Mauritius Tourism
• Introduction
Mauritius
is the most accessible island in the Indian Ocean, boasting as much tropical
paradise as Maui or Martinique and, better still, offering it at a bargain price.
Though nestled up alongside Africa, it's actually more influenced by its British
and French ties and massive Indian workforce.
Here, you can enjoy a dish of curried chickpeas or a nice Yorkshire pudding
on the terrace of a French café, sipping imported wine or a thick malty
ale while listening to Créole music and the conversation of locals in
any number of lingoes.
Its range of visitors facilities runs the gamut from pamper-happy beach resorts
and organised excursions to locals who'll put you up in their homes and rent
you their cars for daytrips. If you're looking for a lazy beach vacation, you
could certainly do worse, but don't forget the rambling interior and the multicultural
capital Port Louis.
• When to Visit Mauritius
Apart from the busy Christmas to New Year period, Mauritius doesn't really have
a high or low season. The depths of Mauritian 'winter' occur from July to September,
when daytime temperatures drop from sticky to balmy. With less rain and humidity,
this is one of the choicest times to visit. Weatherwise, the least agreeable
period is from January to April, when the long days can prove too hot and humid
for some and the threat of cyclones is in the air. Visitors should be prepared
to spend several days cooped up indoors during extra-heavy rains. December through
March is the best time for diving, when the waters are at their clearest; June
through August is best for surfing; and October through April is excellent for
big game fishing, when the large predators feed close to shore.
• Attraction
in Mauritius
»
Port Louis
Backed by mountains at the northwestern end of the island, the burgeoning capital
of Port Louis is a relatively large city (in proportion to the size of Mauritius),
though it contains a relatively small percentage of the country's total population.
During the day, it bustles with snarling traffic. By night, in contrast, all
is quiet - except for the swish Le Caudan Waterfront, where you'll find a casino,
cinemas, shops, bars and restaurants. There's a distinct Muslim area around
Muammar El Khadafi Square and a Chinatown around Royal St.
» Curepipe
The town of Curepipe owes its size and prominence to the malaria epidemic of
1867, during which thousands of people fled mosquito infested Port Louis for
healthier, higher ground. The bulk of Franco-Mauritians live in outlying communities
and come into Curepipe mainly to shop.
With the flavour of an English market town, Curepipe is the centre of the island's
tea and model-ship building industries and the best place to scatter your money.
The town itself is worth a quick visit at most as the surrounding countryside
has a more universal appeal.
» Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens
These attractive gardens are one of the most popular tourist attractions in
Mauritius, but the shady avenues of palms seem to swallow the numbers. One key
attraction is the park's giant Victoria regia water lilies, native to the Amazon.
Other attractions include golden bamboo, chewing-gum trees, fish poison trees
and a 200-year-old Buddha tree.
These
gardens were started in 1735 by Governor Mahé de La Bourdonnais as a
vegetable garden for his Mon Plaisir Château. The grounds were gussied
up by French horticulturalist Pierre Poivre in 1768 in his bid to introduce
spices, but afterwards lay neglected until 1849, when a British horticulturalist,
James Duncan, took over. His legacy is seen today in the garden's array of palms.
The fragrant flora of the garden - ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, camphor and sandalwood
- is a high point, as are glimpses of Mauritian wildlife that are all but unavailable
elsewhere on the island. Look for enclosures of Java deer and giant tortoises.
There's also an art gallery and a cemetery, whichever way your tastes run.
» South of Port Louis
A scant 12km (7mi) south of Port Louis, the town of Moka - in terms of ambience
- is a world apart from the capital. Not only is it the island's centre of academia,
it's also blessed with sylvan landscapes, towering mountains and a number of
impressive manor houses.
The university is found here, as well as the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, founded
to preserve and promote Mauritian Indian culture. The Gandhi Institute's Folk
Museum of Indian Immigration houses around 2000 volumes of Indian archives dating
from 1842 to 1910 as well as a small collection of artefacts.
• Off the Beaten
Track
» Belle Mare
A long, luscious, casuarina-fringed beach along the eastern coast, Belle Mare
is best seen from atop a reconstructed lime kiln that's been converted into
a lookout tower just inland from the beach. On the far side of the road that
parallels the beach stand the ruins of a sugar mill.
More substantial sugar mill ruins hide behind Belle Mare. Aside from swimming,
which is probably the best the island has to offer, about the only thing to
do here is lie back and relax. It won't take long to get used to the idea. Belle
Mare is a long, rollercoastery bus ride east of Port Louis.
» Black River Gorges National Park
This highland area southwest of Curepipe is like no other part of the island.
About 6km (4mi) from Curepipe, Mauritius' only mountain road reaches the wall
of the park's large reservoir, Mare aux Vacoas. Dotted with casuarina and
coniferous trees, it's more alpine wilderness than island paradise.
About 6km (4mi) southeast of Mare aux Vacoas is a lake sacred to Hindus, Grand
Bassin, and, further east, Plaine Champagne, the largest natural area on Mauritius.
The Rivière Noire lookout overlooks waterfalls and the 830m (2720ft)
Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire, the highest point on Mauritius.
» Rodrigues Island
A volcanic island 18km (11mi) long and 8km (5mi) wide, Rodrigues is in many
way a miniature Mauritius. It's surrounded by coral reefs, covered with similar
vegetation and landscapes, and blessed with an equally tropical climate. The
vegetation isn't as lush, but then neither are the tourist throngs.
The pace of life is more relaxed and the people prone to stop and chat. On
the down side, it's more likely to be hit by the cyclones that plague the
region. The last big one, Cyclone Bella, swung through in early 1991, bringing
with it winds in excess of 200km/h (125mph).
• Reaching Mauritius
Apart
from a handful of people who arrive by yacht or cruise ship, visitors to Mauritius
fly into the country. Many flights originate in France, but there are also flights
from several African, Asian and European capitals as well as from the US (via
Europe) and Australia. You must have a return or onward ticket before arriving
in Mauritius.
Cargo ships ply the Indian Ocean regularly, though few take passengers. You're
more likely to find passage on the private yachts that call in at Mauritius
outside of cyclone season, berthing at Grand Baie or Port Louis. Still, opportunities
are rare. About the only guaranteed way to come or go by sea is to book fare
on the MV Mauritius Pride, which cruises several times a month between Mauritius
and Réunion, or to board one of the cruise liners that periodically drops
anchor in Port Louis.
—›
Attraction in Mauritius —›
Off the Beaten Track —›
Reaching Mauritius —›
Tour Packages of Mauritius
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