Africa’s least-populous sovereign state is the Republic of Seychelles, another of the Indian Ocean’s fairly numerous island nations. Officially there are over 150 islands in the Seychelles, comprising of a mix of granite and coral islands located 1,500 km to the north east of Madagascar. Other neighbours include Mauritius, Reunion, Zanzibar, Comoros, Mayotte and the Maldives. The Seychellian people are often described as the world’s friendliest people. Photo by: rokbeat

Mahe is the largest island, in the north of the archipelago. It has the capital city of Victoria and has 90 per cent of the country’s population. Settlements are concentrated in the north and east, while the south and west are occupied by the Baie Ternay Marine National Park and Port Launay Marine National Park. Some visitors who pass through Mahe on the way to resorts are missing something – the place is breathtaking, with towering mountains, abundant tropical vegetation and empty awesome beaches. Photo by: mojo621

Victoria is the world’s smallest capital city, and its quaint streets and old harbour can easily be explored on foot. The market is often six days a week and local crafts are on sale alongside a wide range of fruit, vegetables and fish. It is possible to take a boat tour of the St Anne Marine Park from Victoria Harbour, covering six offshore islands that features an important nesting site for hawksbill turtles. Photo by: bodji

When to go: All year round – the climate is evenly hot and humid. Even during the rainy season (January and February) there is plenty of sunshine. Population: 72,000. How to get there: Various international carriers fly to Mahe. Photo by: angrydentist