Mahé, Seychelles (Apr17-18)

The Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 small islands off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, is the smallest and least populated African country. Gaining independence from the UK in 1976, it is also one of the newest. Mahe is the largest island, and Victoria is its capital and major port. But physical size masks its relatively strong economic standing: the highest GDP per capita of any African country and rated as a high income economy by the World Bank. Tourism has played a huge role in its development.

Arriving in mid-afternoon, we boarded a catamaran for a brief cruise out to Saint-Anne Marine National Park for snorkeling and a glass-bottomed boat tour of nearby coral reefs.