St. Helena

St. Helena

St. Helena is located at Latitude 15º 56' South, about 2000 kilometres (1200 miles) to the west of Angola. Similar to Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena is the peak of an enormous volcano; most of the volcano being below the water surface.
The island is famous because of Napoleon Bonaparte, who was exiled here from 1815 until his death in 1821.Jacobs ladder All the early visitors, and indeed all visitors up to the present, with the exception of Napoleon, seem to have been impressed with the island. Because of its situation, offering a convenient refreshment station, there were continual efforts made by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English to secure it. Eventually it was occupied by the English East India Company in 1659 and apart from a brief occupation by the Dutch in 1672/3, it has been British ever since. The population of St. Helena is about 4,250.

Climate
Although St. Helena is situated in the tropics, the climate is relatively mild due to the trade winds that reach the island. Summer temperatures range between 14º and 30º C (57º and 86º F) and often varies across the island.. Rainfall is limited but can occur.

Flora & Fauna

FlowerThe flora and fauna of St. Helena has changed dramatically since the island was discovered in 1502. The dramatic change in landscape was mainly caused by the cutting of the indigenous forest and by the introduction of goats and non-native plants that have all spread across the island. As a result several endemic plant and animal species became extinct, and many others are severely threatened. About 68 bird species can be found on St. Helena. Only one endemic species has survived, the St. Helena Plover, locally known as the Wirebird. But many interesting seabirds can still be spotted such as the Noddy, Fairy and Sooty Terns, the Madeiran Storm Petrel, and the Red-billed Tropicbird.

Frequently visited
places

For more detailed information on our programmes, please see the itineraries section. 

  • Jamestown. The picturesque town has about a 1000 inhabitants and is the capital of the island. The town is proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has some very fine examples of Colonial Architecture. There is an interesting museum on the natural history of the island.
  • Longwood House. Once the residence of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Voyages & Rates

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Plancius and Ortelius vessel tracking