Beautiful Mauritius

Something for all: Mauritius has plenty of family fun in the day and night

Think Mauritius and you’ll likely think of pristine white beaches, turquoise seas and exclusive, luxury resorts full of celebrities and the super-rich. As with all clichés, it’s partly true but the reality is far more interesting – and much more accessible.

You’ll probably also think it’s tropically, uncomfortably hot, being only 20 degrees south of the Equator in the Indian Ocean. The Mauritian summer, between October and April, can be hot, humid and wet. It is still largely glorious. But the “winter” is pretty much perfect for Britons: an average temperature in the low to mid-20s, not much rain and far lower humidity. And the mosquitoes have a rest too, making life far more comfortable.

You’ll not be short of things to do. Those beaches – 160km of them – are amazing, especially in the more glamorous east of the island, but Mauritius’s diverse colonial history, volcanic peaks, lush interior and friendly, welcoming people make it a varied and fulfilling destination for the whole family, the whole year round.

The basics

The Republic of Mauritius is one island of 788 square miles and 1.3 million people. There are temples, mosques and churches, representing Hindus, Tamils, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and others, but the island has no official religion. English is the official language (independence from Britain came only in 1968), with Creole, French and Indian widely spoken. Port Louis is the capital, they drive on the left, the Mauritian rupee is the currency (roughly 50 rupees to the pound), and the economy is strong and stable. And last year the island appointed its first woman president – Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, an internationally renowned biologist.

Know your history

Mahébourg - the Dutch first landed here, in what was known as Vieux Grand Port, in 1598. It’s named after French governor Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais and the British fought the French in the bay in 1810 before taking over – so the old capital of Mauritius neatly sums up the colonial influences on the island and is worth the journey out to the south-east.

Aapravasi Ghat - the Unesco World Heritage site, in Port Louis, where nearly half a million Indians were housed between 1834 and 1920. They were the first “indentured” or “free” labourers, brought to Mauritius by the British Government to work on sugar plantations after the abolition of slavery.

Le Morne mountain - Mauritius’s other Unesco World Heritage site again has links to the slavery era. Le Morne, in the south-west, was used as a shelter by runaway slaves in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The “maroons”, as they were known, made settlements in the caves and on the summit of Le Morne.

Your young ones can tick off a bucket-list item early by swimming with dolphins in this village

Port Louis - Several museums in the capital are worth a look. The Blue Penny Museum is home to the world's first colonial stamp, and there’s an ancient dodo skeleton in the Natural History Museum. Dodos lived solely on Mauritius…until the late 17th century, when they became extinct.

Grand Baie - Sugar was serious business on Mauritius and the sweet tale of its history is told at the interactive museum, L’Aventure du Sucre, where rum tastings help the experience.

Culture

Sega - Mauritius is part of Africa and its native music and dance shows off this part of its heritage. Bars, restaurants and resorts will put on sega shows, with the dancing backed by ravannes (tambourines), maravannes (rattles) and triangles. The songs are usually in Creole and depict the Mauritian way of life.

Art - The Institute of Contemporary Art Indian Ocean opened in Port Louis in 2015 and hosts visits by leading international artists, while Le Café des Arts at Trou d'Eau Douce is an old sugar mill housing landscapes and sculptures by Yvette Maniglier, the last private pupil of Henri Matisse – as well as having a fine restaurant.

Etiquette - Mauritians are very hospitable people and all guests would be offered food and drink. If this happens to you, it’s polite to accept. With many religions and ethnicities forming today’s Mauritius, the people are tolerant of different beliefs. They also appear Westernised, but it remains a conservative culture. So cover up if you are visiting religious places and remove your shoes. Women should be prepared to cover their legs and head when necessary, too.

Foodies

Port Louis - The Central Market in the capital is a great way to experience local life. The fruit and veg sections are also wonderful for foodies: the colours are remarkable and spice aromas fill the air.

Catch of the day: go fishing in the morning and then visit the food markets later on

While eating out (Grand Baie and Port Louis are best), look for local specialities such as Creole fish rougaille (a spicy tomato sauce), daube (beef or chicken stew) and vindaye (deep-fried fish coated in turmeric, ginger, chillies and mustard seeds), Indian specialities such as octopus curry as well as camaróns (freshwater crayfish), palm hearts and smoked blue marlin.

Sports fans

Read all about the fantastic World Club 10s rugby tournament and other sports events and activities in Mauritius.

Outdoorsy types

Pamplemousses Botanical Garden: For the more sedate, this popular tourist venue near Port Louis dates from about 1770, making it the oldest botanical garden in the southern hemisphere. Don’t miss the famous Talipot palm tree, which blooms only once in its 30- to 80-year life, the giant tortoises, the Java deer and the amazing water lilies.

Wildlife on tour: spend a day with the animals at Casela World of Adventures

Casela World of Adventures: walk with lions, feed giraffes, ride camels, go on safari, try mud karting and ride incredible zip-lines. This park, on the western side of the island, is home to tigers, cheetahs, white rhinos, 1,500 birds and giant tortoises, and is a holiday in itself.

Black River Gorges National Park: macaque monkeys are often found admiring the best view on the island with you. A two-hour walk on a forest track from Petrin Information Centre will take you to the peak itself, the highest point on the island.

For kids

Grand Baie: get up close – very close – to giant morays, sharks and sea turtles, and watch them being fed at the Mauritius Aquarium.

Tamarin: your young ones can tick off a bucket-list item early by swimming with dolphins off this west coast village. You can join them for a speed boat trip out to find the beautiful creatures and a couple of hours swimming with them.

Nightlife

Grand Baie: cocktails at the Banana Beach Club, around its towering flamboyant tree, are a must. Dinner and dancing to follow are certainly recommended at this, the best-known bar on the island.

Shopping

Port Louis: The Caudan Waterfront has boutiques, designer labels and duty-free shops alongside craft stalls stuffed with straw baskets, pareos (sarongs) and Indian textiles.

For more details on what Mauritius has to offer, all year round and all over the island, visit mauritius365.mu