Mauritius: A Quick and Handy Travel Guide

Magical and magnificent. That’s Mauritius for you. With its pristine sun-kissed beaches, tropical rain forests and exceptional wildlife, Mauritius is an island nation that flourishes in nature’s glory. With its laidback vibe, Mauritius offers a multitude of experiences for the traveller; all of which are bound to create lasting impressions.

See:

Port Louis: The capital city of Mauritius has several crowd-pullers. The Caudan Waterfront is the hub of activity. It’s dotted with an assortment of eateries, bars, retail stores, a casino, an observatory and the Blue Penny Stamp Museum. Other attractions include the garden of Jardins de la Compagnie, the Place d'Armes boulevard and the imposing Fort Adelaide.

Grand-Baie: In the district of Rivière du Rempart, Grand Baie or Grand Bay is an idyllic island retreat about 25 kilometres from Port Louis. Coral reefs peek through the transparent azure waters, making it quite the spectacle. Its two most popular beaches, La Cuvette and Grand Bay, are a hub of water activities like parasailing, windsurfing and water skiing.

Chateau De Labourdonnais: This restored French mansion, dating back to the late 1700s, represents what Mauritan life once was. The grandiose architecture is complemented by Victorian interiors complete with vintage furnishings. The plantation’s sprawling lawns are beautifully manicured and perfect for taking a stroll.

Seven Coloured Earths: The geological formation of the Seven Coloured Earths in the Chamarel plain in south-western Mauritius is one of the most popular places to visit in Mauritius. It’s amazing to see how seven colours of sand—in shades of red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow—naturally settle in layers. The dunes never seem to erode despite the rainfall in the area. Own a little piece of the Seven Coloured Earths by picking up a souvenir from the gift shop.

Do:

Get Your Adrenaline Flowing with Scuba Diving: The waters of Mauritius offer the perfect conditions for scuba diving. The large coral reefs are teeming with schools of fish and vibrant underwater marine life. Sign up with a dive centre registered with the Mauritius Scuba Diving Association for a safe diving experience under expert guidance.

Take a walk in Pamplemousses Botanical Garden: The Pamplemousses Botanical Garden remains Mauritius’ most popular attraction. The oldest botanical garden in the Southern Hemisphere, the stars of the show here are the giant water lilies, some of which span three metres! To keep the lilies company are a variety of palms, a spice garden and a nursery. There’s also an enclosure with giant turtles.

Go hiking in Black River Gorges National Park: Experienced guides will lead you through trails in the picturesque Black River Gorges National Park. Spread over 6,700 hectares, this protected rainforest is home to numerous species of flora and fauna, some of which are unique only to Mauritius. As you explore, panoramic vistas will take your breath away! 

Hang out with lions at Casela Nature Park: Spread over 14 hectares of land, the Casela Nature Park abounds with wildlife like zebras, giant tortoises, monkeys, lions and over 1,500 species of a birds. There are many other activities in the region,including zip-lining and canyoning. However, for an once-in-a-lifetime experience, get up, close and personal with lions and cheetahs with tours that take you right into their dens!

Eat:

Dholl Puri: By far the most common street food in Mauritius, the modified version of the Indian poori, Dholl Puri, is a fried flatbread that is usually served with a Rougaille Mauricien, a spicy tomato-based sauce, Mauritian chicken curry or even with kheer.

Mines Frire: The Mauritian version of Chinese chow mein, Mines Frire is a noodle dish cooked with chicken, prawns and pork and topped with an omelette. 

Seafood: From lobsters, prawns, shrimp, crab to endless varieties of fish, some of the freshest seafood is to be had in Mauritius.

Mazavaroo: Chillies is the chosen spice when it comes to Mauritian cooking. Mazavaroo is a chilli paste concoction combined with ginger, garlic and lemon. Guaranteed to add some extra zing to any meal.

When to Go:

Mauritius is fortunate to have a mild climate year round, making it a destination to visit any time of the year.

May to October: This is the winter season in Mauritius with temperatures dropping to 20°C along the coast.

November to April: Summers in Mauritius are characterised by heat and humidity as is commonplace in tropical climates.

February and March: The rains are most frequent and abundant during these months.

Getting There:­­

By Air:

Mauritius’ Sir Seewoosagar Ramgoolam International Airport is in its capital city, Port Louis. Flights to and from Mauritius connect it to cities like Paris, Dubai, Vienna, London, Delhi and Johannesburg.

Getting Around:

Public buses and local taxis are the popular forms of transportation in Mauritius. You can also rent a bicycle or scooter to explore the island. Do remember that it’s left-hand drive in Mauritius.

What to Pack:

• All your beachwear! Everything from your swimsuit to sunglasses, sun hat and flip flops.
• Cotton clothing for the summer and a light jacket for the winter. Remember to wear appropriate clothing when entering a temple, which usually means covering your arms and legs.
• The voltage in Mauritius is 230V so carry a travel adapter that is compatible and can fit in 2-pin round and 3-pin straight plugs.

Book Your Holiday to Mauritius