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 Anse Lazio, Praslin © Angelo Cavalli / STMA The popular holiday island of Praslin lies 21 miles (34km)
north-east of Mahé in the Seychelles archipelago, a popular
stop for cruise liners and a vacation destination for honeymooners
and beach lovers. The island's favourite beach, Anse Lazio, is one
of the world's most exquisite, but the entire island is ringed with
beautiful secluded beaches, sporting coral reefs and crystal clear
waters. Praslin is known for being the exclusive home of the rare
'coco de mer' palm, that produces the world's largest nut, and
delights ornithologists with glimpses of some of the world's rarest
birds, like the black parrot and fruit pigeon. Several large resort
hotels have been developed on the island, but this has not
interfered with the natural beauty or abundant flora and fauna, or
its reputation as being as close to the Garden of Eden as one can
get. There are a few villages sprinkled across the island, housing
the permanent population of a few thousand souls, most of whom work
in the hotels and resorts or depend on fishing for a
livelihood.
Attractions
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Black Pearl (Seychelles) LTD
Exquisite black pearls are cultured at the only oyster farm in
the Indian Ocean, but that is not all you can investigate at this
attraction which, apart from displaying the art of cultivating
pearls in the Black Lip Pearl Oyster, also explains the breeding
and feeding of the Giant Clam species, Tridacna maxima. The farm
features a touch pool and aquarium, and of course the black pearls
are on sale in the onsite jewellery store.
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Address: Amitié, Praslin, alongside the airport;
Telephone: 233 987;
Website: www.seychelles.net/prof;
Opening time: Daily from 10am to 4pm weekdays, and Saturday 10am to 12pm
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George Camille Gallery
Praslin artist, George Camille, is famed not only locally, but
his works have been exhibited extensively in London and Paris. He
works in a variety of mediums in an effort to capture the colour
and excitement of Creole life. His works may be viewed or bought at
his popular studio at Cote d'Or on Praslin Island.
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Address: Casino de Iles, Cote de’Or;
Telephone: 232 956;
Opening time: Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturdays 10am to 1pm;
Admission: Free
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Vallée de Mai
First stop for most visitors to Praslin island in the Seychelles
is the fantastic Vallée de Mai, hidden in virgin forest,
which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. Apart
from the rich variety of plant and animal life in this beautiful
spot, the main attraction here is that this is the only place in
the world where the 'coco de mer' palm grows, producing a nut that
weighs up to 40 lbs (18kg): the largest nut in the world. What
makes this nut even more renowned is that it is shaped like a
female pelvis. Its rarity, shape and alleged aphrodisiac properties
have led to it becoming a collector's item. The Vallée is
also home to three of the world's rarest birds: the black parrot,
fruit pigeon and Seychelles bulbul. Guided tours to the
Vallée are conducted every day from all the resort hotels on
the island. There is also a self-guided walking trail through the
area.
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Telephone: 32 17 35;
Website: www.sif.sc;
Opening time: Daily 8am to 5.30pm;
Admission: €15 (adults), children under 12 free. Residents receive concessionary rates
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 Experience The Seychelles with Africa Travel Centre, the leading
specialist in arranging tailor-made travel, weddings and honeymoons
to Africa and the Indian Ocean islands.
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