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Holidays in Mauritius

Mauritius Main Guide | Places to visit | Things to do

Mauritius is an island off the east coast of Africa, in the Indian Ocean. Before independence in 1968, the island was claimed at various times by Portugal, Holland, France and Britain. Today society is more international than African as a result of these colonial influences and the large numbers of Indian workers who have come to the island.

Mauritius is a stable nation with a high per-capita income, and is very welcoming to visitors. The best time to visit is July to September, as the heat is less intense. Visitors arriving in January to April will likely experience heavy rain at some point. The island is a mix of many cultures, creating a unique environment to explore and enjoy.

The capital, Port Louis, is the largest city on the island. It is bustling in the day but the nightlife is fairly sedate. If you want a night on the town, try the Le Caudan Waterfront with its bars, restaurants and casinos. There is also a Chinatown district.

Mauritius Facts At A Glance

Area: 2,040 square km.

Climate: Tropical. Winter (May to November) is warm and dry; summer (November to May) is hot and humid

Terrain: Coastal plains with mountains inland; central plateau.

Population: 1.2 Million

Languages: English, French, Creole, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bhojpuri

Currency: Mauritian Rupee

Time Zone: 4 hours ahead of GMT

International Dialling Code: +230

Food and Drink

In such a cosmopolitan country as Mauritius, it is not hard to find all manner of international cuisine. Traditional English, French, Indian and Chinese food are all common. While these are as 'local' as any other dish, there are a few quintessentially Mauritian meals to be had, such as Dholl Purri and Farata. Or if you're in a hurry, several western fast-food chains are available in the larger towns.

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Places to visit

Just to the south of Port Louis is Moka, home to the island’s university and the Mahatma Ghandi Institute. The Institute has a folk museum dedicated to the Indian immigrants to the island.

Those seeking a beach holiday will like Grand Bay. There is a vibrant nightlife to be experienced along with a good selection of shops and restaurants, and of course the beaches. Ardent shoppers will want to visit the town of Curepipe with its markets and model ship builders.

Inland Mauritius is a paradise of spectacular scenery and lush forests. There are many ways to enjoy this bounty, from sedate walks in the countryside to mountain biking.

Things to do

The island of Mauritius has some great beaches of white sand, with clear blue waters and small offshore islands. The coasts offer a range of watersports and nautical attractions including big game fishing and surfing.

Cruises are popular, especially on the west coast where you can see dolphins and other marine creatures close up. You can visit the small islands off the coast, including Ille Aux Cerfs (the Isle of Deer), which has shops and restaurants but is uninhabited – everyone heads back to the mainland at 5PM!

To get even close to the marine wildlife around the island, visitors can take a trip in a submarine or an undersea walk at Trou-aux-Biches. Snorkelling and diving are also popular, especially between December and march when the water is clearest.

There is plenty of fascinating nature on land, too. A 4X4 safari into the interior of the island will bring you face to face with the wild deer herds of the island while experiencing the spectacular scenery. Or explore from the air aboard a helicopter.

The Aquarium, located Between Pointe-aux-Piments and Trou-aux-Biches boasts a wide array of tropical fish plus corals and other marine wildlife, while the Bird Garden of Casela has over 100 species of birds from around the world.

The island boasts some excellent botanical gardens too, especially the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens. Founded over 250 years ago, the gardens feature an incredible variety of fragrant spices, tropical flowers and trees, and examples of native Mauritian wildlife including giant tortoises. The gardens at Pamplemousses are also well worth a look. They have some of the world’s largest water-lilies.

Other nature parks include Le Val Nature Park where you can see monkeys and deer, and the Domaine Les Pailles near Port Louis. The park is very large and can be toured in a 4X4 or even a horse-drawn carriage.

There is a large waterpark at Belle Mare with additional entertainment to suit all ages. Each of the towns has its own characteristics, but overall the night life can be a little sedate. However, many hotels have entertainment in the evenings, which is available to non-residents for a fee. The Caudan Waterfront is the best place for evening entertainment – many of the locals go there.