A large number of reefs within the inner granitic islands of the archipelago of Seychelles could be entirely lost, unless concerted action is taken soon to control crown of thorns, warns Dr. Udo Englhardt, the expert on on the management of crown of thorns in a...
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Fears of crown of thorns Starfish outbreak in Seychelles Coral Reefs
A large number of reefs within the inner granitic islands of the archipelago of Seychelles could be entirely lost, unless concerted action is taken soon to control crown of thorns, warns Dr. Udo Englhardt, the expert on on the management of crown of thorns in a presentation of his most recent findings. Dr Udo Englhardt, believes this outbreak of the deadly starfish is due to increasing levels of human development in the Seychelles coupled with rising sea temperatures. Dr. Engelhardt has conducted this research as part of their ‘Mainstreaming Biosecurity’ project organised by the UNDP and Global Environment Facility (GEF) in conjunction with the government of Seychelles. The outbreak which was in the north western areas of Mahé two months ago, has now spread further down the western coastline as the starfish continue to spawn. The starfish can be seen on reefs between five and 25 metres deep and are not commonly found in shallow waters. It preys on strong hard coral polyps and is named crown of thorns as its upper surface is covered with thorn like spikes.
The crown of thorns starfish, one of the largest in the world, occurs at tropical and subtropical latitudes and have been found from the Red sea, across the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. This venomous starfish has been found in Seychelles as early as the 1960s in small numbers and an extensive eradication programme was conducted in 1997. During the 1998-99 El Nino coral bleaching, the crown of thorns died off too. However, they began to re-emerge in 2001-2003 and have now bounced back in alarming numbers. This April, a coral reef survey by Dr Engelhardt found that numbers of Crown of thorns in the reefs were 20 to 30 times greater than sustainable levels. He also found that there were at least three generations present, including a substantial number of juveniles in the under reef strata – a good predictor of future outbreaks reports the Seychelles news agency.

What to Expect When Travelling to Seychelles
Finding attractions while on vacation in Africa is nothing short of a mile-long list of things to do. However, Seychelles has everything that you’ll need to create the perfect vacation, all in one place. With luxurious beaches, natural attractions, and historical sites that will leave you breathless, it’s no wonder that people have considered it to be a paradise.
Seychelles was designed to be the getaway of all getaways. Warm, ocean waters, white sand beaches and luscious forests for the hours to melt away in, you’ll find it difficult to get everything done on your list. One of the most important parts of planning your trip, however, is to hit the waters first. With the crystal clear waters, immersing yourself in them is an experience you’ll never forget. They’re perfect for scuba diving, so you can see all of the rich flora and fauna that live under the waters for yourself. The archipelago itself is dotted with hundreds of islands that provide safe housing for many of the residents of the sea. You may even see some species of fish and corals that you’ve never even heard of before.
If swimming is less of your thing, there are still plenty of things to do, and many ways to relax. There are private sun decks overlooking the Indian Ocean, allowing you to take in all that nature has to offer with its balmy breezes and amazing sunsets at any of the nearby resorts. You can let the service come to you and pamper you with any requests that you may have so that you can have the ultimate relaxing experience.
For the nature lovers, there are many natural hiking trails that can be conquered during their stay at Seychelles. Over twenty percent of the main island is covered in the Morne Seychellois National Park, providing a lot of land space to simply enjoy nature. The climbs and twisting paths are definitely a challenge for the average hiker and will provide many hours of exercise while you take in the fresh air.
Thrill seekers aren’t left out of the loop either. There are a variety of sports that one can get involved in, many of them that will have you screaming with excitement. Take to the skies and give paragliding a try. You can fly high above the waves and see the islands in their entirety from such a vantage point. You can also give jet skiing, surfing or wakeboarding a try. Whatever you fancy, there are accommodations for you to try anything new.
The guides provided on Seychelles are determined to ensure that you enjoy your stay here in paradise. You can create some of the fondest memories that you’ll keep with you forever.

The Return of Josephine Beroard: An Exciting Reason to Attend the Festival Kreol
Seychelles, being one of the founding members of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP), has been active in the promotion of different activities for the purpose of being able to enhance the tourism in the country. As a means of increasing the rate of tourist arrival, one of the most relevant activities to date is the Festival Kreol, which has been around for several decades now. Year after year, it draws a huge crowd to the country, making it possible to expose not only the atheistic beauty of the country, but also genuine talent from those who will be performing during the festival.
The Most Important Event in Seychelles
While there are many celebrations being held in Seychelles from time to time, most of which are geared towards enhancing tourism, the Festival Kreol is believed to be the most significant in their cultural calendar. It presents them with the perfect opportunity to send a message to the world and to be known about who they really are. True enough, many of those who have been in the festival in the past years found them returning and even bringing more friends to have the same experience as theirs.
Those who have had a chance to experience Festival Kreol cannot give a definite word on what exactly makes it unique and worth your time. Some would say it is the good music from the performers while some would believe it is the opportunity to sample their food. For most, however, it is simply being able to commune with the festival itself and making new friends.
Jocelyne Beroard is back
This year’s instalment of Festival Kreol is one for the books, which is basically because of the return of Jocelyn Beroard. For more than two decades, she and other members of the band have not been seen performing after they bid farewell for all of those who loved them. From the time they have arrived at the airport, they were given a warm welcome by fans that are very much eager to see them perform again after the longest time. A lot of people are undeniably missing their music, which is why the announcement of their inclusion in the line-up of performers instantly drew more attention about the festival, making tickets sell like pancakes. Their band, Kassav, made the event more memorable; with a lot of people looking forward to what will the organisers do in the next years to surpass its achievements in this year’s festival.
While the return of Kassav on the stage has been the highlight of Festival Kreol, it is still its entirety that makes it special. It is one of those events wherein you will end up excited, making you wish you can fast forward time and make next year happen earlier.

Seychelles: The Go-To Holiday Destination for Celebrities
Are you planning to go on a holiday anytime soon?
For sure, you will be overwhelmed with the multiplicity of the destinations you can visit, each with a promise of an experience you will never forget. Among others, however, one of the best would be Seychelles, which has gained a reputation in the past for being frequented by high profile celebrities, not only for family vacations, but even for honeymoon. For many people, Seychelles is chosen because of having plentiful of beautiful and secluded beaches, unique culture, attractive flora and fauna, and world-class cuisine. For some, however, they simply want to visit Seychelles because it has been visited by many of the celebrities they idolise, including those mentioned below.
Who’s been to Seychelles?
If you have been to Seychelles before, it is easy to understand why many celebrities have chosen such for their vacation. If you have not, the famous people who have fallen in love with Seychelles should give you sufficient reason to book a plane ticket now and enjoy the experience it has to offer.
When George Clooney and Amal Clooney got married recently, the international media have been interested in learning about the private details of the event, such as where their honeymoon will be. Many were no longer surprised when they learned it was in Seychelles since it has been a common choice for many high-profile couples in the past. According to several reports, George paid for a luxury villa with a cost of $5,000 per person, per night. Different travel magazines have called the resort where they stayed to be the most expensive hotel in the world.
Seychelles has also been the place of choice during the honeymoon of Kate Middleton and Prince William. Although the location was initially kept as a secret, details have been revealed through research by people from the media. In a private villa in Seychelles, the couple spent 10 days, not necessarily away from the eyes of the public since a couple of paparazzi shots have been also released showing how the two are enjoying their supposed to be private island getaway.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been also seen vacationing in Seychelles, along with their kids. During their vacation, they also held a pretend wedding to grant the request of their children to see them marry. The couple has enjoyed Seychelles a lot and in fact, they were the one who recommended the island to their friend, George Clooney.
With all of these celebrity visitors having had the chance to enjoy Seychelles, you are now most probably convinced how beautiful the place is. By simply going online and looking at the pictures of this tropical hidden gem, you will also surely end up drooling and itching to travel soon.

Taste of Seychelles
While travelling to Seychelles, you will have chance to enjoy some of the world’s most delicious cuisines that is actually a fusion of flavours from African, French, Chinese, Indian and English cooking. For a long time, spices have been combined to create an unique flavour.
Grilled fish or octopus basted with a sauce of crushed chillies, ginger and garlic are national favourites as are a variety of delicious curries lovingly prepared with coconut milk and innovative chatinis made from local fruits such as papaya and golden apple. As may be expected, seafood dishes feature predominantly in the local cuisine, appearing alongside the national staple, rice.
Some restaurants specialise in Indian, Chinese or Italian food and many feature popular international and specialist dishes.
Palm wine or calou is an alcoholic beverage that is locally made from coconut sap. It is also used in the preparation of many Seychellois dishes. Bacca is another alcoholic beverage that is made from sugarcane liquor and used for ceremonial events. Coco d’Amour is a tropical coconut liqueur that is made with coconut extract. Local beer includes Ekyu and Seybrew.
The variety of tropical fruit in Seychelles is huge with varieties of bananas. There are also citrus fruits such as grapefruit, oranges and limes. The Jamalac is a cone shaped fruit that has soft skin and tastes like an apple. There are plenty of mangoes, pineapples, jackfruit, papaya and custard apples. These are made into fresh salads, juices or chutneys.
Seychellois cuisine is unique because it is the mix of the flavours of many different ingredients that were brought to the islands over the centuries. With their own coconut and breadfruit base as well as the abundant fresh seafood, the Seychelles people have created something new. The main flavours are rich, hot and spicy combined in a hundred ways to make each dish flavourful and special. It is worth looking for traditional, local food to experience the true flavours. Hotels often use the word fusion as a blend of French and Seychellois cuisine, but the local restaurants and cafes will give the real thing.
Enjoy your Seychelles cuisine experiences!
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