Only 11 rainy days per year in Seychelles!
All year around, one thing that makes the Seychelles such a special destination is weather. In fact, the climate is well known to be always warm and does not reach extremes of heat or cold. Generally the average temperature is 27°C (81°F) and it will rarely rise above 32°C or drop below 24°C. Moreover, as Seychelles’ islands lie outside the cyclone belt, it becomes the ideal destination for sun worshippers and beach lovers.
Geographical location:
Located off the eastern coast of Africa, situated in the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles archipelago is approximately 1600 km (100miles) from Kenyan-Tanzanian coastline. The Seychelles’ length is over 1200km (750 miles) from its northernmost point on Bird Island to the south-eastern Aldabra Atoll. It comprises of 115 islands, 30 of which are inhabited, split into two groups. The inners islands are mostly granitic and often represent the ‘real Seychelles’, composed of Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, Curieuse, Frégate, Cousin, Cousine, Silhouette, North Island, and about 30 other small islets. The outer islands include mostly coral and the largest coral atoll in the world.
As you can imagine, these tropical islands have a completely different climate pattern than the rest of Africa. Its proximity to the equator provides the Seychelles a tropical climate that varies by a few degrees each way. The equatorial sun rises each day at around 6am, setting at about 6pm.
When to travel to Seychelles:
Tourists which are coming to Seychelles have always a concern about the climate / weather and wonder ‘what is the best time to go?’. Given the Seychelles’ year round good weather, the shortest answer is ‘as soon you can’! It is always the good time to be there as it has a fantastic weather all year round, wonderful warm temperatures and amazing blue skies.
There is not a big distinction between winter and summer as the climate is relatively the same yearly. The tropical trade winds not only define the seasons in Seychelles, they also determine where the seaweed drifts.
Below are the seasonal variations:
Winter
The period May to October is generally considered as a dry period as there is the south east trade wind blowing. The drier months are July and August. During this period, precipitation and an average temperature of 27°C can cause the sea to be a little choppy. As a result, some places are affected by this climate. In fact, on Mahé it can be too uneven for swimming in some beaches on the south-west of the island such as Intendance, Takamaka and Baie Lazare. However the north and the east coast are better.
Moreover, on the south west coasts, the level of seaweed can increase in the water and on the beaches – this is particularly a problem on Praslin. If you are prone to sea sickness it might be more suitable to avoid a boat crossing between the islands.
However even during these months, before and after the showers there will be a lot of sunshine.
Summer
By November (pre-Northwest Monsoon), the winds start to change and come from the Northwest. This change brings light, warmer winds and, on the flipside, the start of the main rainy season. As breezes are gentler, most beaches are weed free, making it safer for swimming.
During December to March, Seychelles gets extremely wet, especially in December and January. The sun is then is at its warmest and the vegetation is delightful. This period is also a cyclonic season.
Finally, April is considered to be the calmest and warmest month (Pre-Southeast Monsoon), as the winds die down and start to change direction.
Rainfall:
The majority of the annual rainfall falls between December and February compared to other months. However precipitations which tend to appear in heavy showers, are generally brief and are immediately followed by tropical sunshine.
Respectively, in December, January and February there are approximately 18, 17 and 11 rainy day. During December to April as the weather is the hottest, the humidity is also high – often 80% or higher.
Temperature:
As you can see, the Seychelles has a perfect average temperature for your holidays. From January to December the temperature will rarely decrease under 23°C all year round. Also, you will never suffer from strong heat or cold weather.
Activities
Beaches and swimming: At any time the Seychelles’ beaches are tremendous, look amazing and offer fantastic swimming. If you have your heart set on staying on the southwest of Mahé or Praslin, you may go there during October – April. In Mahé, the waves will be calmer on the stunning beaches facilitating swimming and Praslin’s south / southwest coast will be seaweed free.
Surfing and windsurfing: If you want an exciting experience, you may surf or windsurf during the southeast trade winds from May to September when winds and waves mix perfectly.
Honeymoons: At any occasion, Seychelles will offer you the fantastic honeymoon that you deserve. To have the best relaxing mood when visiting, one tip is to avoid coming during the school holidays in Europe (July/ August as well as December) in order not to be bothered by small children.
Sailing: All year round sailing is nice. In fact, Seychelles islands provide both stimulating conditions due to strong winds between May to October and peaceful cruise from beach to beach between October to April. There are many events which will give you the opportunity to show your talent. The Seychelles Sailing Cup is held in January, the Beau Vallon Regatta in October and the International Fishing Competition in November.
Snorkeling and scuba diving: In Seychelles, you will love diving and/or snorkeling (fins, mask and snorkel) in the beautiful azure lagoons. At any time of the year passionate divers will know the perfect sites for visibility. According to them, the best underwater conditions can be found during April-May and October-November. During these months the visibility can top 30 metres and the water temperature can be as high as 29°C.
Bird Watching: There is a wide and beautiful biodiversity and you will be able to see the rarest birds of Seychelles such as the Seychelles Bulbul and the endemic Black Parrot. The best time for bird watching is between April to October. April is the breeding season for birds, whereas May to September is the nesting season for the terns. Finally, October is the main migration period.