Health
The islands of the Seychelles pose no great health threats, and probably the worst thing that could happen is sunburn or dehydration. The standard of living is generally high and there are no awful unsanitary conditions.
Consult the official Seychelles government travel advisories for the latest requirements with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic. A requirement for the Seychelles is proof of vaccination against yellow fever for travellers aged one and over who are arriving from an endemic area (eg: sub-Saharan Africa) or who have transited in an endemic area for more than 12 hours.
In addition, travellers are wise to be up to date with routine immunisations such as tetanus, diphtheria and polio (now given as the all-in-one vaccine Revaxis, which lasts for ten years) and should check that they are immune to measles, mumps and rubella either through vaccination (MMR – two doses given at least one month apart) or through disease.
Special circumstances may dictate that other vaccines are advised. Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccine should be considered if you are living with locals, staying for more than a month or at more at risk of disease through lifestyle or occupation. If you are intending to work in a hospital/medical setting or closely with children then hepatitis B vaccine is recommended.
The risk of rabies exists only in the bat population so is considered as low risk. If you wake with a bat in your room and you are not under a bed net or think you have been bitten by a bat then seek medical advice as soon as possible.
Sensible preparation will go a long way to ensuring your trip goes smoothly. Particularly for first-time visitors to Africa, this includes a visit to a travel clinic to discuss matters such as vaccinations and insect bite prevention. A full list of current travel clinic websites worldwide is available here. For other journey preparation information, consult Travel Health Pro or CDC: Traveller’s Health.
Safety
The Seychelles is not a crime-ridden part of the world. However, most of the larger hotels have safety deposit boxes for your valuables like tickets, cash and passports. When out and about, use your common sense. For example, it is not wise to leave fancy, expensive camera equipment lying on the back seat of an unattended open vehicle. Neither is it a good idea to leave a handbag on the beach while you go swimming or snorkelling.
Women travellers
It is generally safe for women to be out on their own and travelling on the buses is absolutely fine. Take care not to offend the local people by wearing ultra-skimpy clothes that could be misinterpreted as provocative.
LGBTQ travellers
There is no problem with gay and lesbian travellers, but it is always wise to be discreet. Homosexuality was decriminalised in the Seychelles in 2016.
Travellers with a disability
Wheelchairs are available at the airport and at most of the larger hotels. It is advisable to confirm with your hotel and notify the tour agent of any disabilities prior to travelling to ensure that the accommodation is suitable. Depending on the degree of disability, travelling in small boats could be difficult.
Travelling with children
The Seychelles is generally a wonderfully relaxed country for children but do be aware that a few hotels do not accept children under certain ages.