SEYCHELLES – TRULY ANOTHER WORLD
(Posted 23rd August 2016)
Three of the overall 115 Seychelles islands have made the Condé Nast Traveller’s list of ‘The World’s 22 Most Incredible Private Islands‘, namely Denis Private Island, North Island and Frégate Island Private. North Island in particular has come to global prominence following the honeymoon taken there by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin in 2014 and a list of the global who is who in between and since. Read on to also learn about the lesser known but equally exclusive Denis and Fregate and then, a personal tip from this correspondent, look up the soon to reopen Four Seasons luxury resort on the island of Desroches which is part of the more distant Amirantes group of the Seychelles islands.
Denis Private Island
A natural paradise, Denis Private Island is a coraline island located just 30 minutes by plane from Seychelles’ main island of Mahé. The island’s tag-line is ‘Barefoot Luxury at its finest‘ and here you’ll discover just that when staying in your own secluded beach front cottage. Marked by a progressive conservation programme that keeps the island in pristine natural splendour, and its own organic farm providing only the freshest ingredients to its acclaimed restaurant, Denis Island truly is a gem in the Seychelles crown.
North Island
Located amongst the inner granitic islands of Seychelles, North Island is a fertile paradise featuring just eleven private guest villas, offering each guest an unparalleled sense of exclusivity and luxury amidst spectacular natural scenery.
The island’s lavish Presidential Villa is renowned the world over as being one of the most exclusive accommodation options for the discerning luxury traveller.
Frégate Island Private
Located just 55 kilometers (35 miles) off Seychelles’ main island of Mahé, the natural surroundings are home to free roaming Aldabra giant tortoises, sea turtles and a plethora of rare and exotic birds, all cared for in an ambitious conservation programme. Here guests will discover a luxury castaway experience in one of 16 villas nestled amidst the flora and fauna of the island, and on the shores of the pristine waters of the Indian Ocean. The island also offers The Banyan Hill Estate on its own secluded peninsula, as well as a private inland harbour & yacht club.
Reach the Seychelles four times a week from Nairobi with Kenya Airways, with Air Seychelles from Johannesburg, Antananarivo, Mauritius, Paris, Abu Dhabi and Mumbai besides added codeshared flights with partner airline Etihad, with Air Austral from Reunion Island and with Emirates double daily from Dubai. Soon to follow will be Turkish Airlines, flying three times a week from Istanbul come end September and from the start of the winter flight schedule will Qatar Airways operate daily flights to Mahe from Doha.
Other airlines flying to the Seychelles are Condor, due to double their flights from the next winter season, Mihin Lanka from Colombo / Sri Lanka and Ethiopian four times a week from Addis Ababa.
