African Banks, Sandstone cay in Seychelles.
African Banks consists of two small islands surrounded by coral rings in the Indian Ocean. The cays feature sandy shores and shallow waters that create a remote and untouched marine environment.
French explorers discovered these islands in 1797 during an ocean expedition and gave them their African name. A British warship ran aground nearby in 1801, leaving wreckage that still marks the waters today.
The islands form an Important Bird Area of 750 hectares, providing essential nesting grounds for numerous seabird populations in the Seychelles archipelago.
A visit requires a boat trip from nearby islands or a guided tour arrangement. The islands have limited facilities, so bring water and protection from the sun, and plan for basic beach conditions.
Shipwreck remains from a British vessel can be found scattered on the southern shore from an 1801 grounding. The islands serve as a crucial breeding habitat for numerous seabird species found nowhere else nearby.
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