The Indian Ocean paradise that’s rapidly gaining fans

BY BEN WEST

When a property buyer looks for a tropical beach island paradise, invariably the Caribbean often springs to mind. However, the Seychelles is increasingly establishing itself as the place to buy.

When you consider all the attractions of this beautiful Indian Ocean archipelago, it’s easy to see why. Although a direct flight from London, at around ten hours, is about the same as for the Caribbean, the time zone difference is better to the Seychelles, as you don’t experience the jet lag a trip to the Caribbean entails.

Not only is the water purer and cleaner in the 115 islands that make up the Seychelles (and therefore snorkelling and diving is better there, with there being more fish), its air is amongst the cleanest on the planet. Indeed, in 2016, it was deemed to possess the cleanest air in the world.

Although there are monsoons, these delectable islands off East Africa do not suffer from the extreme weather patterns seen in the Caribbean, which has a hurricane season generally lasting from June to November. The Seychelles enjoy stable weather throughout the year, with temperatures ranging from 24C to 32C, and the islands are free from earthquakes and active volcanoes.

The Seychelles are highly attractive to international buyers as there is no visa requirement to enter. The modern infrastructure, advanced telecommunications and excellent air connections make the islands a highly coveted destination to live and for a holiday home. The property market is currently thriving, with most buyers coming from Europe, South Africa, the Middle East, China and Russia, attracted by its exclusivity, privacy and security, as well as its natural beauty.

The Seychelles are a popular holiday haunt for celebrities, which have included the Beckhams, Liz Hurley, Bill Gates and Brad Pitt. It is also popular with the Middle-Eastern elite: Qatar’s Al Thani family have a villa here, the Saudi royal family ­financed Mahé’s Four Seasons hotel, and Sheikh Khalifa al Nahyan, the emir of Abu Dhabi and ruler of the United Arab Emirates, has had a palace built on one of Mahé’s hills.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge choosing the Seychelles for their honeymoon in 2011, and the Clooneys choosing it for theirs in 2014, fuelled awareness of the country, and the increase in flights since then has boosted visitor numbers considerably. Air Seychelles launched direct flights from Paris in 2015 and British Airways from London in 2018. The Seychelles is an excellent hub for Europe, Asia and Africa (it’s about four-and-a-half hours flight time from UAE), and now the islands are served by Edelweiss, Swiss, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and Turkish Airlines also.

“Direct flights have increased tourism massively, by 50% in two years,” says Nicholas Brown, managing director of property advisory service Private View Property, which is currently marketing a pair of luxurious villas on Mahé, the biggest Seychelles island, and home to its charming little capital, Victoria. Victoria has Mahé’s only set of traffic lights, which sums up its compactness and easy-going spirit.

The freehold villas are located in a prime position on Mahé’s eastern coastline high up in the hills, at the 30-hectare Royal Palm Residences, a secluded, leafy, gated development that eventually will have no more than 24 villas, to ensure privacy. The development will also have a spa, gym and restaurant. Buyers will also enjoy a mountain spring water supply and their own helipad, with properties overlooking neighbouring islands and lush tropical rainforest.

The larger of the two villas currently available, the $12m (£9.3m) 37,000 sq ft Villa Palladio, boasts six bedrooms, large open-plan living spaces, a hammam, games room, home cinema and staff quarters. Based on a neo-classical Palladian style, it stands in a prominent and commanding position with dazzling views of the mountains and sea, distinct from the surrounding wild and natural landscape. 

The building materials are Italianate in inspiration: marble, white walls with touches of tropical hardwoods. This striking building has an opulent, graceful feel, offering exceptional light, space and comfort, framed by a glorious, shimmering blue setting, enhanced by a stunning infinity pool.

Also available is the 29,400 sq ft Villa Salazi, with a more modest price tag of $11m (£8.5m). Sculpted into the hillside, its layout is influenced by the landscape, blurring the boundary between the buildings and nature, with large, granite boulders and vegetation featuring in the overall structure. The materials used reflect the tropical setting, with hardwoods, shingled roof, aged copper roofing and local stone. Sleeping 12, it features a series of detached pavilions, its centre built around a gigantic granite boulder. It’s best described as a big house with smaller separate living areas around it, perfect for several families, groups of friends, or perhaps somewhere to put some unruly teens or a demanding mother-in-law. The villa boasts an infinity pool that appears to connect with the sea. A wide verandah wraps around the villa, creating shaded outdoor areas from each room.

Interiors are by Chelsea-based designer Leila Corbett, using a blend of traditional, rich finishes, fine craftsmanship and simple contemporary elements. The detached bedrooms are sumptuous, with upholstered furniture for an authentic classic look. The house has a resort feel and has six guest bedrooms, three of which are free-standing with their own pools. The elevated front lawn has a commanding view of the Indian Ocean and inner islands, whilst featuring what is, at 50-metres, reputedly the longest swimming pool in the country.

The villas were designed by architect Alex Ellenberger, who trained in London before returning to the Seychelles to launch his practice, Add.Locus Architects. Alex won international renown as executive architect for the Four Seasons Hotel on Mahé and for the spa, pools and villas on Fregate Private Island. His practice is multicultural and global in outlook, with private commissions and residential projects in the Indian Ocean, the UK and in Japan.

He recognises that nowadays, as well as wanting spacious, immaculate properties, today’s luxury buyers also want the comforts available from a hotel. To that end he is in discussions with a top hotel operator to manage the resort. Whilst some owners would plan to live on the island all year round, others would wish to rent their villas out, which Ellenberger believes would be in the region of $20,000 a night for each of these properties currently.

The villas attract communal maintenance and service costs of around £850 per month and on top of the villa prices are 6.5% purchase taxes. This consists of a 5% property transfer tax and 1.5% sanction processing fee for foreign buyers. Buyers are entitled to apply for residency permits for up to six family members when buying one of these villas.

Further details: Private View Property – telephone +44 (0)7493 779779; email nicholas@privateviewproperty.com; web privateviewproperty.com