Mauritius

Geography: Mauritius lies 2000km (1240 miles) off the southeastern coast of Africa. From the coast, the land rises to form a broad fertile plain on which sugar cane flourishes. Some 500km (310 miles) east is Rodriguez Island, while northeast are the Cargados Carajos Shoals and 900km (560 miles) to the north is Agalega.

Language: English is the official language. The most widely spoken languages are French, Creole, Hindi and Bhojpuri. Urdu and Chinese are also among the languages spoken.

Religion: 51% Hindu, 31% Christian, 17% Muslim.

Time: GMT + 4.

Money: Currency: Mauritian Rupee (MRs) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of MRs2000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of MRs5 and 1, and 50, 25, 20, 10, 5 and 1 cents. Currency exchange: Available in banks and at bureaux de change. A better rate of exchange can be obtained on travelers cheques than on cash. Credit cards: MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club and American Express are widely accepted. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travelers cheques: May be exchanged at banks, hotels and authorized dealers.

Public Holidays: Jan 1-2 2000 New Year. Jan 9 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Feb 5 Chinese New Year. Feb* Thaipoosam Cavadee; Maha Shivatree. Mar 12 National Day. Mar* Ougadi. May 1 Labour Day. Aug 15 Assumption. Aug/Sep* Ganesh Chaturti. Oct 26* Divali. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 30 Beginning of Ramadan. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 31 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Jan 1-2 2001 New Year. Jan 24 Chinese New Year. Feb* Thaipoosam Cavadee; Maha Shivatree. Mar 12 National Day. Mar* Ougadi. May 1 Labour Day. Aug 15 Assumption. Aug/Sep* Ganesh Chaturti. Oct* Divali. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 20 Beginning of Ramadan. Dec 21 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Dec 25 Christmas Day.

Climate: Warm coastal climate (particularly January to April), with relatively little seasonal variation in temperatures, although they are generally slightly lower inland, with more rain on the plateau around Curepipe resulting in significant regional variations. Required clothing: Tropical lightweights, with warmer wear for evenings. Rainwear advisable all year round. In the summer months sun-care products and a hat are advisable.

Attractions

Port Louis: Capital and main port of Mauritius, the harbor is sheltered by a semicircle of mountains. The city has plenty of character, and, in some quarters, signs of its past elegance are still evident. Off the main square, the palm-lined Place d’Armes, there are some particularly fine French colonial buildings, especially Government House (built in 1738) and the Municipal Theatre, built around the same time. There are two cathedrals, one Protestant and one Catholic, a fine Supreme Court Building, some 18th-century barracks and the Natural History Museum (exhibiting Mauritius’s most famous bird, the extinct Dodo). On the outskirts of the city, at the foot of the mountains, is the Champ de Mars, originally laid out by the French for military parades, and now a racecourse. The splendid Edward VII Avenue and Fort Adelaide, a citadel fortified in the time of William IV, offer the best views of the racecourse, city and harbor. South of Port Louis is Le Réduit, the French colonial residence of the President of Mauritius, set in magnificent gardens. Other places of interest include the Jummah Mosque in Royal Street and the Chinese Pagoda.

Curepipe: The island’s main residential town provides good shops and restaurants. Trou aux Cerfs, a dramatic, extinct crater 85m (280ft) deep and more than 180m (600ft) wide, lies between Curepipe and Floreal and offers an extensive view of the island from its rim. To the north of Port Louis are the Pamplemousses Gardens. These, created at the end of the eighteenth century, are known to naturalists throughout the world for their large collection of indigenous and exotic plants, including the giant Victoria regia water lilies and many species of palm trees. Of particular interest is the talipot palm, which is said to flower once, after 60 years, and then die. There are also tortoises here, some of them over 100 years old.

Domaine Les Pailles: This nature park nestling at the foot of the Moka mountain range covers an area of 3000 acres. Among the attractions are a natural spring, a spice garden, a replica of a sugar mill and an old rum distillery. Trips through the park in 4-wheel-drive vehicles, horse-drawn carriages or trains are also possible.

Aquarium: Facing the calm water of the lagoon between Pointe aux Piments and Trou aux Biches is the Aquarium populated by 200 species of fish, invertebrates, live coral and sponges, all originating from the waters around the island. An open-circuit sea-water cycle of one million liters runs through the 36 tanks every day. The Aquarium offers a unique opportunity to admire the colorful treasures of the Indian Ocean Domaine des Grands Bois: On the 2000 acres of this magnificent park visitors can watch the rich fauna in a lush exotic setting. Ebony, eucalyptus, palm trees and wild orchids provide the backdrop for stags, deer, monkeys and other wildlife La Vanille Crocodile Park: Near Rivière des Anguilles, in the wild south, this is a farm breeding Nile crocodiles imported from Madagascar. The site offers a vast park with a nature walk through luxuriant forest studded with freshwater springs. A small zoo of animals found in the wild in Mauritius is also located here.

Rochester Falls: Water cascades over spectacular rock formations. Spectacular joints have been formed by the contraction of lava due to sudden cooling. The falls are near Souillac and can be reached by a road which crosses a sugar plantation that is open to visitors.

Grand Bassin, within a short distance of Mare Longue, rests in the crater of an extinct volcano, this is one of the island’s two natural lakes. It is a place of pilgrimage for a large number of Mauritians of the Hindu faith.

To the south west lies Plaine Champagne, the highest part of the central plateau (740m/2430ft), from where there is a superb view of the Rivière Noire (Black River) Mountains and the sea lining the horizon. The forest-clad slopes contain some fine specimens of indigenous timber and interesting plants peculiar to the island. For the keen birdwatcher, the mountains are the habitat of most of the remaining indigenous species.

Casela Bird Park, open daily, is set in the district of the Rivière Noire, stretches over 20 acres of land and contains more than 140 varieties, amounting to 2500 birds. Specimens from the five continents may be seen there, but the main attraction is the Mauritian Pink Pigeon, which is one of the rarest birds in the world. Other attractions are the fish ponds, tortoises, monkeys and orchids (seasonal). Trees, streams and small cascades all add to the remarkably peaceful atmosphere.

Chamarel: A twisting, tarred road leads from Case Noyale village to Chamarel. This is an area of undulating land of seven contrasting layers of colored dunes: blue, green, red and yellow earth, believed to be the result of weathering. The nearby Chamarel Waterfall emerges from the moors and the primeval vegetation and is very beautiful.

Beaches

Tamarin: Lying in the shadow of the Rivière Noire Mountains, Tamarin has a fine lagoon which is split in two by the Rivière Noire estuary. The bathing at this point is a big attraction, and amenities for surfing in the big ocean swells are available.

Grand Baie: The northern coastline beyond Baie du Tombeau has many delightful beaches: Pointe aux Piments, famous for its underwater scenery; Trou aux Biches, with its fringe of filaos (casuarina) and coconut palms and its splendid Hindu temple; further up the coast, Choisy, one of the most popular beaches on the island, offering facilities for safe bathing, sailing, windsurfing and water-skiing; finally, the coastline curves into Grand Baie itself, the main centre for yachting, water-skiing, windsurfing and many other sports.

Péreybère: This delightful little cove is midway on the coast road between Grand Baie and Cap Malheureux. The deep, clear, water makes it one of the very best bathing places on the whole island.

Cap Malheureux: This is a fishing village in the extreme north with a magnificent view of Flat Island, Round Island and Gunner’s Quoin, which are islands of volcanic origin, rising from the light-green sea.

Grand Gaube: Further along the coast is another charming fishing village where fishermen have earned a well-deserved reputation for their skill in the making of sailing craft and of deep-sea fishing.

Roches Noires/Poste Lafayette: These are both favored seaside resorts, especially in the hotter months, because of the fresh prevailing winds that blow almost all the year round from the sea.

Belle Mare: A beautiful white sandy beach with fine bathing is found here. The coast, with its white sweep of sands at Palmar and Trou d’Eau Douce, stretches out lazily to Grand Port, a quaint little village by the sea. There, the beach narrows and the road follows the coastline closely to Mahébourg. Pointe d’Esny, the adjoining white sandy beach with its string of bungalows, leads to Blue Bay.

Blue Bay: In a semicircle of filao trees lies one of the finest bathing spots on the island. Situated on the southeast coast, not far from Mahébourg, Blue Bay offers a fine stretch of white sandy beach, and a deep, clear, light-blue bathing pool. There is also scope for yachting and windsurfing.

Rodrigues Island, situated 550km (340 miles) north-east of Mauritius, this tiny, rugged, volcanic island nevertheless offers many of the same facilities as Mauritius

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