About Mauritius

Mauritius is an island located in the southeastern part of the Indian Ocean, off the east coast of Madagascar. Its multicultural population draws its roots from Africa, Asia and Europe. English is the official language but Creole (the local vernacular) and French are more commonly used in everyday conversation. Some people in Mauritius also speak certain Oriental languages.

The lagoon of Mauritius perfectly lends itself to a wide array of nautical activities. Its warm waters are ideal for a dip or to indulge in sea sports such as waterskiing, diving, big game fishing and sailing… without forgetting the pristine sandy beaches lined with swaying palms and enjoy lazing the day away in their shade.

The island’s hinterland is home of hidden treasures whose charms wait to be discovered. The lush green scenery, sugarcane in bloom and typical villages are an invitation to explore the various nuances of this subtly beautiful and warm holiday destination, exuding an air of paradise.

The breathtaking scenery is not all there is to Mauritius. Another treasure to dig for is the culture, or shall we say the cultures, of the island. The cultural richness and diversity of the Mauritian mosaic transpires in each and every aspect of life on the island. Churches, mosques, Hindu temples and pagodas stand side by side in a harmonious ensemble. All year long, people of different faiths commemorate various religious festivals with an equal fervour. Some of these celebrations are quite a spectacle. For instance, at Divali, the frontage of houses and gardens boast a feast of lights all through the night to mark the victory of good over evil, of light over darkness.

The island is also praised for its richly coloured cuisine, at the crossroads of tastes and enhanced by various spices. The cuisine of Mauritius is reflective of the cultural diversity of its people. Spices such as onions, garlic, ginger, pepper, cinnamon, thyme, parsley, nutmeg, cloves, cumin, coriander and cardamom are ever present in the preparation of dishes. A tasty mix of savour that naturally culminates in a Creole cuisine with a twist of Indian flavours.

The folk of Mauritius pays homage to the diversity of the deeply-enrooted culture of its inhabitants. One barely finds such a variety of sonorities and rhythms on such a tiny spot of land. Here, you can enjoy the beauty of sophisticated dances to the rhythm of traditional Indian music or even watch the spectacular dragon dance to the rousing beats of Chinese music that incorporate loud drums and pounding gongs. The frenetic rhythms of the sega, the Mauritian folk dance, will also get your body moving.

The climate in Mauritius can be distinguished in two seasons:

• Summer (November-April): 27/30° C during the day & 20/24° C at night
• Winter (May-October): 22/26° C during the day & 16/20° C at night

The island is three hours ahead of Paris (2 hours with summer time), i.e. GMT +4.

Passport & Visa

No visa is required for UK, Commonwealth and European Union citizens. Please see with your travel agency for any further information.

Health

No vaccination is required for people travelling from non-infected countries.

Electricity

220/240v