8 Fascinating Facts About the Seychelles

Here are 8 fascinating facts about this incredible archipelago in the Indian Ocean.

1. The Seychelles was once a pirate hideout, in particular Anse Forbans (Pirate’s Cove) on Mahé and Côte d’Or on Praslin. It is believed that famous pirate Olivier Levasseur hid a treasure worth more than $160,000 that remains unfound.

2. Bird Island is home to the heaviest land tortoise living in the wild, Esmeralda, who tips the scales at 670 pounds.

3. Moyenne Island in Saint Anne Marine National Park is believed to be haunted by a spirit that stands guard over buried treasure.

4. The coco de mer, native to the islands, produces the largest seed in the world. The distinctly shaped nut can weigh up to 33 pounds. 

5. Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles, is the smallest in the world and can be easily explored on foot in less than a day.

6. James Bond author Ian Fleming visited the Seychelles in 1958 looking for adventure and inspiration for his then-latest collection of stories, For Your Eyes Only.

7. The Seychelles has some of the rarest endemic birds, including the bare-legged Scops owl, which is so rare that it was once thought to have become extinct before being rediscovered in 1959.

8. Breadfruit is very popular on the Seychelles and can be eaten in a variety of ways from fried to boiled. Legend has it that anyone who eats it while on the islands will return someday.