If you’re drawn to places with a genuine sense of isolation, it doesn't get better than Saint Helena Island, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic.
The island isn't your classic fantasy of endless sandy beaches and turquoise lagoons, though. You'll find something far more compelling here, including its aquatic adventure activities in 20+°C waters.
Diving the SS Papanui, a passenger shipwreck from 1911 that sits offshore, is one of several experiences that will define your adventurous week on Saint Helena. Humpback whales migrate past the island, with peak viewing between July and September. Whale sharks, on the other hand, often appear earlier in the year, typically around March and April. Even outside peak seasons, the waters teem with life. When I visited in May, superpods of dolphins made our boat trip feel surreal.
Life on St Helena unfolds at its own pace. With fewer than 5,000 residents, the island feels community-centric rather than insular. Shaped by centuries of maritime history, exile and self-reliance, there’s a sense of connection among locals. Whether you're passing someone on the street or along the island’s narrow roads, a greeting is automatic, and always with a warm wave.
Beyond town, a compact network of trails leads through dry pastureland, cloud forests and endemic-rich ecosystems that feel far larger than the island’s modest footprint suggests, with dramatic changes in landscape simply by shifting from one side of the island's rocky landscape to the other.
Even if you're not a history buff, it's hard not to get drawn in by the island's backstory. Napoleon Bonaparte’s final years here, between 1815 and 1821, are woven into the twists and turns of the spots you'll explore from the rooms he occupied at Longwood House to artefacts housed in the Jamestown museums. It is a historical labour of love in parts.
Jamestown, as the ideal base, sits in a steep volcanic valley. Dramatic cliffs frame it and Jacob’s Ladder is impossible to ignore. The 699-step climb quickly becomes part fitness challenge, part social ritual. Whether you set a new time record or not, you can be rewarded with a certificate of completion for your efforts.
Getting to Saint Helena & Need to Know Info
Landing on this island is nerve-wracking, as it is thrilling. For decades, St Helena was accessible only by the RMS St Helena, a mail ship retired in 2018, after the island's official international airport was opened in 2017.
Today, flights land on a 1,550-metre runway dramatically wedged between cliffs known as King and Queen Rock, with sheer drops to the Atlantic on either side.
Shifting crosswinds and a remote location halfway between continents, and a weekly flight schedule, all make your arrival feel like quite the event. Air safety is an essential factor, so be forewarned that your flight may be delayed due to unfavourable weather conditions, which can result from this unique topography. But once on this remote island, it rewards you with incredible scenic beauty, as you willingly slow down, ease into its natural treasures and take it all in.
Seasonal flights from Cape Town
Airlink operates weekly Saturday flights year-round between Johannesburg and St Helena. Seasonal Tuesday return flights from Cape Town run between December and March. Flights can be booked up to 360 days in advance.
Aircraft: Embraer E190
Flight duration: Approximately 4h45 from Cape Town; longer from Johannesburg with a stopover in Namibia's Walvis Bay.
Airport: St Helena Airport (HLE)
Practical tips if you go:
The island, although remote, is well-equipped for tourism, with extensive plans to upgrade its waterfront, including the relocation of the Jamestown working harbour to Rupert's Valley. Here are some essentials to pack and plan around if you go.
- UK-style 240V plugs
- The St Helena Pound is on par with the British Pound; both are used
- There are no ATMs on the island. Cash withdrawals are available at the Bank of St Helena and the airport. Visitors can also choose a prepaid virtual Bank of St Helena Tourist Card - see more details here.
- Comprehensive travel insurance is required and will need to be presented at immigration
- Pack hiking shoes, reef-safe sun protection and any essential medication
- Sea temperatures average 22–23°C. Temperatures will be in the mid to high 20s in Jamestown, slightly cooler in the country
