ST HELENA DISCOVERY & ADVENTURE
St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean is one of the most extraordinary places to visit. The island’s spectacular natural landscape, abundance of endemic wildlife and vegetation, and rich history and culture make it the perfect destination for travellers looking to step off the beaten track. On this 122 km² island you’ll feel as if you’ve escaped to another world. When the Portuguese first arrived on St Helena in 1502, the island was uninhabited. It soon became an important supply stop for ships sailing between Europe and South Africa and Asia. St Helena became a British Crown Colony in 1834, and is now a British Overseas Territory. Until recently, tourists could only get to St Helena aboard a mail ship, which took five days there and five days back. But now, a visit is only a flight away. Airlink is the first and only airline to fly to this island, making it more accessible than ever. From the moment you step off the aeroplane, there is no shortage of sights to see and things to do. The island is one big mountain and there are plenty of hiking trails that offer dramatic views. You will experience volcanic cliffs and subtropical cloud forests. Bird species include masked boobies, white terns, grey-backed storm petrels and the St Helena plover, locally known as the wirebird, which can only be seen in the wild on the island. St Helena is also home to a remarkable variety of flora and fauna, and the island’s highland areas are home to more than 400 recognised endemic species. For more adventure, go on a scuba-diving outing. You’ll share the ocean with whale sharks, bottlenose and rough-toothed dolphins, hawksbill and green turtles, as well as devil rays. Book a cruise if you prefer to observe the marine life from a distance. At Plantation House, the official residence of the governor of St Helena, you’ll learn more about the island’s history. Afterwards, take a stroll through the gardens where you’ll meet Jonathan, the oldest Aldabra giant tortoise in the world. He is estimated to be about 186 years old. For more lessons on the past, pay a visit to Longwood House, where Napoleon and a
small group of attendants spent his lengthy exile until he passed away in 1821. You can see the emperor’s tomb in the Sane Valley, a short drive from Longwood House. Napoleon was not the only famous prisoner to have been sent to the island by the British government over the years: Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo was exiled here in 1890 for leading a Zulu army against British rule in KwaZuluNatal. In addition, almost 6 000 Boer prisoners of war, including general Piet Cronjé, were sent to St Helena after the Second Boer War. Visit the prisoner of war camp at Deadwood Plain, the Boer cemetery at Knollcombes, and Ladder Hill Fort and High Knoll Fort to learn more about the incredible stories and events that played out on the island. You won’t be able to take in everything St Helena has to offer during a single visit, but you’ll take a piece of the island’s charm with you when you leave.
St Helena is waiting to be explored. Book your Airlink flight now for memories you won’t make anywhere else in the world. www.flyairlink.com