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The Mascarenes, the islands of La Réunion and Mauritius that make up the Mascarenes lie off the east coast of Madagascar, and are blessed with spectacular natural wonders and yet remain relatively ‘off the beaten track'. La Réunion is an island of dense vegetation and whilst it can still boast some excellent beaches, it is the exotic interior that leaves its impression on visitors. Piton de la Fournaise, the islands remaining active volcano, is well worth visiting and the deep gorges, dramatic mountain ranges and wide craters create an awe-inspiring vista. Saint-Denis is the capital where you can explore a jumble of splendid Creole mansions, an attractive seafront park and interesting museums. Mauritius draws its influences from its British and French ties as well as the large Indian population and certainly lives up to the perception of an exotic retreat, with its abundant marine life and powder soft beaches fringed by casuarinas and palm trees. The capital Port Louis is busy, bustling and interesting to explore.
The Seychelles, made up of 115 idyllic islands stretched out across the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles epitomise many people's idea of island paradise. The seductive images of turquoise waters and pure white sandy beaches, whilst captivating, cannot truly compare to experiencing the brilliant colours, warmth and stunning landscapes that the Seychelles deliver. The capital Victoria on the island of Mahé is one of the smallest capital cities in the world where you will find craft shops, colonial buildings and plenty of restaurants serving the fabulous ‘Creole' cuisine. La Digue is perhaps the most beautiful and most photographed of the islands, with its immense naturally sculptured granite boulders strewn over the beaches. Praslin is home to the magnificent and unique Vallée de Mai, a prehistoric forest of coco-de-mer palms and also home to the black parrot, unique to Praslin. |
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