An Introduction to the Island of Sal:
Sail west from Africa across lazily rolling sapphire blue seas, the home to loggerback turtles and humpback whales, under an almost endless sun, and you will eventually drift into the home of Cape Verde Sal, although one could be forgiven for thinking that you had arrived somewhere in the Caribbean, or perhaps washed up on a deserted desert island paradise.
Cape Verde Sal is one of ten islands, referred to as an archipelago. Other islands in the group include Santa Antao, Santa Luzia and Sai Tiago, which is home to the capital city of Praia. Cape Verde Sal's own main town is Vila Dos Espargos, home to around 8,000 inhabitants, amounting to half of the total number of residents on the island in total. The name 'Espargos' comes from the word 'asparagus', and is named so in recognition of the wild asparagus plants which grow in sandy areas in the area.
Originally, Cape Verde Sal was called Llana, but after the discovery of the extensive salt mines at Pedra de Lume, the name was changed to reflect the huge significance of their discovery. It was these mines which encouraged the growth of settlement of the island, (three of the ten islands are still uninhabited today), although over time the main industry on Cape Verde Sal became one of fishing, and more recently, tourism. It is estimated that tourism in Cape Verde Sal counts for 50% of the local revenue.
Cape Verde Sal is one of three islands noted for their extensive white, sandy beaches, the other two islands also being towards the west, Boa Vista (which means 'Good View') and Maio. The entire archipelago is actually on the same latitude as the Caribbean, and being just five and a half hours flight from London, is very much at the door of Europe. With its climate, extensive uninhabited areas, there is no wonder that this remote paradise has gained such popularity and interest in recent times.
Although not actually part of Africa, Cape Verde Sal is close enough to be counted as economically the same, its growth rate being as optimistic. Indeed, the last two decades have seen an extraordinary rise in growth, this being expected to rise to an overall growth rate of 6% during this year alone. Primarily, this is due to outside investors realising the importance of such an undiscovered virgin market place as Cape Verde Sal and the other islands.
The climate around Cape Verde Sal is usually summarised as simply 'endless sunshine', enjoying the same climatic conditions as the Caribbean and the Seychelles. Trade winds can be experienced during February and March, although hurricanes are not common. Average rainfall between April and July is usually about one millimetres. Suffice it to say, a stay in Cape Verde Sal is likely to be dominated with warm, sunny days on the white sands watching the azure waves roll in.
There is no wonder, with all the cultural, climatic and paradise-like surroundings that Cape Verde Sal is expected to become one of the hottest areas for property investment over the coming months.