International Carnival of Victoria, Seychelles

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What is the Victoria International Carnival?

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The Seychelles Carnival, also known as the Victorian Carnival, is a wonderfully diverse and multicultural annual celebration in Seychelles. This carnival has proved to be one of the fastest-growing events over the years. Moreover, it has been well received by the local community and hundreds of tourists who come every year to witness all the celebrations and events.

These carnivals showcase an atmosphere loaded with bright colors with loud music, eccentric costumes, outrageous characters and hundreds of dancers. In just a couple of years, the Victoria International Carnival has quickly become one of the main carnivals in the region, attracting both local and international tourists. No wonder it is being recognized as “the carnival of carnivals“.

 

 

The Seychelles International Carnival of Victoria establishes a close relationship between the typical carnival attractions and the art, the culture, the history and the national heritage of Seychelles. In this way, the Seychelles Carnivals express pride in its own culture and cultural and racial diversity, along with religious beliefs and political affiliation.

 

 

When is the International Carnival of Victoria?

The Victoria International Carnival takes place in April when dozens of floats from all over the world come together in an incredible colorful event full of color, music and food.

 

 

History of the Victoria International Carnival

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The International Carnival of Victoria in Seychelles was born from the idea of a multicultural and diverse celebration. Thus, different ethnicities, customs and ways of life participate in theCarnival festivities. Seychelles has continued to be a mix of the four continents that have contributed in the interesting mix of cultures in the society, making it what it is today: a diverse and plural society.

The Seychelles Carnival is a fairly new carnival; however, during its celebration its multicultural context, its diversity and the reunion of peoples are taken into consideration. The celebrations last 3 days in which Seychelles is the meeting point for the development of the “Carnival of Carnivals”.

 

Where is the International Carnival of Victoria

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The Victoria International Carnival takes place in the capital city of the Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean in eastern Africa.

 

 

How the Victoria International Carnival is celebrated

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The Victorian International Carnival celebrations revolve around the national sentiment and multiculturalism that the islands possess. During the 3 days of celebration, the country enters into a great state of excitement and festivities.

On the first day of the celebration anopening ceremony is held by the Minister of Tourism, this is followed by a music and dance show. On the second day is when the parades of the different groups, both locals and tourists participating in the streets and avenues begin. Costumes from different cultures can be seen on the same thoroughfare. The parades are celebrated with Brazilian music, but also to the rhythm of various national instruments and other regions.

The third day of the celebrations is to say goodbye, although there are still many things to do. On this day takes place the children’s carnival, followed by several participations of dance and joyful music. There is also an awards ceremony, which ends the celebrations.

 

Tips for going to the Victoria International Carnival

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We invite you to participate in these colorful and varied carnival celebrations where the common factor is in the national sense and culture of Seychelles and many other regions of the world. Plan your trip in advance so you don’t miss out on the festivities.

 

Events in Victoria International Carnival

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Victoria International Carnival in Seychelles establishes a warm relationship between carnival attractions with the arts and cculture of its own country and elements of international celebrations.

 

 

The carnivals include float events,musical and art shows and several secondary fairs around the three main islands called Mahe, Praslin and Digue. There is also the participation of local and international artists from the region to help entertain the events that take place during the Carnival season.

You can appreciate the various opening and closing celebrations of the carnivals, held on the first and last day of the festivities. The children’s carnival is also one of the most important events. However, we cannot forget the various side events that occur in several areas simultaneously.

 

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Victorian International Carnival Parades

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The Victorian International Carnival celebrations feature a parade in which around 62 floats participate, 42 being national and another 20 international floats. The celebrations take place in the capital of Victoria on theisland of Mahé.

Some of the countries participating in the parade are Brazil, China, Germany, Mozambique, United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, France and the United States. During the 3 days of the festival, different participants from around the world are received, which contribute to the celebration and entertainment of the parades. In addition, also included are dancers from Brazil, acrobats from China, musicians and dancers from Indonesia, among others.

 

Parade route

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The parade takes place in the month of April and takes over the main streets of Victoria town on Mahé Island in the Seychelles archipelago.

 

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What to eat at the Victoria International Carnival

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Within the traditional carnival foods, you can get thetraditional coconut curry of the region containing various spices and chicken. Also local food such as grilled fish, which is common to find in the locality and the islands of the archipelago.

You can alsos walk through the streets of Victoria and find various local eateries such as Del Place Bar and Restaurant, La Grande Maison or La Perle Noire where you can find a wide variety of food from the region, Creole, international and Caribbean food.

 

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Travel Insurance

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From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurance. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the Victoria International Carnival

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During the carnivals you have a large number of events in which you can participate, from the opening and closing ceremonies, along with the award presentation, as well as attend the parade where you can find a wide variety of participants from various regions of the world. You can also visit the food fairs that take place on the main street so you can get to know better the gastronomic variety that the archipelago has to offer.

If you don’t want to complicate things, here you can book interesting excursions in Spanish in this city:.

 

What to see and do outside of the Victoria International Carnival

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During your stay you can visit a variety of tourist attractions found throughout the archipelago and its different islands. Some of these attractions are:

 

Victorian Botanical Gardens

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It was established in 1901 by the current Minister of the Environment. This establishment education about the environment, conservation of plants, proper management of landscapes and ecotourism recreation of the region.

 

Anse Source D’Argent

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One of the most popular beaches in the archipelagos. It is located on Digue Island and brings with it clear waters and coral reefs that form its major attractions.

 

Victoria Market

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The largest and most important municipal market in the region. Here you can find a wide range of fresh produce, spices, handicrafts and souvenirs.

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your entrance ticket in advance through Tiquets:.

 

Safety at the Victoria International Carnival

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The Seychelles archipelago is generally a safe and secure area, however, caution is advised as there have been reports of theft in some cases from tourists. In addition, we recommend that you keep your belongings in a safe place, be aware of your surroundings and avoid going out at night. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your belongings safe:

 

 

 

Weather at Victoria International Carnival

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In Seychelles, April is one of the hottest months, with a temperature of 24 to 32 degrees Celsius and 72% humidity. If you are going to travel and celebrate in these magical carnivals, we recommend that you plan according to the local climate.

 

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How to get to the Victoria International Carnival

 

How to get there by plane

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The Seychelles International Airport is located in Mahé, 10 kilometers from Victoria so accessing the carnival is easy. From there, you can reach the city using the means of transportation of your choice.

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by bus

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From the airport there are public buses with which you can reach the city. The journey is about 9 kilometers and it will take you about 15 minutes to get there.

 

How to get there by car

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From the airport take the highway Providence to the city of victoria, you should reach the city in about 10 minutes.

 

Domestic travel

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To transport you across the different islands, it is advisable that you use the ferries found in the ports, it is the most efficient way to travel between the islands of the archipelago.

 

Where to stay at the Victoria International Carnival

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Booking.com

 

The Station Retreat Hotel Seychelles

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4 star hotel located 900 meters from Victoria Hospital. Facilities include a swimming pool and spa massage service. The international airport is 20 minutes from the hotel.

 

Coral Strand Smart Choice

4 star hotel located 3.6 km from Victoria Hospital. Located near the Beau Bay. It offers air-conditioned rooms, swimming pool and spa. Also, rooms are furnished and include minibar and TV.

 

Hilltop Boutique

Hotel Hotel located 1.4 km from Victoria Hospital. It has free wifi, bar and trips to the airport. In addition, rooms have private bathrooms with shower and various toiletries.

We recommend you use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.

 

Thank you for reading

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