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One of the World’s Most Remote Islands Is About to Get a Lot Closer

by Wendy Perrin | September 23, 2017

One of the last places on earth that you couldn’t get to is about to become a place that a lot of people can get to. That means it’s your last chance to be a true pioneer (“I went when you could only get there by mailboat!”). It’s also your chance to see a little-known land before it changes forever (“I was on one of the first flights in!”) That’s what’s happening with the remote island of St. Helena right now.

St. Helena, a 47-square mile island with a population of 4,600 in the middle of the South Atlantic, is best known for being the place that Napoleon was exiled to. Until next month, the only way to reach it has been by mailboat from Cape Town—a journey that requires spending five or six days at sea each way. But starting in mid-October 2017, SA Airlink will begin weekly five-hour flights on a 76-seat Embraer from Johannesburg, South Africa. They fly on Saturdays and start at £804 for a round-trip ticket.

One of the world’s most isolated settled islands—1,200 miles west of the African coast and 1,800 miles east of Brazil—St. Helena may be most famous for its Napoleonic artifacts, but there’s a lot more to do than just visit the house where the French emperor lived and died. You can dive to shipwrecks, swim with whale sharks, go on picturesque hikes to see some of the 500 endemic species of flora and fauna, and meet the local people—called “Saints”—who are known for their hospitality. The island was discovered by the Portuguese in 1502 but colonized by the Brits—so, if you rent a car, you’ll need to drive on the left. You might actually feel like you’re in a tiny tropical England: The Saints speak British English, and you’ll spot red post boxes and English-style Bobbies as you tool around Jamestown.

As you’d expect, the introduction of the new flight will change the experience of the island, and it’s already preparing for an end to its isolation: A 30-room luxury hotel called the Mantis St. Helena has opened in three restored Georgian buildings, where visitors can relax after a round of 18 holes at the world’s most remote golf course, drinks at the world’s most remote distillery, a visit to the oldest Anglican church in the southern hemisphere, a hike to a heart-shaped waterfall, or a climb up Diana Peaks National Park where they can get a view of just how remote they are.

If you prefer the old-fashioned way of getting to St. Helena—via one of the world’s last mailboats, the RMS St. Helena—you have until February 2018. The arrival of a modern airport means the Royal Mail Ship is being decommissioned.

Read more about St. Helena here, and let us know if you decide to go!

St Helena island view
St. Helena, a 47-square mile island with a population of 4,600 in the middle of the South Atlantic, is one of the world's most remote islands. Photo: David Pryce
Fishing boat in Jamesbay St. Helena
Fishing boat in Jamesbay. Photo: Ed Thorpe
Old Woman's Valley, St. Helena island
Old Woman's Valley, St. Helena. Photo: Ed Thorpe
underwater view of fish off St. Helena island
Wrecks around St. Helena's coast provide great diving sites. Photo: Sandy Bay, St. Helena
aerial view of Jamestown, St. Helena
Jamestown, St. Helena. Photo: David Pryce
St. Helena island's heart-shaped waterfall
Hike to the heart-shaped waterfall. Photo: Ed Thorpe
Napoleon statue on St. Helena island
Napoleon was exiled on St. Helena island from 1815 until he died in 1821. Photo: Ed Thorpe
Longwood House is one of three buildings where Napoleon stayed in exile on St. Helena
Longwood House is one of the sites associated with Napoleon during his time here. Photo: St. Helena Tourism
Lot's Wife Beach St. Helena
Lot's Wife Beach. Photo: Ed Thorpe
jonathan the giant tortoise at plantation house on St. Helena
Jonathan the tortoise is 180 years old and lives at Plantation House on St. Helena. Photo: Jon Tonks
aerial view of St. Helena High Knoll fort
High Knoll Fort dates from 1874. Photo: Merrill Joshua
Napoleon's Tomb on St. Helena island
Napoleon's Tomb on St. Helena. Photo: Jon Tonks
The RMS mail ship approaching St Helena island
The RMS mail ship approaching St Helena

 

 

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2 Comments

  1. Atlantan

    I saw a TV program on this island and a previous effort (which failed) to provide air service to it. The runway is perched on the top of a steep precipice, and is constantly blasted by strong winds. If SA Airlink is successful in establishing service, I think I’ll let them get lots of practice before I fly there.

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