Mauritius is a tiny island in the Indian Ocean, being only 40 miles from tip to toe.  In contrast, the island of Great Britain is 874 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats. 

Is Mauritius just a tropical, beach paradise?  Well, author Mark Twain thought so, writing in 1896 “You gather the idea that Mauritius was made first and then Heaven and that Heaven was copied after Mauritius”.  Yes, there are certainly beaches of soft, white sand, where palm trees sway in the gentle breeze that cools the tropical heat and bright sunlight which makes the azure waters sparkle……………………………

The beach at Pereybere.

but drag yourself off the beach and enjoy the rest of the island.

Mauritius stamps showing some of the amazing fish that are under the water.

1. Go in the Sea:

We found that the beach at Pereybere was excellent for snorkelling because the reef is very close to the coast.  There is also the Blue Safari Submarine trip which dives down to 35m where a fishing boat had been sunk to allow coral to grow on it.  We were told that 75% of Mauritius’ coral reef is still intact but it is under threat from unlicensed diving and other damaging activities.

2. Sail on the sea: 

The day trip on the schooner “Ila Mauritia” is a chance to sail on a boat that was built in 1852 and includes local food and drinks (Rum), as well as some local entertainment.  During the cruise we saw Flying Fish and were rocked to sleep by the movement of the boat as it sailed around the north-west coast.

3. Look at the plant life:

Pamplemousse Botanic Garden is a tranquil area with a collection of Palms from around the world and some other very unusual plants i.e. the Sausage Tree.  There are freelance guides available who are very knowledgeable about the plants to be seen in the garden and the history of the garden itself.  Amazing plants can also be seen all over the island:

Banyan trees growing in a peaceful square in the capital city of Port Louis.

Fields of Sugar Cane with the jagged mountains behind.

4. Go walking in the countryside:

Sugar Cane is the main export product of Mauritius and covers most of the lowland fertile areas.

View of the flat-topped mountain “Le Morne” from the countryside around the village of Chamarel in the south-west.

We did some hiking in the Black River Gorges National Park, in the south-west of the island. This is a protected area of native forest and is located around the Black River mountain range. It is much cooler in the mountains and the humidity is greatly reduced, making for a refreshing day away from the lowlands.  The vegetation is lush and the air is filled with the scents of herbs and the perfume of wild Gardenias.  The views across the gorge were breath-taking and the extreme opposite to the coastal scenery.

5. Visit local shops:

Fresh fruit:

• Watermelons – HUGE and so cheap compared to UK prices
• Lychees – so sweet and juicy because they are so fresh
• Pineapple –  Fruit sellers walk along the beaches selling fresh pineapple and remove the eyes with 2 spiral cuts
• Guava – used to make a sweet and tangy jam
• Mango – over 40 varieties grow on Mauritius

Jean Balak – not as exciting as they look!

6. Study local architecture:

When people want to enlarge their house they simply build another layer on top, we saw houses of 3 layers high.

Surya Oudaya Sangam - Tamil temple

7. Watch the wildlife:

The male birds are bright yellow and extremely hyperactive, spending their days building the beautifully constructed nests.  We watched them tearing strips off the palm leaves in our garden and weaving them into the nests.  It took several days to finish a nest. 

Other creatures we saw included: Macaque Monkeys, Tenrecs (a blonde Hedgehog-like creature), Red-Whiskered Bulbul birds, Myna birds, Nocturnal Gecko and many colourful butterflies. 

Weaver Bird Nests.

8. Eat local cuisine:

Due to its historical mix of different cultures (Indian, Creole, Chinese and European) there is a great variety of cuisines to eat.  Dishes we really enjoyed included: “Tuna Vindaye”, served cold (also called Vindaloo but not spicy-hot like the Indian Takeaway dish), “Vegetable Achar” (a shredded, pickled veg. side dish), “Vegetable Koftas” (battered veg. balls in a sauce), Marlin steaks on a BBQ and when the Rugby World Cup was on a Mauritian version of Fish & Chips, with a fish called “Vielle Rouge” (Grouper) instead of Cod.

9. If you’re tired after all that then there is always the beach!



Mont Choisy beach seen through Casuarina trees.

• The Mauritian government is very environmentally aware and has kept tourism to two main areas of the island and no high-rise hotels are allowed.

• Locals speak up to 4 languages: French and English are the official languages but Creole and a Hindi dialect are used between locals.

• There are only Summer & Winter seasons. BEWARE OF THE CYCLONE SEASON! (between January and April, when the temperatures are highest).

• Also be aware that the sun is extremely strong and even factor 50 offers little protection.  It’s best to do as the locals do and sit under the trees that edge the beaches, running into the sea to cool off when you get too hot.

• Travel by bus. It is a much better way to see the local scenery than hiring a car.
  

• It sometimes rains on Mauritius and it can be heavy but at least the rain is warm!!!