Seychelles

The Seychelles are the smallest country in Africa by both area and population, and one of the top ten smallest in the whole world. Another statistic is unfortunately being the ninth most susceptible nation to flooding due to climate change. Official languages of the Seychelles are French, English, and Seychellois Creole. These islands are located off the East Coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Some are made of granite, and others of coral. The climate is classified as being tropical rainforest, and it can get quite humid. This is a very biodiverse part of the world. Native animal species include the Aldara Giant Tortoise, the Seychelles palm frog, and the Black Parrot, the country’s national bird. Mainstays of the economy include tourism and agriculture.

Kill two birds with one stone at Morne Seychellois National Park in Mah├®ÔÇöhike through mangrove forests and up the country’s highest mountain, then take an informative tour at a working tea factory. There is more beautiful hiking at Praslin’s World Heritage-listed Vall├®e de Mai, where you can check out coco de mer palms (which only grow in two places in the world) along with unusual birds.

Breadfruit, bananas, yams, and cassavas are popular starchy staples. Typical vegetables include chayote, eggplant, and gourds. Pork, chicken, and fish are commonly eaten. Dishes with seafood include octopus curried in fresh coconut cream and soupe de tectec, which contains mollusks in a tomato base. Try spicy shredded green papaya salad, which seems to reveal an influence from way across the Indian Ocean in Thailand. You can cool off with seybrew, the local beer. If you like ginger beer or tonic, you can try Krest, a brand of soda Ian Fleming (who lived and wrote in the Seychelles for awhile) named a character after in For Your Eyes Only.