With constant temperatures, and outside the cyclone belt, Seychelles is a year-round destination. Depending on the focus of your vacation, there may be specific times when you should travel. Peak season occurs in December, January, July and August.

Health and nutritional conditions are remarkably good, approaching those of developed countries. Seychelles have a salubrious climate and an absence of infectious diseases commonly associated with the tropics such as malaria, yellow fever, sleeping sickness and cholera.

It is advisable to visit your local personal physician at least a month before travelling in order to update any vaccinations and obtain any long term medication that you may require.

Light dresses are advisable due to the humid nature of the island. It is also essential to bring swimsuits, shorts, short-sleeved shirts, sandals and some good walking shoes. A hat, sunglasses, flashlight and binoculars are useful accessories. If you are planing to visit the islands in the rainy season don't forget your rainwear.

Visa Requirements

No foreigners require a visa to enter Seychelles. A one-month visitor's permit is issued on arrival and may be extended on application. All visitors do, however, require a passport valid for the duration of their visit, return or onward ticket, sufficient funds to cover their stay (a minimum of US$150 per day), and proof of accommodation. Extensions are possible if applied for at least a week before expiry of original visa.

We suggest that you make arrangements so that you and your property are fully insured for the duration of you stay, as well as for travel in light aircraft if applicable. Similarly, we recommend arranging for adequate insurance in the unforeseen event of the cancellation of your safari.

Security is really a matter of common sense, and the same precautions should be taken in Seychelles as anywhere in the worldwide. It is advisable not to wear jewellery (especially necklaces and expensive watches), not to carry large sums of money, and keep a close watch on handbags, wallets and camera equipment.

Personal gratuities to guides and camp staff are left to the guests’ discretion. Some lodges and hotels have a central tipping box for all staff except the guides who are typically tipped separately.

As a general guideline for couples, we recommend to tip 5-10 US$ per guest per day for the staff and the same amount for your guide while on safari. If you are travelling in a group or as a family, we would recommend 5 US$ per guest per day for the staff and the same amount for your safari guide.

We recommend that you bring your equipment, extra batteries and all your film with you although all normal types of film can usually be bought in major towns. A telephoto lens is essential for good game pictures. Most lodges and hotels have facilities for recharging batteries for video and digital cameras.

Please, respect the local people and only photograph them with their permission. We also strongly recommend never to attempt to take photos of border posts, airports, bridges or government/public buildings soldiers & persons in uniform and military installations where photography is strictly prohibited. Only photos of beaches and other tourist sites may be taken.

Seychelles is...
4 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (London)
3 hours ahead of European Standard Time (Paris, Berlin)
9 hours ahead of American Western Standard Time (New York)
6 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time (Sydney)

Communication

The Telecommunications system is good, using mainly satellite communication to outside world and direct radio communications with adjacent islands and African coastal countries. Most high-end hotels and even some remote lodges have internet, telephone and fax facilities.

We will arrange a local SIM card for you that will be handed to you together with all other travel documentation on arrival in Africa. On this SIM card, we will store all relevant numbers such as our office and cell phone numbers should you wish to get in touch with us during your trip. For this purpose, we will also load some credit on the SIM card which allows you to make local as well as short international calls. We will communicate the telephone number to you a couple of weeks ahead of your arrival so that you can pass on this telephone number to friends and family who you would like to be able to be in touch with you.
Please, note that having a SIM card and mobile phone does not constitute a guarantee of being reachable and able to make phone calls as some of the places you will be travelling to still have limited network coverage.

Electricity:

Seychelles uses 240V and 50Hz.