003)
Capital City: Lilongwe
Key Date: 6 July (Independence Day)
People: Malawian
Languages: English, Chichewa
Religion(s): Protestant (55%), Roman Catholic (20%), Muslim (20%), indigenous beliefs (3%), other beliefs (2%)
Currency: Malawian Kwacha
Government system: Multiparty democracy
Major political parties: United Democratic Front (UDF), Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Republican Party (RP), Peoples' Progressive Movement (PPM)
Government: United Democratic Front (UDF)
Head of State: President Bingu wa Mutharika
Foreign Minister: Hon George Chaponda
Membership of international groupings/organisations: Commonwealth, Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), African Union (AU), United Nations.
Fregate Island
Fregate Island, historically a haven for pirates, is a granite island one and a half miles long and a quarter mile wide (2.5 x 0.4 km), situated about 20 minutes east of Mahe by air. The island has lovely beaches and a variety of flora and birdlife, including the Seychelles magpie robin, and Seychelles blue Pigeon.
Seychelles : Geography
The Seychelles are right in the heart of the Indian Ocean between the African East Coast and India. They are a bit closer to Africa geographically speaking but culturally and geologically speaking it is maybe closer to the Indian subcontinent. The Seychelles are the only granite islands in the world (all the others are volcanic or biological in origin) which accounts for it's unusual rock formations. The islands were "left behind" as the Indian sub-continent moved northward on its way to collide with Asia.
The Seychelles consist of 115 islands, all of the type "tropical paradise used in
