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One of the World’s Most Remote Islands Just Got a Lot More Accessible

News Beaches and Islands Airports + Flying
by Eben Diskin Dec 7, 2018

If this flight existed in 1815, Napoleon’s stay on this remote island might not have been so miserable. St. Helena, where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled and later died, is one of the most far-flung islands in the world, and they didn’t send him there because it was easy to reach (or escape). Until late 2017, the only way to get there was via the Royal Mail Ship RMS St. Helena en route from Cape Town. Now, visiting this island in the South Atlantic is easier than ever with the introduction of a weekly flight by SA Airlink. The South African airline has added regular flights to this new route, offering service from Johannesburg to St. Helena every Tuesday and Saturday between December 2018 and April 2019.

These are also the best months to visit the island of just 4,500 people, both weather-wise and with regard to wildlife. During this season, massive whale sharks come to St. Helena during their migration, where they can often be spotted hunting for plankton near the coast. It’s also a great location for diving — just steer clear of the sharks — and hiking through the island’s many dramatic natural landscapes.

“The expansion of flights,” said Helene Bennett, the island’s Director of Tourism, “opens up plenty of opportunities for prospective visitors to the island. During the summer season, visitors can expect to see the island’s incredible mix of heritage and walking, and the chance to spot spectacular marine life including magnificent whale sharks.”

H/T: Lonely Planet

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