What to watch out for in the Seychelles

Seychelles is considered a fairly safe destination for tourists. However, during any trip, even to the most prosperous country, certain risk factors may arise for an unprepared traveler.

And in order to reduce them to a minimum, we recommend that you arm yourself with useful information from this article, which will help you avoid possible unpleasant situations during your vacation.

So, what should you be wary of in the Seychelles?

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Health

Before traveling to the Seychelles, there is no need to receive additional vaccinations beyond those included in your calendar. However, you should know that various insects, and, in particular, mosquitoes, are a fairly common phenomenon in the region. Periodically, the country experiences outbreaks of dengue fever and chikungunya, diseases transmitted through their bites. Symptoms of these illnesses may include fever, muscle pain, joint pain, rash, or severe headache. If such ailments occur, you should seek medical help.

There are medical facilities in the Seychelles. In particular, clinics on the islands of Mahe and La Digue, as well as a public hospital in the capital of Victoria. However, on outlying islands, medical services may be limited and medical evacuation may be necessary in emergency situations. Therefore, before starting your vacation, you should check what services your insurance covers.

To protect yourself from insect bites, it is recommended to take reasonable precautions: use repellents, choose housing with mosquito nets if possible, and wear covered clothing when going for walks in nature.

As for poisonous plants and dangerous fauna, encounters with them in resort areas are not regular.

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Crime

The crime rate in Seychelles is quite low, but petty crimes do occur. In tourist centers such as Beau Vallon and Victoria, there is a risk of theft, so you should not carelessly leave valuables on the beach. It is necessary to always keep them in sight, not only on the beach, but also in other crowded places, including public transport.

Violent crime is less common but can occur, so walking alone in remote areas after dark is not recommended. You should also exercise a healthy amount of caution around ATMs.

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Beach Safety

Beaches in the Seychelles often have strong currents, and in some locations there are sharp reefs. Beaches may not have safety information or permanent lifeguards, so it is necessary to adequately assess weather conditions, ocean conditions and your physical capabilities . If you have any doubts about the safety of a particular beach, check with your guide or hotel staff before visiting.

You should also know that sharks live in the waters of the Seychelles, but incidents associated with them are extremely rare.

A more common danger for tourists may be high humidity and the hot Seychelles sun. You can get a sunburn here very quickly if you don’t follow basic safety rules. Therefore, you should not neglect hats and sunscreen, including in windy weather, when the power of the sun does not seem so noticeable.

In general, when holidaying in the Seychelles, as in any other country, you must use common sense. In particular:

• When renting a vehicle, do not lose vigilance while driving it, especially during and after rainstorms, which can quickly deteriorate the visibility and condition of the road surface;
• do not drink running water;
• do not use illegal drugs;
• do not overuse sunbathing and do not sunbathe in the nude;
• be careful when swimming, and when walking along the shallows at low tide, carefully watch your step so as not to step on a sea urchin or other unpleasant living creatures;
• avoid walking through back streets after dark;
• do not take part in rallies and protests;
• Do not touch unknown plants, insects and animals with your hands.

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