Africa
Napoleon's last home, whale sharks and a remote volcanic island.
Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory in the middle of the South Atlantic, part of a territory that also includes Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, and reached by a small airport with very limited flights. Jamestown squeezes into a steep valley, climbed by the 699 steps of Jacob's Ladder. Napoleon spent his exile at Longwood House, and Jonathan the giant tortoise lives at Plantation House.
Island life is small-scale and friendly, with fishcakes, local coffee and walks up to Diana's Peak through cloud forest. There are few visitors, so plan accommodation early. The climate is mild all year; December to March is the warmest period and the usual season for swimming with whale sharks, while winter from June to September is cooler and damper.
January, February, March, December.