When to visit
Mauritius is a year round destination thanks to its sub tropical climate. The busiest times are Christmas and New Year, Easter and the school holidays - it is therefore worth booking early if you are looking at travelling over these periods especially at Christmas and Easter. The climate is ideal with average temperatures rarely dropping below 24 degrees Celsius. Mauritius does have rainfall year round, but it tends to fall in short, sharp showers. The sea temperature also remains warm enough to swim in throughout the year.
January to April - This is the hottest and most humid time in Mauritius. It does rain at this time of the year but rainfall tends to be in heavy but short lived showers. Mauritius occasionally experiences the tail winds from anti-cyclones during this time (mainly during February), which generally last no more than 2 or 3 days. Once an anti-cyclone has passed the result is typically warmer and less humid conditions.
May to August - These are the ‘cooler' months in Mauritius, although the day time temperatures remain warm at around 25 degrees Celsius on average. The weather is ideal for children or those with fair skin.
September to December - Traditionally a great time to visit Mauritius, the temperatures are warmer, and humidity is not at its peak. Mauritius is a fantastic fusion of many different cultures and religions and most of the religious ceremonies are celebrated during this period, although the hotels put a particular emphasis on Christmas and the western New Year.
However, with worldwide weather becoming more erratic and harder to predict we cannot be held responsible for a disruption to your holiday due to bad weather.
Check in/out
It is not always possible to have your room ready immediately on arrival. Your check in is 3pm, and check out by 11am. If however you would like to check-in on arrival we can arrange an early check-in at a supplement. If you are arriving early it's worth having your swimwear handy when you arrive, and make use of the complimentary facilities where you will be able to shower and change, and store your luggage.
What to wear
For evening attire we recommend smart casual. Jackets and ties are not required, but we request you not to wear shorts, sleeveless t-shirts or jeans in the restaurants in the evenings. Swimwear and shorts and t-shirts are perfectly acceptable during the day and at breakfast. In the cooler months of May to September, a light jumper or cardigan, or shawl is advisable for the evenings.
The weather in Mauritius between June and August can be extremely changeable and it is important to note that although Mauritius is an all year round destination it can be fairly chilly in the evenings and windy in patches during this period. It is therefore well worth taking some warm clothing if travelling in these months although we hope this clothing will remain safely in your bags and in many cases it does just that.
Places of interest
Excursions can be booked through our ground handlers Mautourco or alternatively a taxi or hire car can be arranged.
Port Louis
- The capital and main port of Mauritius, Port Louis was
founded in 1735. The harbour lies sheltered in a
semi-circle of mountains, and the town has plenty of
character, and proudly displays signs of it's historical
past. There is a new waterfront development which is
home to many shops. This is complimented by the old
market a stone's throw away.
Curepipe
- This is the islands main urban centre, a pleasant town
with good shops, and factory outlets.
Domaine les Pailles
- Close to Port Louis this is a nature park covering
3000 acres, at the foot of a mountain range. Other
facilities are offered including restaurants, mini golf,
and drives in Land Rovers to the mountains for deer and
rare bird spotting.
Mahebourg
- One of the main fishing villages, Mahebourg lies in
Vieux Grand Port, near the Shandrani Hotel where you can
hire bicycles for a visit.
Pamplemousses
- The botanical gardens known to naturalists throughout
the world for their large collection of indigenous and
exotic palms, including the giant Victoria Amazonica
water lilies, and many species of palm trees.
Chamarel Coloured Earth
- This is a mound of undulating land stretching in
contrasting layers of colour and patches of blue, green,
red and yellow earth, believed to be the result of
weathering.
Casela Bird Park
- Set in the district of Black River the park stretches
over 20 acres and carries more than 140 varieties of
birds from five continents. The main attraction is the
Mauritian Pink Pigeon, one of the rarest birds in the
world.
Black River Gorges
National Park - This 6574
hectare park, proclaimed in 1994, protects much of the
remaining native forests of Mauritius and provides
opportunities for the visitors to enjoy spectacular
natural scenery and some of the unique endemic plants
and birdlife.
Le Domaine de l'Ylang
Ylang - The main resource
is the plantation of Ylang-Ylang from whose fragrant
yellow flowers perfume is distilled. Panoramic views
over the bay of Vieux Grand Port and the neighbouring
islets can be seen.
Catamaran Trips-
a great way to enjoy a day out or a sundowner on the
Indian Ocean, Catamaran cruises can be arranged from
most hotels.
Language and culture
English is the official language of Mauritius, although Creole and French are the most commonly spoken. Teaching and administration is in English, but most of the press is in French. Apart from Creole, French and English, other oriental languages are used, Bhojpuri, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Telegu, Marathi, Gujerati and Sanscrit all come from India, and Cantonese and the Hakka from China are also found.
Creole has propagated the popular art, especially in music and the rhythms have combined with African dances and evolved into the Sega, the dance of Mauritius.
As of December 2006 the population of Mauritius was estimated at 1,219220 and is divided into ethnic groups, namely the Indo-Mauritians, Creoles (European, Madagascar and African Origin), and Chinese Mauritian. As a result of this fusion of culture there are many festivities celebrated on the island.
Currency
The Mauritian Rupee is divided into 100 cents. All major credit cards are accepted, and there are a number of ATM machines in the towns and at the airport.
Time
Mauritius is four hours ahead of GMT.
Visas
European Union passport holders do not require visas for Mauritius. Anyone not holding an EU passport should speak to your local Consulate or call reservations on 01483 445623 for further details.
Health
Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers coming from infected areas. There is no malaria risk in Mauritius.
Electricity
Power supply is 220 volts and there are two pin and three pin plug points in every room.
Opening hours
Banks - Monday to Thursday 0915 -
1315, Fridays 0915 - 1715
Shops - these vary from town to town but generally open
0930 to 1730. Many shops are closed on Thursday or
Saturday afternoons, and most are closed on Sundays and
public holidays.
Location and topography
Mauritius is an independent state, and is situated in the Indian Ocean, 900km east of Madagascar. It is between 19degrees 50' and 20degrees 32' south latitude, and 57degrees 18' and 57degrees 46' east longitude. The area is 1860sq km and is made up of a central plateau gradually rising towards the south west, where it reaches its highest point at 800 meters.
History of Mauritius
In 1598 Mauritius received its first inhabitants, a small colony of Dutch and their slaves of African origin. This colony originated in the Cape of Good Hope, and faced a succession of ordeals such as food shortages, slave evasion, pirate visits and ship wrecks. The Dutch left in 1710 having exploited excessively and destroyed the forests of ebony, and exterminated the last of one of Mauritius' most famous inhabitants, the Dodo.
It was from the French occupation of 1715 that Mauritius began to develop the aspect of a prosperous colony. Official buildings, warehouses, barracks, ship yards and industries were developed to promote the exploitation of the existing forests for construction wood, and the production of sugar cane. The British supremacy in India was the catalyst for them wanting to take occupation of Mauritius, and it was with relative ease that the British conquered the French in the combat of Grand Port in August 1810.
The sugar cane industry, which was started by the French, had been developed in such a way that it became almost a mono-crop industry. Other crops such as tea, tobacco, aloe and more recently small industries for food, textile and household products were developed to increase diversity. The first importation of Indian human resource took place in 1829 and the industries went from strength to strength.
It was in 1937 with the establishment of the Labour Party that independence was sought. Independence was granted in 1957 when Dr Ramgoolam took the leadership of the Labour Party.