Country Guide

The Seychelles consist of over ninety small islands with a total land area similar to that of the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. They are situated between 4° and 5°S in the Indian Ocean.

Most of the islands are low-lying but the largest island, Mahé, has hills rising to 900 m/3,000 ft. The islands are about 1,300 km/800 mi from the coast of East Africa. They have a tropical climate and have recently become well known as a tourist resort.

The table for Port Victoria is representative of temperature and humidity throughout the year.

The amount of rainfall round the year varies with altitude and is rather higher on the southern sides of the islands, which are exposed to the dominant southeast trade winds. Rainfall is everywhere moderate to heavy and the wettest months are November to March. The Seychelles are rarely if ever affected by tropical cyclones.

The combination of moderately high temperature and high humidity is tempered by regular daytime sea breezes. The nights may feel muggy and oppressive, particularly to the visitor who is not yet acclimatised, but the climate is neither hazardous nor unpleasant.