Mauritius Holidays

About Mauritius

Exquisite and exotic, Mauritius is an island for all seasons, all weathers and all tastes.

For centuries it has absorbed what it needs from visitors, conquerors, traders and pirates, whether they were French, Chinese, English, Dutch, Indian or East African, who all came to rest, stay or plunder. Hence it is now the most cosmopolitan of all the Indian Ocean islands. Whilst the coastline is near perfect with beautiful beaches and hidden coves, its interior offers mountains and forests, waterfalls and sparkling rivers alongside the occasional dormant volcano. The rich and luxuriant soil is why the vegetation is dense with more than 1,000 indigenous plants, and it is also why the island once got so rich from its sugar crops and plantations, remnants of which can still be explored today.

Interesting things to do in Mauritius

Mauritius is known for its beautiful beaches, but there is so much more to see and do on the island.

The capital city, Port Louis, is a melting pot of cultures with influences from Africa, India, Europe, China and the Middle East. We recommend visiting the market for a spot of shopping or sample some local creole cuisine. You can combine a morning visit to Port Louis with a visit to the botanical gardens of Pamplemousses, which opened in the 1720s. One unique feature of the garden is its giant lily ponds with tadpoles and frogs.

La Vallée de Ferney is a wildlife and forest reserve located on the South East coast and is a great place to do some hiking. It is also home to giant tortoises and fantastic flora and fauna, as well as being an important habitat for the Mauritius kestrel, one of the world's most endangered birds.

For more information, why not speak to one of our experts on +44 (0) 20 7843 3500 or email info@africatravel.co.uk

Seasons

• Dry – May to October, but seen as the Winter months.
• Green – January to March. Although that is the summer with February as the hottest month.

In The Know

• Capital – Port Louis
• Currency – Mauritian Rupee
• Point of Entry – Mauritius Airport
• Airlines – British Airways
• Flying Time – 11 hours 50 minutes
• Time Zone – GMT +4
• Visa not required
• Medical Requirements – None

Insider Tips

• Bring a bottle of duty free with you – most spirits are imported and are very expensive
• Pick your coastline on Mauritius carefully as some areas get very windy at certain times of the year
• The best value flights over Christmas tend to get booked up 11½ months in advance so try to book in January