Cerf Island
Encyclopedia
Cerf Island lies 4 km off the north coast of Mahé
in the Seychelles
. Cerf Island measures more than 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) long and almost 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) wide, it reaches a height of 108 metres (354.3 ft). The island is surrounded by a coral reef
and the geology is granitic.
Cerf Island was named after the French navy frégate “Le Cerf” which arrived at Port Victoria on 1 November 1756. On board was Corneille Nicholas Morphey, leader of the French expedition, which claimed the island by laying a Stone of Possession on Mahe, Seychelles’ oldest monument, now on display in the National Museum, Victoria.
Cerf Island is the only island in the marine park to have a small local population who commute to Mahé for their daily business. It has a local population of around 100, mostly centered in one bay on the South side of the island, many who make the short commute by boat to Mahé for work.
Well-known residents include the celebrated South African novelist Wilbur Smith
, writer, explorer and treasure hunter William "Bill" Travis and yacht designer Phil Southwell. Artists Lisa Swerling
and Ralph Lazar
lived for a year on the island in 1998, where they created the cult cartoon Harold's Planet
. The island also has a small art gallery and a chapel.
The island lies in the Ste Anne Marine National Park
and is surrounded by a coral reef
. The geology is grantitic, with a maximum height above sea level of 357 feet (108.8 m). There are two hotels, a guest lodge, three restaurants, a spa and a beach bar. There are no paved roads or local infrastructure on the island; travel to-and-from the island is by boat and by helicopter which lands at the heli pad at Cerf Island Resort Seychelles.
Due to Cerf Island’s location, in a National Marine Park, the waters around Cerf Island prove a spectacular sight. The deepest point of the Marine Park is 250 metres (820.2 ft) and the Park offers exceptional marine life, with more than 150 species of reef fish, crabs, sea urchins, starfish, octopus and many more. Cerf Island is home to the fruit bat and giant tortoises. On the north side of the island are superb coral reefs. Here giant tortoises swim with clown fish.
There are no shops, roads or local infrastructure but water, telephone and electricity is provided from the mainland Mahe. Diving centres are plentiful on the main island and snorkelling equipment is available for hire on Cerf Island at the hotels.
Some properties on the island suffered minor damage by the Indian Ocean Earthquake (tsunami) of 2004.
Mahé, Seychelles
Mahé is the largest island of the Seychelles, lying in the north east of the nation. The population of Mahé is 80,000. It contains the capital city of Victoria and accommodates 90% of the country's total population...
in the Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
. Cerf Island measures more than 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) long and almost 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) wide, it reaches a height of 108 metres (354.3 ft). The island is surrounded by a coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
and the geology is granitic.
Cerf Island was named after the French navy frégate “Le Cerf” which arrived at Port Victoria on 1 November 1756. On board was Corneille Nicholas Morphey, leader of the French expedition, which claimed the island by laying a Stone of Possession on Mahe, Seychelles’ oldest monument, now on display in the National Museum, Victoria.
Cerf Island is the only island in the marine park to have a small local population who commute to Mahé for their daily business. It has a local population of around 100, mostly centered in one bay on the South side of the island, many who make the short commute by boat to Mahé for work.
Well-known residents include the celebrated South African novelist Wilbur Smith
Wilbur Smith
Wilbur Addison Smith is a best-selling novelist. His writings include 16th and 17th century tales about the founding of the southern territories of Africa and the subsequent adventures and international intrigues relevant to these settlements. His books often fall into one of three series...
, writer, explorer and treasure hunter William "Bill" Travis and yacht designer Phil Southwell. Artists Lisa Swerling
Lisa Swerling
Lisa Swerling is a writer, artist and illustrator. Partnering with her husband Ralph Lazar, they are best known for their cartoon characters Harold's Planet, Vimrod and The Brainwaves....
and Ralph Lazar
Ralph Lazar
Ralph Lazar is a writer, artist and illustrator. Partnering with his wife Lisa Swerling, they are best known for their cartoon creations Harold's Planet, Vimrod and The Brainwaves....
lived for a year on the island in 1998, where they created the cult cartoon Harold's Planet
Harold's Planet
Harold's Planet is a popular online cartoon character created by Lisa Swerling & Ralph Lazar.Winner of the "Grand Prix - International Project Competition" at the Annecy Animation Festival in France in 1998, it has since grown to become one of the UK's most commercially successful cartoon...
. The island also has a small art gallery and a chapel.
The island lies in the Ste Anne Marine National Park
Ste Anne Marine National Park
Ste Anne Marine National Park lies about 5 km from Victoria, the capital city of the Seychelles, and encompasses six small islands. The Marine Park was created in 1973 for the preservation of wildlife...
and is surrounded by a coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
. The geology is grantitic, with a maximum height above sea level of 357 feet (108.8 m). There are two hotels, a guest lodge, three restaurants, a spa and a beach bar. There are no paved roads or local infrastructure on the island; travel to-and-from the island is by boat and by helicopter which lands at the heli pad at Cerf Island Resort Seychelles.
Due to Cerf Island’s location, in a National Marine Park, the waters around Cerf Island prove a spectacular sight. The deepest point of the Marine Park is 250 metres (820.2 ft) and the Park offers exceptional marine life, with more than 150 species of reef fish, crabs, sea urchins, starfish, octopus and many more. Cerf Island is home to the fruit bat and giant tortoises. On the north side of the island are superb coral reefs. Here giant tortoises swim with clown fish.
There are no shops, roads or local infrastructure but water, telephone and electricity is provided from the mainland Mahe. Diving centres are plentiful on the main island and snorkelling equipment is available for hire on Cerf Island at the hotels.
Some properties on the island suffered minor damage by the Indian Ocean Earthquake (tsunami) of 2004.