The Seychelles: landmarks, animals & facts for kids

Seychelles is an island country in the Indian Ocean, about 1,500 kilometres off the coast of East Africa and north-east of Madagascar. It is made up of 115 islands. The capital, Victoria, on the main island of Mahé, is one of the smallest capital cities in the world, and Seychelles has the fewest people of any African country.

Seychelles is famous for its dreamy beaches, giant granite boulders, turquoise water and rare wildlife such as giant tortoises. On the globe you can find Anse Source d'Argent on the island of La Digue, a beach framed by huge pinkish-grey granite rocks that is one of the most photographed beaches in the world.

Geography and nature

Seychelles has two kinds of islands. The inner islands, such as Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, are made of ancient granite and have steep, forested hills. The outer islands are low coral islands and atolls. Aldabra, a huge coral atoll far to the south-west, is home to over 100,000 Aldabra giant tortoises. On Praslin, the Vallée de Mai forest is where the coco de mer palm grows; its seed is the largest of any plant. Rare birds include the Seychelles black parrot and the magpie-robin.

People, languages and culture

Seychellois people have African, European, Indian and Chinese roots. Seychellois Creole, English and French are the official languages, and most people speak Creole at home. Most people are Catholic. Food is full of fish and spices: grilled fish, octopus curry, and dishes made with coconut and breadfruit are favourites. The moutya is a traditional dance performed around a fire to drumbeats, now listed by UNESCO as cultural heritage. On La Digue, many people still get around by bicycle or ox-cart.

History in a nutshell

Seychelles had no people living on it until the 1700s, though sailors and pirates sometimes stopped by. France claimed the islands and the first settlers arrived in 1770, naming them after a French official, Jean Moreau de Séchelles. Enslaved Africans were brought to work on plantations. Britain took control in 1814, and slavery was ended in the 1830s. Seychelles became independent on 29 June 1976 and is now known for protecting its nature, with about half its land set aside as protected areas.