When most people think of traveling to Africa they think Safari. And if you’re traveling this far to go on Safari, it makes sense to combine that with another destination like the Seychelles. Recently on our Zoom Vacations Rwanda gorilla trekking and Kenya safari trip, some of our guests accompanied me on a post-trip to the Seychelles. As it turns out, we were a gaggle of single gay boys traveling to what some would consider a honeymoon destination. Well, the reality is that I’m not single, but since I was not with my partner I was traveling as a single with our group. The rest of the Zoom boys with me on this post-trip are officially single. Our group was proof that the Seychelles is a great place for singles, as well as couples. Anyway, I digress.

Located just a four-hour flight from Nairobi, the Seychelles is a tropical paradise island nation in Africa known for its beautiful beaches, lush mountain ranges, and five star resorts and hotels. In fact, it was the perfect place to end our in East Africa experience with sun, relaxation, good food, lovely people, and excellent service. Our post safari trip consisted of two nights at Six Senses Zil Pasyon, a 25 villa resort located on its own private island, Felicite, plus two nights at the Mango House, a Hilton luxury property on the main island of Mahe.

We landed on the main island of Mahe, and were immediately whisked away by private helicopter to Six Senses Zil Pasyon. We all stayed in 2500 square foot villas with pools overlooking the Indian Ocean. at dedicated butler indulged our every request. The first day we arrived we enjoyed a champagne-fueled sunset pool party. Six Senses really knows how to take care of Zoom guests and gifted us with bottles of champagne and other wonderful amenities like an hour massage, guided snorkeling, guided hikes, and a rum tasting. So we gathered up all our champagne bottles, fired up the Bluetooth on the in-villa speakers to some sexy Zoom Groove music and watched the most stunning sunset I’ve seen in a long time.

The next day, we enjoyed a relaxing spa treatment, a guided snorkel, and a delicious dinner. The vibe was just what we needed: relaxing, chill, and yummy. The food was excellent. After two days at Six Senses Zil Payson, we spent two nights at the Mango House by Hilton, located on the main island of Mahe. Quite different from Six Senses, it was the perfect accompaniment, intimate and accessible to a number of attractions on the main island. Mango House is like the Soho House of Seychelles, with room options to accommodate every desire from a regular room to a plunge pool suite. Zoom Vacations arranged a full-day tour of Mahe, including a visit to Victoria, the capital; some scenic spots to view the beautiful landscapes; and the very colorful local market, selling fresh fish, fruits, and all sorts of goods. We had an excellent seafood lunch at trendy Bravo restaurant and rounded out the afternoon with a rum tasting at Takamaka rum distillery. The rum was delicious and I have to say that the highlight was the two resident Giant Aldabra Tortoises, Taka and Maka; two bachelor turtles that will live over 100 years. In fact, this tortoise species are the oldest living animals on Earth and currently, there is a 190-year-old tortoise living on a nearby island. They are herbivores, so maybe being a vegetarian is a good thing if you want to live 200 years.

After this visit, we headed back to the stunning Mango House for sunset cocktails and a scrumptious Japanese sushi dinner.

So while four nights on Seychelles may not be long enough for a visit if you’re coming all the way from abroad, it’s the perfect amount of time as an add-on to an African safari in nearby Rwanda, Kenya, or South Africa.