August 10, 2026
History, hiking and whale sharks on one of the world’s most isolated islands
Saint Helena Island: A Remote Corner of the South Atlantic Worth the Journey
Tucked away in the South Atlantic Ocean, Saint Helena Island offers an unusual blend of history, nature and adventure. It is often described as one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands, and that isolation is precisely what makes it worth the effort for travellers seeking somewhere genuinely off the beaten path. Indigo Safaris runs a carefully planned Saint Helena escorted tour for those who want to experience it properly rather than simply pass through.
Part of the adventure starts before you land
Getting to Saint Helena
Reaching Saint Helena is part of the experience. Regular flights from Johannesburg, with seasonal flights from Cape Town, have made this once near-inaccessible island easier to reach than at any point in its history. As the plane descends, the view opens onto volcanic peaks, lush valleys and dramatic coastal cliffs, a striking introduction to a landscape unlike anywhere else in the South Atlantic.
Exile, empire and centuries as a vital ocean stopover
A Napoleonic and Maritime History
Saint Helena is steeped in history. It was the final place of exile for Napoleon Bonaparte, and his presence is still felt at landmarks such as Longwood House and the Napoleonic tomb. That is only the beginning, however. The island is dotted with historical sites dating back to its centuries as a vital stopover for ships travelling between Europe, the West Indies and South America, a period when more than a thousand ships were resupplied there every year.
Endemic forest trails, seasonal whale sharks and a tortoise named Jonathan
Saint Helena's Wildlife, on Land and at Sea
Saint Helena lies almost 2,000 kilometres off the south-west coast of Africa, and that isolation has shaped much of what lives here. Many of the island's plants, insects and birds evolved in place and occur nowhere else, while the surrounding ocean draws seasonal visitors from far beyond its shores. If you walk a forest trail, dive off the coast or visit Jonathan at Plantation House, the island's wildlife ends up being part of almost every day you spend here.
- 🐾 Whale Sharks and Marine Encounters
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A rare balance of male and female whale sharks
The waters surrounding Saint Helena are equally compelling. Whale sharks, the island's headline marine attraction, gather here between January and March, and Saint Helena is thought to be the only place in the world where adult male and female whale sharks are seen in roughly equal numbers during this aggregation, a detail that sets it apart from every other whale shark destination on earth.
Beneath the surface, the island's waters support vibrant coral reef and a wide variety of fish species, along with regular sightings of sicklefin and Chilean devil rays. For diving and snorkelling enthusiasts, Saint Helena offers rare and largely unspoilt encounters with marine life that are difficult to find elsewhere.
- 🐾 Jonathan and Saint Helena's Other Wildlife
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Meet the world's oldest known living land animal
Marine life is not the only draw. Saint Helena is also home to Jonathan, widely recognised as the oldest known living land animal on earth, a giant tortoise who lives on the grounds of Plantation House near Napoleon's last residence. Beyond Jonathan, the island supports endemic birdlife found nowhere else, giving hikers and casual walkers alike a reasonable chance of spotting a species unique to this one small stretch of volcanic rock.
- 🐾 Hiking Among Endemic Species
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Trails through forest found nowhere else on earth
For nature lovers, Saint Helena is a genuine haven. Hiking trails lead through lush forest, past endemic plants, and up to viewpoints such as Diana's Peak. The island is home to numerous species of flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth, so a walk here often means encountering something you will not see again anywhere else in the world.
What makes Saint Helena different from a typical island escape
Highlights at a Glance
| Highlight | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Whale sharks | One of the only sites where males and females gather in equal numbers |
| Napoleonic history | Longwood House, the Napoleonic tomb and centuries of maritime heritage |
| Jonathan the tortoise | The world’s oldest known living land animal, resident since the 1880s |
| Exclusivity | Limited tourism, with flights arriving on a single 78-seat aircraft each week |
Space to unwind between adventures
A Slower Kind of Travel
While Saint Helena rewards the adventurous traveller, it is equally a place to unwind and reconnect with nature. Days pass at a slower pace, the landscapes are consistently striking, and clear night skies make it a rewarding destination for stargazing as well as hiking and diving.
When to Visit Saint Helena
Saint Helena can be visited year-round, but the experience shifts noticeably with the seasons:
- 🌿 January to March
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Peak season for diving and snorkelling with whale sharks
- 🌿 April to October
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Cooler, drier months, ideal for hiking and exploring the island's rugged landscapes
- 🌿 November to December
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Warmer conditions with excellent visibility for diving and other marine activities
Just How Remote Is It?
Some numbers that put the isolation in perspective
Saint Helena’s remoteness is easier to grasp with a few figures. The island covers around 122 square kilometres, is home to roughly 4,500 residents, and sits about 2,000 kilometres from the African coast and 3,000 kilometres from South America. Until weekly flights began in October 2018, the only way in was by Royal Mail ship or private yacht, a journey of several days rather than hours. That history of isolation is part of what has kept the island’s history, wildlife and marine environment so well preserved.
How Long to Stay
Why this is not a weekend destination
Given the flight schedule and the distance involved, Saint Helena rewards a longer stay rather than a brief stopover. Most itineraries run for ten to twelve nights, enough time to properly explore the island’s history and hiking trails, join the whale shark season if your dates allow, and adjust for the inevitable dependence on weather and a single weekly flight. Indigo Safaris’ own escorted tour follows this pattern, giving guests time to settle into the island’s pace rather than rushing between highlights.
Who Saint Helena Suits
A fit for curious couples and multi-generational families alike
Saint Helena tends to appeal most to travellers who already enjoy safari but want to add something entirely different to the trip, couples looking for a genuinely uncommon destination, and multi-generational families drawn together by history, hiking and the chance to swim with whale sharks as a shared experience. Because the island is small and the pace unhurried, it also suits travellers who prefer depth over density: fewer sites, but time to properly absorb each one.
Join Indigo Safaris on a Saint Helena Escorted Tour
Indigo Safaris is pleased to offer an exclusive escorted tour of Saint Helena, tailored to help you experience the best of this remote island, from guided visits to historical landmarks to marine encounters with whale sharks. Our St Helena 2028 whale shark tour sets out the full itinerary, and our Saint Helena destination page covers the wider island in more detail.
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