Attractions

St Helena is a hiker’s paradise, with a collection of 21 Post Box walks, and many footpaths. Because of its rugged landscape, many of the walks are recommended for experienced hikers, however, the footpaths are well suited for families and children. The Post Box walks are named such because of the post boxes at the end containing a note book for hikers to write their comments, and a stamp for them to record their achievement as a souvenir.

The hikes range between 1.5-12km, and are a great way to see the island. The marine life and wrecks found around St Helena makes it an ideal location for both divers and snorkelers. The diving conditions are suitable for advanced and beginner divers, with warmer sea temperatures and visibility up to 40m.

St Helena was used to detain key prisoners, including some 6 000 Boers, King Dinuzulu, and Bahraini princes in exile. Perhaps the most famous inhabitant of St Helena was the former French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. Exiled to the island in 1815, Napoleon spent 6 years here before he died. Those visiting St Helena would be remiss if they didn’t visit his two residences, The Briars and Longwood House. Longwood House stands as a museum, with all the original furniture. Napoleon’s Tomb is another popular site, even though his remains were exhumed and re-interred in France.

One of the big attractions on St Helena is the annual whale shark migrations, which presents the unique opportunity to swim with these giants of the ocean. During January to March, visitors can don snorkelling gear (no diving allowed) and jump into the sea and spend up to 40 minutes observing and swimming alongside the whale sharks. Groups of up to 30 sharks have been counted in the past, and they can measure up to 18m.