(BLACK PR WIRE) -- Visiting Africa is more than just grassy savannas and wild animal safaris. Would you believe there are also opportunities for coral reef diving, underwater photography, seeing unique animals and visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites? It’s all in the Republic of Seychelles, a small nation comprised of 115 islands off the eastern coast of mainland Africa. Centuries of isolation from mankind have allowed for pristine ecosystems of unique plant and animal species found nowhere else on earth, and led writers to make comparisons with the biblical Garden of Eden.

English, French and Seychellois (pronounced say-shell-wah), a French-based Creole, are the official languages. The Seychellois people are a mixture of French, African, Indian, Arab and Chinese descent, and largely Roman Catholic. The majority of the population lives on Mahe the nation’s largest island and home to the nation’s capital, Victoria.

The Seychelles’ famed UNESCO World Heritage Sites are Aldabra Atoll and the Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve. UNESCO’s homepage on Aldabra explains its inclusion on their list for possessing the world’s largest giant tortoise population.Vallee de Mai on Praslin Island is a natural forest of coco-de-mer palm trees, which only grow in Seychelles. Coco-de-mer trees produce the largest seed of all plants, usually weighing 40 to 50 pounds. The trees themselves may live 200 to 400 years, according to the Seychelles Islands Foundation.

Clear water and white sand beaches makes Seychelles the perfect location for water activities and for hosting SUBIOS, an annual underwater film and image festival attracting photographers, filmmakers and conservationists worldwide. And it may be the perfect location if you seek a one-of-a-kind vacation!