Without a doubt, natural beauty is one of the Island’s most striking attractions with it being home to a variety of flora and fauna. Indeed, visitors have dubbed the Island the ‘Galapagos of the South Atlantic’ for its astounding biodiversity.

 

A proportionate percentage of Saint Helena’s wildlife is endemic to the Island. Most visitors to Saint Helena are aware of its Wirebird and Ebony flower. However, less people are familiar with the Island’s indigenous Bone Seed plant or the Napoleon Jumping Spider. These are only some of Saint Helena’s myriad of endemic species which includes 45 plant species, 10 native fish and over 400 invertebrates.

 

Naturally, as Saint Helena is surrounded by ocean, the Island supports a flourishing marine ecosystem with rich biodiversity. The Island takes pride in its pristine sea life and its waters have been a category VI marine protected area since 2016. Ocean exploration is actively encouraged and opportunities for snorkelling and diving are available. Although St Helena’s marine ecosystem supports a variety of different sea creatures, it is most popular as a destination for dolphin and whale watching. In particular, its whale shark trips provide a somewhat unique attraction as unusually large numbers of the species congregate close to the Island’s shores.