Located roughly five kilometres from Seychelles capital, Victoria, the St Anne Marine National Park is a marine park created for the conservation of marine animals. Founded in 1973, the marine park spans an area of over fourteen square kilometres with six tiny islands (totalling about four square kilometres) falling under its domain. The park comes under the district of Mont Fleuri and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. The marine park is named after Saint Anne Island which is the largest of the six. The island itself got the name as it was discovered on St Anne’s Day and is an important nesting spot for the endangered Hawksbill turtle.
The other islands found within the park are Cerf Island, Ile Cachee (which contains important nesting sites for birds), Round Island (which was once a leper colony), Moyenne Island and Long Island (which currently houses a prison). The marine park is home to over 150 different species of fish, one hundred different kinds of coral and contains one of the world’s largest sea grass meadows. It is a popular place for snorkelling and scuba diving. The clear blue waters afford amazing visibility and one will come across a delightful variety of aquatic life. Motorised aquatic activities, such as jet skiing, are not allowed.
The archipelago of Seychelles consists of 115 islands although not all of them are inhabitable. Much of the country remains pristine and untouched, and vast swathes of Seychelles are protected by law ensuring they remain that way. The island country is home to the coco-de-mer, the world’s heaviest seed, a variety of freshwater crabs and the Aldabra Giant Tortoise. However, it is the country’s amazing beaches that make it such a popular vacation spot.
Finding a good Seychelles hotel will not be difficult. Vacationers who want to enjoy the island nation’s exquisite beauty in secluded comfort should think of staying at a Praslin hotel like the Raffles Praslin Seychelles. Praslin is the country’s second biggest island and contains a few terrific beaches. The island is a quiet haven which is still easily accessible from the outside.