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the world's most inaccessible island
The small volcanic island of St. Helena, located right in the middle of the South Atlantic, is certainly one of the most inaccessible places in the world.
In fact, that is why, in the early 19th century, St. Helena was chosen by the British to build a prison for Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon was exiled here in 1815 and, until his death in 1821, never had the opportunity to leave the island even once.
Jamestown, the capital of St. Helena Island.
However, a commercial flight from New York is about to make this remote island more accessible. United Airlines has just introduced direct flights from New York and Newark (a city in New Jersey) to Cape Town (the legislative capital of South Africa), starting December 15, 2019. From Cape Town, travelers can reach St. Helena via seasonal flights operated by South African local airline Airlink.
Airlink will operate these flights every Tuesday, starting from December 3rd until February 25th of the following year (excluding Christmas and New Year's Eve). Additionally, travelers can still fly from Johannesburg to St. Helena every Saturday.
Although there are no direct flights and a layover is required in South Africa, this is still considered a major step forward for tourism development in St. Helena. Before 2017, there were no commercial flights to the island. In previous years, the only connection between this remote island and the outside world was the RMS St. Helena postal service: letters and telegrams were transported by sea every three weeks from Cape Town.
In 2016, as St. Helena prepared to open its first airport, it encountered an unexpected obstacle: the South Atlantic wind shear. While wind shear only affected aircraft landing from the north, approaching from the south presented problems with tailwinds – meaning a longer runway was needed for landing. Smaller aircraft could still fly to the island, but size and weight limitations made many airlines hesitant about profitability.
After numerous failed attempts, in 2017, aiming to open a route from St. Helena to Johannesburg, Airlink's Embraer E190 aircraft finally succeeded in connecting St. Helena with the outside world.
forgotten paradise
St. Helena has a population of around 4,500 people, its tourism industry is still in its infancy, and the island is known as a "forgotten paradise."
The locals are very proud of the pristine natural environment, with diverse ecosystems ranging from tropical forests to deserts. The island's waters are also ideal for dolphin and whale watching. The island has a picturesque capital, Jamestown, which also preserves a number of historical sites and buildings related to the Royal Navy base.
Furthermore, the clear skies at St. Helena are ideal for astronomical observation. It was on this very island that astronomer Edmond Halley compiled the first list of stars with the help of a telescope.
One of the most promising groups of tourists to visit St. Helena is those interested in Napoleonic history. St. Helena regularly welcomes a small number of visitors from France who come to see sites associated with Napoleon – the famous French king who died in exile on this island.
Some notable tourist attractions include: Longwood House - a house situated on a windswept plain about 6 km from Jamestown - where Napoleon lived during his exile on the island from December 10, 1815, until his death on May 5, 1821; The Briars, the first residence of the new Emperor when he arrived on the island; The Valley of the Tomb - where he was buried before his remains were returned to his homeland...
On maps, St. Helena is just a tiny dot, and people forget that this small island once lay on one of the world's most important trade routes; its history is also intertwined with famous names such as Napoleon Bonaparte (Emperor of France), Charles Darwin (renowned naturalist), and Edmund Halley (excellent astrophysicist).
As geographical barriers are gradually removed and St. Helena becomes more accessible, the island will undoubtedly be on the list of destinations for the world's most discerning travelers. It truly is a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.
