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The Seychelles are made up of 115 islands lying between four and ten degrees south of the equator in the Indian Ocean. Only 60 of the islands are inhabited and the Outer Islands are considered the hidden jewels of the Indian Ocean, being largely unexplored and unpopulated due to their remote location and unspoilt nature.
The country is blessed with one of the world’s healthiest, malaria free climates. The balmy days and nights give visitors the feeling of one long and endless summer with temperatures seldom falling below 22 degrees or rising above 32 degrees celcius. Over the centuries, the country has been ruled by France and the British, and populated with a wonderful mix of people from around the region that gives it its wonderful Creole atmosphere, foods and way of life. In 1976, Seychelles became an independent republic with a stable democracy. With only 82,000 people, the country is one of the worlds most peaceful.
Explorers from the early Portuguese mariners in the 1500s to today have been fascinated with the beauty of the Seychelles and its enchanting combination of coral and granite islands and atolls. Today 40% of the total land mass of the Seychelles is formally protected and conserved. The country has a policy of low volume tourism so overcrowding is never an issue.
One of the prime attractions to both Europeans and Africans is that Seychelles is located in a similar time zone and is only a four and a half hour flight from Johannesburg and an 8 hour flight from Europe and is serviced with regular international flights from Europe, Africa and the Orient.
Desroches Island forms part of the Amirantes Archipelago, regarded as some of the most pristine and mystique in the world - gems passionately protected by the government where only sustainable development is permitted under exceptional circumstances.
Located 230 kilometres south-west of Mahé , Desroches Island is linked to the core infrastructure network of Mahé by daily schedule flights (±40 minutes) and private charter flights, or a leisurely sail for those who prefer to take their time. Mahé itself is well connected to Africa, Asia and Europe.
Exclusive Desroches Island, with only a Hotel and Villas, is the gateway to the outer and Amirantes Islands, and adjoins a number of virgin islands, which add to the unique travel adventures and activities that can be enjoyed from this idyllic paradise.
Desroches is 6 km long and up to 1.5 km wide, and is concealed beneath the shade of coconut palms. With its perfect weather, Desroches is one of the most beautiful islands in the world offering a myriad of activities that unite nature and man. It has 14 km of immaculate beaches, crystal blue waters and is protected on its south-east side by its own coral reef.
Blessed with one of the world’s healthiest climates, the balmy days and nights create the feeling of an endless summer, while the untouched natural splendour of the surroundings lull one to relax, despite all the thrilling adventures on offer.
Around the central area, dining room, swimming pool and spa, the 20 luxuriously spacious air-conditioned Hotel Suites, are ideally built along the west-facing beach. The Suites are set amongst tropical gardens, palm trees and green lawns, just a few meters from the beach.
Each air-conditioned suite offers privacy with its own veranda, lounge area, flat screen TV and mini-bar. The well designed bathrooms have double basins, a covered outdoor bath, an outdoor shower and a separate toilet and bidet.
Adding to your exclusive experience, the hotel offers in-room dining on your patio or private dinners on the beach where the waves lap gently against the soft white sand.
FEATURES:
• 20 spacious suites • Either King size or twin beds • Glass fronted with private patios • Plasma screen satellite television • Air-conditioning • Fully stocked mini bar • Mosquito nets • Outdoor bath and showers • Private lounge • Telephone • Hairdryer and shaver outlet • Electronic safe • 2 Bicycles per suite
Perfectly positioned on the unblemished, north-west facing beaches and surrounded by dense, green foliage, the 25 four bedroomed Villas offer an exclusive and private experience for families and friends looking for their own private domain.
Each fully equipped deluxe Villa has its own private swimming pool, central living and entertainment area as well as a modern kitchen. The Villas are well appointed in a style that is modern and luxurious, yet blends in with that sensuous remote island atmosphere.
All bedrooms are air-conditioned and three overlook the main entertainment deck towards the sea. The bedrooms all have their own outdoor shower and decks with outdoor loungers.
The hotel offers in-villa dining and private chefs for more intimate entertaining, making your stay a truly personal experience and allowing you to thoroughly relax. Meals can also be enjoyed at the hotel's various exotic dining locations.
• Set in tropical gardens with ocean views.
• 24 Four & Five Bedroom Villas: 23 Four-bedroom Villas (440m2) 2 Four-bedroom Villas (660m2) -3 x 74m2 en-suite bedrooms -1 x 43m2 en-suite bedroom • All bathrooms have a bath as well as indoor & outdoor showers • Air-conditioned bedrooms • Private rim flow swimming pool • Entertainment area • Dining Room • Fully equipped culinary kitchen - including a microwave, coffee maker, kettle, ice machine, washing machine, dryer and two fridges • Fully stocked minibar • Lounge • Plasma screen Satellite Television • DVD player • I-pod connection • Electronic safe • Hairdryer and shaver outlet
• Two Kayaks • Bicycles
• Laundry Service • Personal Butler • Golf cart transport on arrival
Perfectly positioned on the unblemished, north-west facing beaches the 750m2 palatial Presidential Villa is surrounded by dense, green foliage and offers 100m of beach frontage. With 5 large luxurious en suite bedrooms (4 with sea views) and spacious living and entertainment areas the Presidential suite offers an exclusive and private experience for families and friends looking for their own private domain.
The fully equipped deluxe Villa has its own private swimming pool, central living and entertainment area as well as a modern kitchen. The Villa is well appointed in a style that is modern and luxurious, yet blends in with that sensuous remote island atmosphere.
The bedrooms are all air-conditioned, and all have their own outdoor shower and decks with outdoor loungers.
• Set in tropical gardens with ocean views. • 1 Five bedroomed luxurious Villa - 4 x 50m2 en-suite bedrooms (with sea views) - 1 x 40m2 en-suite bedroom
• All bathrooms have a bath as well as indoor & outdoor showers • Air-conditioned bedrooms • Private rim flow swimming pool • Entertainment area • Dining Room • Fully equipped culinary kitchen - including a microwave, coffee maker, kettle, ice machine, washing machine, dryer and two fridges • Fully stocked minibar • Lounge • Plasma screen Satellite Television • DVD player • I-pod connection • Telephone • Electronic safe • Hairdryer and shaver outlet • Two Kayaks • Bicycles • Laundry Service • Personal Butler • Golf cart transport on arrival
• Lounge • Dining Room • Bar • International Wine List • Swimming Pool • Desroches Island Spa • Internet access area • Watersports Centre • Diving Centre • Boutique Shop
Dining
Le Ve Loutier Restaurant serves a variety of menus ... international cuisine, seafood barbeques, creole buffers all complemented with an extensive international wine list.
PRIVATE DINING ARRANGEMENTS
In addition to the restaurant, private dining arrangements can be made to enjoy your meal on the terrace of your room or villa, on a special spot on the beach or alongside the pool. The balmy weather and beach activity will improve your appetite, so make the most of the glorious outdoors to create a special mood for that romantic dinner or gathering of family and friends.
L’Amirantes Bar serves a variety of freshly mixed cocktails. One can enjoy a cold Seybrew beer after riding around the island or a lovely “Madame Zabre” cocktail while watching the sun set on your terrace.
Desroches Island Spa is run by experienced and fully trained Balinese masseuses who offer a range of soothing and energising spa treatments.
Enjoy a relaxing & refreshing massage treatment at either the Spa centre, your own Suite or on the beach or in the jungle!
Treatments have been designed to relieve stress, to detoxify, to cleanse and purify and to refresh and rejuvenate.
Some of the treatments include:
• Discovery Massage • Asian Traditional Massage • Four Hands Massage • Warm Stone Massage • Ayurveda Massage • Shiatsu Massage • Coconut Massage • Island Massage • Body Scrub • Natural Asian Facial • Manicure • Pedicure • Chocolate body exfoliation
Activities are endless... with over 13km of unspoilt beaches and forested hinterland, Desroches is ideal for nature watching and includes an ancient tortoise colony, nesting turtles, and an array of marine life including magnificent whales and soaring sailfish.
Cycling tours of the island’s jungle (on your own personal mountain bike), or explorations to the northern point and deserted beaches allow you to lose yourself in this island paradise. For a more relaxing option, enjoy sensuous spa treatments or catered picnics either on the beach or in the jungle, and private sunset cruises which offer stunning views of the island from a different angle.
The flood lit tennis court is a super way to do a little exercise once the sun as set and the temperature has dropped a little, or for something a little less strenuous try a game of table tennis, pool or a round of darts.
An abundance of ocean-based activities ensure that there will never be a dull moment - unless you want one...
• Scuba diving with friendly and attentive professionals, exploring the 14 classified sites, including mysterious underwater caves and columns. Various PADI & NAUI diving courses are offered at the hotels dive centre.
• Deep sea diving off the world renowned Desroches ‘drop- off’.
• Guided snorkelling trips with opportunities to view turtles gliding between shoals of multicoloured fish.
• Big game fishing with hard-fighting adversaries such as Wahoo, Kingfish, Tuna, Sailfish, Marlin, Dorado, Bonefish, Giant and Bluefin Trevally, Green & Rosy Jobfish and a large variety of Grouper.
• Outer Island exploration.
• Some of the best fly fishing in the world can be enjoyed on the outer islands, with an abundance of Bone-fish, Permit and Trevally species to target on fly while you simply get ‘lost’ in the utter beauty of the extensive shoreline surroundings.
• Sea kayaking above astonishingly colourful coral reefs or windsurfing across crystal clear water bays.
Desroches is renowned for offering some of the best game fishing in the Seychelles. A variety of hardfighting adversaries such as Wahoo, Kingfish, Sailfish, Marlin and Tuna wait in these waters to test your tackle and your skill. A charter boat is available for hire with an experienced skipper, all rods, tackle and bait. The unspoilt waters of Desroches are home to the most incredible fish life, translating into a world-class destination for big game fishing, so come and explore the excitement of the famous ‘Desroches drop’.
You don't have to venture far from Desroches to break fishing records, as the ocean here boasts massive Dogtooth Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, Sailfish, Marlin, Dorado, Bonefish, Permit, GT or Giant Trevally, Bluefin Trevally, Green & Rosy Jobfish and a large variety of Grouper.
Traditional bottom-fishing produces a dazzling array of Grouper, Job Fish, Snappers and Emperors, rewarding you with some of the finest tasting fish on offer anywhere.
Desroches offers Big Game, Vertical Jigging, Drop Shot and Salt-water Fly-fishing. The resort is fully equipped with quality fishing boats that are equipped to take you around the atoll or further afield to Poivre and St Josephs in the Amirantes. Casting your fly lines will afford you the chance of landing several energetic Bonefish, Permit and even the occasional GT, the Giant Trevally.
We practice strict catch-and-release fishing, except for limited quantities caught freshly for the LE VELOUTIER restaurant.
The deep, clean, waters offshore of Desroches, provide marine life which is rich and diverse. There are a number of great and easily accessible snorkelling reefs and coral outcrops around the island. The fully equipped NAUI/PADI scuba dive centre offers a range of exciting dive sites to choose from.
On Desroches Island, diving is a must with the possibility to explore no less than 14 classified sites such as the amazing ‘Desroches Drop’ or ‘The Canyon’, a mysterious labyrinth of unusual caves and columns which will provide a host of unforgettable experiences, all in the company of a dedicated team of attentive professionals.
The water-sports centre will also organize excursions to prime sites such as ‘The Aquarium’ and 'Madame Zambre' which offers the very best in snorkelling and opportunities to sight a turtle (or two) gliding between schools of multi-coloured fish.
None of our dive sites are further than 20 minutes away by boat.
TOP 5 DIVE SITES
Canyon: This is a formation of big stone blocks with some very nice swim troughs and a real canyon (long and narrow) where lots of soft corals and gorgonian fan corals grow. The fish life is remarkable on this dive site: big shoals of snappers and fusiliers, sweetlips, sleeping stingrays and especially nurse sharks enjoy this spot for a little nap underneath the big rocks.
Big Cave: The challenge for every experienced diver – it is deep and dark. The long tunnel is 6m wide and goes straight into the reef wall – ending after 60m in a big round room. Sometimes we come across sleeping nurse sharks here or turtles that were searching for a quiet place to rest. The best part is on the way back when you see the entrance again – a blue hole with terrific light showing your way back to reality.
Airport Reef: A large overhang is the main part to explore on this dive site. Come across one of the famous sea grass pipefish living together with napoleons and bumphead parrotfish. Grey reef sharks and turtles may also swim your way. The rest of the wall is completely covered with many colourful soft corals.
Secret Passage: Away from the main reef we find a huge rock with a secret passage that leads as a tunnel from 24m up to 18m inside. It is home to many lionfish, lobsters and glassfish. Once outside again, the water is full of fusiliers, snappers and young barracudas.
Mini Wall: While drifting along this beautiful wall explore the larger and smaller overhangs which are full of soft corals and gorgonian fan corals. Spot special kinds of nudibranches or snails as well as a variety of moray eels. In the open water eagle rays, turtles and napoleons are often encountered.
Scuba dives are also offered to the nearby St Josephs atoll as well as Poivre. The boat ride across to these islands is around 1 hour and one usually get’s to see spectacular jumps from the many spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and the odd whale on the ride across.
The above mentioned dive sites are only a small selection – we have many more excellent dive sites to visit – from easier dives for beginners up to challenging sites for experienced and more advanced divers.
An exclusive island in the Seychelles conjures up dreamy romantic images of sandy white beaches and crystal blue ocean... perfect for an unforgettable wedding. Weddings can be planned on the beach or in your own private villa. Our Dream Wedding Package includes a romantic ceremony followed by a Sunset Cruise... leaving you with memories to cherish. Optional extras can be added to this package, and any other special requirements can be arranged. DREAM WEDDING PACKAGE Package Includes: Registrar fees, overnight accommodation, transfer flights, bride bouquet, groom boutonniere, breakfast in room. A romantic Sunset Cruise for Bride & Groom. Total Cost of Package: € 1,426
OPTIONAL WEDDING EXTRAS • Wedding Photographer Includes digital photos on two CD's. Photographer overnight accommodation, transfer flights. Total Cost: € 1,200 • Wedding Hairdresser Includes styling of Bride & Groom. Hairstylist's overnight accommodation, transfer flights. Total Cost: € 1,080 • Romantic Beach Dinner for Two - € 200 (excludes drinks) • Adam + Eve Massage plus Bride Manicure+Pedicure - € 373 • Wedding Video edited on two DVD's - € 433 (only applicable on Wedding Photographer package) • Sunset Champagne & Canapes for Bridal Couple - € 253 • One-man Band Entertainment - € 300
Getting There
Private charters can be arranged.
GPS CO-ORDINATES: S 05 41.7 E 053 39.0 or 5.3 West (Magnetic Variation)
Desroches lies outside of the cyclone belt. The climate is healthy and tropical diseases such as malaria and yellow fever are unknown.
March and April are the hottest months but shade temperatures seldom exceed 30˚C. During the coolest months of July and August the temperatures may drop to as low as 21˚C.
The south-east trade winds blow regularly from May to October when the temperature is slightly lower and the atmosphere less humid due to the mild sea-breezes. The north-west monsoon prevails from December to March, which are the hottest and wettest months with humidity averaging 65%.
The rainfall is and average of 50cm a year - however this does vary from year to year.
There are two tides in 24 hours with differences between a minimum and maximum of about 1.5m.
Wind & Weather Forecasts
Desroches, 230km south of Mahé, is an idyllic coral island surrounded by white sandy beaches and a protective reef, home to some of the best diving sites within the Seychelles.
Originally named Wood Island by the British because of its dense tree vegetation, Desroches was an important producer of Copra, a coconut product, in its early days. The island was renamed by Commander Chevalier de Roslan of the ship L’heure du Berger, after the Chevalier des Roches, the Governor of Mauritius and Réunion (1767–1772). It was explored by Chevalier de la Billiorére in 1771. 6.2km long with a land area of 3.24 square kilometres, Ile Desroches or Desroches Island is the largest outer island of the Amirantes Group of Islands in the Seychelles. The Amirantes group comprises of a cluster of 28 islands named in honour of Portuguese Admiral Vasco da Gama during an expedition stop at Poivre Island in 1501.
Along with the remaining Amirante Islands, Desroches had been a part of the Seychelles since it became a separate colony in 1909. On November 8, 1965, the United Kingdom split Desroches from the Seychelles to become part of the newly created the British Indian Ocean Territory together with Farquhar, Aldabra and the Chagos Archipelago, but returned it to the Seychelles with the first two. The purpose was to allow the construction of military facilities for the mutual benefit of the United Kingdom and the United States. On June 23, 1976, Desroches was returned to Seychelles as a result of it attaining independence.
Environmental Responsibility is a passionate mission for the developers; building on the government’s initiatives to protect Desroches Island. The Desroches Farm with its organic farming methods, using compost from waste material, will further protect the island’s ecological sensitivity.
The developers are involved in a number of conservation related projects in Africa and act on various boards of organizations to raise funds and implement projects that protect the natural environment. The Desroches Foundation and Fund will be responsible for managing, maintaining and protecting the natural state of the island. A number of projects are already underway with funds that have been raised. The Island Conservation Society (ICS), a parastatal of the Seychelles government working with many of the islands in the Seychelles, interacts with the Desroches Foundation to look after the day to day running of the environmental management of the island. For more information visit:
Sustainable building practices include the manufacture of wooden furniture and structures derived from the Casurina trees on the island - a non indigenous hardwood species which weathers extremely well. All timberwork on the island is undertaken by a group of talented Indian craftsmen.
There is strict control of all watersports and activities, including fishing, to ensure longevity and prevent over utilisation of the sensitive marine life.
Contact Us
RESERVATIONS Kelly Whitfield Telephone: +27 13 737 6626 Facsimile: +27 13 737 6628 E-mail: Website: www.desroches-island.com
POSTAL ADDRESS: Desroches Island Resort P O Box 378, Providence, Mahé Republic of Seychelles
GENERAL MANAGERS Louis & Penni Korb Telephone: +248 229 003 E-mail:
To see other 5 star products by Seasons in Africa, please visit our website at www.seasonsinafrica.com.
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