St Helena, located 1,200 miles from Africa and 1,800 miles from South America, is a sub-tropical island in the South Atlantic Ocean. It has remained a paradise for wildlife: 500 species of flora and fauna that exist there are found nowhere else on Earth.
Why sell St Helena?
A hike through the island’s densely vegetated interior. Credit: Ed Thorpe
Your clients will thank you for introducing them to a remarkable, staggeringly beautiful island surrounded by a sea that is a vital, biodiverse Category VI Marine Protected Area. It is home to hundreds of unique species of flora and fauna, is culturally rich and also has a fascinating history.
This includes a six-year stint as Napoleon’s final place of exile and nearly 370 years as a British island, which means that its language, laws and many of its traditions are English.
It’s even on the same time zone during the winter – until the UK switches to British Summer Time – and British sterling is widely accepted here.
The few people who have already been describe St Helena as a time capsule, a place where the rhythm of life is gentle and genteel, and where the intrusions of modern life are still safely contained: there are no chain hotels or coffee bars and fibre-optic internet only arrived in October 2023.
Who to sell to
Target customers will be well-travelled, active, curious and with an appetite for exploring, for history and for nature.
They will most likely be those who have the luxury of both money and time, which they enjoy spending on discovering remote destinations. They are also very much relish the thought of being the first among their friends to visit countries that are not yet on every tourist’s dream list.
History enthusiasts will visit because of Napoleon, while nature lovers will be drawn to the island by its globally significant bio-diversity, in particular its cloud forest – the only natural one found on British territory – and the hundreds of unique species that populate its forests, skies and ocean.
Birdwatchers will go for the wirebird, the island’s only surviving endemic land bird; those fascinated by creatures that are found underfoot rather than overhead will visit to discover its bugs, slugs and spiders, including the endangered spiky yellow woodlouse, rainbow bug, blushing snail and golden sail spider. Just about everyone will want to meet the island’s most famous resident – Jonathan, a giant tortoise from the Seychelles who, at 194 years old, is officially recognised as the world’s oldest known living land animal, and the oldest chelonian on record.
Between earth and sky, visitors will find some of the most rare tree species in the world and will be able to take some spectacular hikes. St Helena is a geological and meteorological dream, with mist-shrouded mountains – the highest of which, at 820 metres, is twice the height of the Eiffel Tower – rocky bays, black sand or cobbled stone beaches, and numerous micro-climates.
Diving in the reefs around St Helena. Credit: Will Appleyard
Jonathan the giant tortoise
Among the many highlights for hikers are the Post Box Walks – 25 trails ranging in difficulty and length, and Jacob’s Ladder. Not so much a walk as an ascent up 699 steps – the time to beat is four minutes and 40 seconds.
Divers are another key demographic. The ocean that surrounds St Helena has eight accessible shipwrecks that host abundant marine life.
The waters are, in fact, home to more than 780 species, including whale sharks – the world’s largest fish: between the months of January to April, it is possible to do regulated swims with these magnificent creatures.
Next year, the island will hold its inaugural ‘World’s Most Remote Marathon’. This is a new opportunity for travel agents to entice a completely different type of visitor to St Helena.
Festivals are a central part of local culture. Credit: Ed Thorpe
What to sell
Given the distance visitors will need to travel to reach St Helena, there’s a good chance some will extend their break to take in two centres. South Africa is a natural pairing, since connecting flights from the UK are routed through Johannesburg every Saturday.
Highlights there include a thriving arts scene, a visit to Soweto and tours to the Magaliesberg Mountains. During peak season (December to March) there is also one mid-week flight from Cape Town, where you could book your clients on tours to Table Mountain, the vineyards of Stellenbosch and a trip to Robben Island.
Another suggestion is to twin St Helena with Namibia: tempt travellers with tours to the dunes, with stays in desert lodges in Sossusvlei dunes, or even the chance of seeing one of the rarest animals on the planet – the endangered black rhino.
The best time to visit St Helena is from October to April, and planning ahead is essential. Accommodation is limited and so, especially, is car hire. Ask your clients if they intend to drive there, and reserve their vehicle when booking their holiday.
Accommodation includes the historic Wellington House, family-run The Blue Latern, and the island’s only hotel, Mantis St Helena, which was originally the East India Company’s officers’ quarters. There are self-catering options too including Summit View, Ocean Blue Apartments, Forge and Rock Mount, which all feature on the tourism board’s website.
St Helena coffee is world-famous
Georgian buildings in Jamestown
While there, visitors could take any number of tours, including ones that take visitors round the whole island, and others that focus on cuisine, photography, marine life, traditional crafts and even a coffee experience.
What’s new
The big news is the upcoming ‘World’s Most Remote Marathon’ next year, which will take place during the destination’s Adventure Week. The inaugural one was set to take place in 2026, but has now been postponed to February 28, 2027.
sthelenatourism.com
