Islands of the Indian Ocean: Zanzibar, Mauritius and the Seychelles

Zanzibar information coming soon!

Sparkling in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius and the Seychelles dazzle visitors: pristine white beaches stretch out into turquoise seas whilst magnificent scenery, rich in rare and colourful plant and wildlife, make these islands a visual feast and you will want to repeat, time and again!

The subtropical climate makes these Indian Ocean islands year-round destinations with outstanding water sports including scuba diving.  If you can tear yourself away from the stunning beaches there is a multitude of land activities and sightseeing opportunities including waterfalls, dramatic mountain scenery and temples, Hindu shrines and glittering pagodas, testament to the exotic legacy of Arab, European, Chinese and Indian influences.

The island of Mauritius was once an active volcano that formed part of a chain of volcanoes stretching from Reunion in the south to the Seychelles in the north. The pear-shaped island is 62km (39 miles) at its longest point and only 48km (30 miles) at its widest, with 160km (99 miles) of coastline almost entirely fringed by coral reefs making it safe for swimming and snorkelling directly off the beaches (the only extensive gap in the reef is in the south). Generally the western side of the island is sheltered from any adverse sea conditions making this a great diving destination, whilst the eastern side is more open to the elements and therefore more suited for wind- and wave-dependent activities such as surfing and windsailing.

The Seychelles is made up of 115 tropical islands spread over an area of 1,300,000 km^2, of which 73 of the outer islands are coralline (sand cays and atolls). They are low and flat rising between 6 - 13 metres above high tide. The inner islands are largely granite and the most frequented of these are Mahe, Praslin and La Digue.

Mauritius and Seychelles: quite simply the perfect destinations for couples, groups of friends and families alike!

When to go

The busiest times are Christmas and New Year, Easter and the school holidays. Weddings are popular in September and October. Being in the Southern Hemisphere the seasons are reversed to those of the UK. Rainfall is year round but tends to be short showers, and the average temperature rarely drops below about 24^oC. Sea temperature ranges between 22-29^oC.

• January to April – This is the hottest and most humid time. Rain tends to be heavy but short lived. Mauritius occasionally experiences the tail winds from anti-cyclones during this time, which generally last no more than 2 or 3 days. Once it has passed the result is typically warmer and less humid conditions.

• May to September – These are the cooler months (take a light jumper or cardigan with you for the evenings) although the day temperatures remain warm at around 26^oC. The weather is ideal for children or those with fair skin. The sea can be choppier particularly on the eastern coasts.

• September to December – Traditionally thought of as the ‘best time to travel’ weather wise, the temperatures are warmer and humidity is not at its peak.

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