|
| Mauritius :: Mauritius Travel Guide |
Mauritius Travel Guide |
| About Mauritius
- Just the Facts! |
 Mauritius is situated in the Indian Ocean, approximately 2400 kilometres off the South East Coast of Africa. The island, which is of volcanic origin, covers an area of 1,865 square kilometres or 720 square miles. Coral reefs surround most of the coast except the south.
In short the Republic is made up of small and over crowded islands with few
natural resources and a bewildering array of races, religions and cultures. Yet
the Republic of Mauritius has managed to offer to the majority of its' citizens
living standards thought to be unattainable only a generation ago. How all of
this came about can still be said to be a mystery. |
|
|
| Climate |
The island enjoys maritime climate tropical during summer and sub tropical during winter. Because of the topography of the island there are significant regional variations.
In the summer months of November to April one should carry only cotton casuals while in winter from June to September light woolens are required. May and October are transition Period. |
| |
|
| Currency |
The monetary unit is the mauritian Rupee which is divided into 100 cents (cs). There is no restriction on the importation of foreign currency in any form.
Credit Cards are widely accepted, especially Visa, Master Card, American Express and Dinner Cards. |
| |
|
| 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 Rodrigues Island, while northeast are the Cargados Carajos Shoals and 900km (560 miles) to the north is Agalega. |
| |
|
| While Traveling to Mauritius |
| Time Zones |
Mauritius time is 4 hrs. ahead GMT
& One and half hrs. behind IST |
| |
| Language |
| English is the official language but all most everyone speaks french and Creole. Hindi is also spoken widely. |
| |
| Telephone Code |
IDD access code +230 followed by the subscribers number.
Emergencies
For Fire, Police and Ambulance dial 999 and ask for service needed. |
| |
| Etiquette |
| Visitors are requested to dress properly when visiting religious shrines (no shorts, mini skirts etc.) and to remove their shoes when in mosques and temples. |
| |
| Entry Requirements |
 A Visitors must be in possession of a valid passport and a return or ownward ticket. Visas may be obtained from Mauritius High Commission or Consulates (A Visitor's visa is granted normally for one month but can be renewed for a further period on request).
An International vaccination certificate against yellow fever is needed if arriving from an infected area (eg. Africa)
Passport and Immigration office - Port Louis. |
| |
| Customs Regulations |
Passengers of 16 years of age and over are allowed.
250 gms of tobacco (cigars & cigarettes)
2 liters of spirit
25 cl. of Eau de Toilette and perfumes not exceeding 10 cl.
Plants, seeds, fesh fruits and flowers must be declared to customs upon arrival and are subject to examination. An import permit must be obtained from the minister of agriculture prior to their introduction.
All animals must be declared to the customs authorities immediately on arrival and landing is allowed if certificates issued by the veterinary authorities of the exorting country are in conformity with the import permit
Birds and animals must undergo a certain period of quarantine
Fire arms and ammunition must be declared on arrival
|
|
| |
| |
| MAURITIUS - Places of Interest |
|
|
| PORT LOUIS |
 Capital and main port of Mauritius, the harbour 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 harbour. 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 litres runs through the 36 tanks every day. The Aquarium offers a unique opportunity to admire the colourful 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 coloured 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 favoured 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. |
| |
|
| |
|
Home 
