Seychelles

Why it sticks

1. 1

   Africa's smallest country by both area and population.

2. 2

   The coco de mer palm, found wild only here, produces the largest seed in the plant kingdom.

3. 3

   Aldabra Atoll is home to about 100,000 giant tortoises.

4. 4

   Its main islands are made of granite, the remains of a microcontinent left behind when India split from Africa.

• Huge rounded granite boulders on white-sand beaches.
• Drives on the left; signs in English and French.
• Flag: five diagonal rays (blue, yellow, red, white, green) spreading from the bottom-left corner.