Climate
Mauritius’ weather is warm all year round. Between November and May, you can
expect daily temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s. The rest of the year the
mercury hovers around 24˚C. There’s a wet season in Mauritius, but it’s nowhere
near as pronounced as in other countries. The months of January to March
experience a bit of rain, but showers tend to be short, sharp and heavier
inland than on the coast.
The best time to visit Mauritius is from May to December when
the weather is cool, dry and sunny. Expect some of Africa’s best beaches, fresh
seafood and long, sun drenched days on a Mauritius Holiday .
The island has a classic tropical climate with warm weather year-round. Even
in winter, from May to October, the temperature drops from hot
to balmy. During summer, from November to April, the days are
hot and humid.
We don’t recommend visiting the east coast in July and August, when
the wind is at its strongest.
Tipping
Although it is not compulsory, tipping is highly appreciated in Mauritius. For
good service we recommend a tip of between 10% and 15%, which is the charge
that top-end hotels and restaurants will sometimes add to a bill.
Money & Spending
The local currency is the Mauritian Rupee and you’ll find that your hotel or
resort will exchange cash or travelers cheques without any problems. (As a
general rule, travelers cheques get a better rate than cash.) Many visitors
however tend to pay for any extras with their credit cards as both Mastercard
and Visa are widely accepted throughout the island.
Hotel rates generally include breakfast, dinner, all non-motorized water sports
and unlimited water-skiing. You can sometimes opt for an all-inclusive rate
which also covers lunch and drinks (except imported beers and spirits).
Although it's obviously a slightly higher rate, paying the all-inclusive price
upfront means that apart from apart from souvenirs, tips and taxi fares, you
won’t have to worry about money on your Mauritius holiday.
WHAT TO PACK
As most of your Mauritius holiday will likely be spent on
the beach, light beach wear and cotton clothing will be most comfortable during
the day: shorts and t-shirts, swimming costumes, sun hats, sunglasses and
sandals are essential. A pair of walking shoes will come in useful too, and
include a few slightly more formal outfits for the evenings.
FLIGHTS & GETTING AROUND
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport: set in the
south of the island 4km from the coastal town of Mahebourg, it takes
approximately a hour to get to your resort or hotel, regardless of what coast
it is on. Fly in direct from Europe or Dubai as well as from Johannesburg,
Durban, Cape Town and Nairobi.Road transfers whisk you from door to door but
the manageable size of Mauritius makes it easy to explore the island under your
own steam – hire a scooter, car or even a bicycle. If you’d prefer to let
someone else do the driving, take one of the many taxis available but be aware
that although they all have meters they are seldom switched on. Agree on a
price before you start your journey.
VISA & PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
Visas to enter Mauritius are not required for citizens of
the USA, EU, Canada and Japan, among others. Initial entry is granted for one
month but extensions for a further three months are available at Port Louis.
Visitors from most other countries can obtain a tourist visa upon arrival at
the airport for a period of up to 60 days – for a full list of visa
requirements, visit the Mauritius Embassy website. All visitors to Mauritius
require a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended period of
stay.
ABOUT MAURITIUS HISTORY & ECONOMY
Unknown and uninhabited until the Middle Ages, Mauritius was
subject to waves of European settlement - Portuguese, Dutch and French - until
the British takeover in 1810. Colonialism triggered rapid economic development
and slaves were soon brought to the island from Africa, Asia and Madagascar,
followed by indentured labourers from India. Built on sugar production, the
capital Port Louis grew into a sophisticated and prosperous trading port and,
with an increasingly identifiable ethnic character, Mauritius eased its way to
independence from Britain in 1968.Sugar production is still an important part
of Mauritius' economy though less so than the 1970s when it made up a quarter
of the island's wealth. Textiles and financial services are part of the modern
mix but it is tourism, accounting for nearly a third of total GDP and 30% of
direct and indirect employment, that has perhaps most helped transform
Mauritius into one of the most stable and successful economies in Africa
PEOPLE & CULTURE
Despite being part of the British Empire, there was no real
British colonization of Mauritius and the French character of the island
remains to this day. English however remains the language of law, business and
government. The Mauritian population, numbering less than 1.3 million, is
multilingual and most are equally fluent in English and French. Mauritian
Creole, a French-based language, is spoken by the majority and considered the
country's native language.
It's also a multi-ethnic population: most Mauritians are descendants of people
from Africa, France, China and India, the latter accounting for around 70% of
the population. Religious belief is diverse - some 50% of Mauritians are Hindu
and many Hindu and Tamil celebrations have become part of Mauritian cultural
life. Of the remaining Mauritians, a third are Christian, 15% Muslim and there
are small Buddhist and Sikh communities.
There are also a number of cultural practices and superstitions originating in
beliefs brought from Africa and Asia. Mauritius' famous sega music has deep
African roots while local sorcerers, known as longanistes or traiteurs, are
sometimes used by Mauritians to settle arguments, exact revenge or administer
love potions.
LANDSCAPE & WILDLIFE
Rising from coastal plains to a central plateau encircled by
mountains, Mauritius is ringed by 150km of sandy beaches and the world's third
largest coral reef. Some of its beaches rank among the best in the world and
the scenery in Mauritius tends to be that of a classic tropical island - lush,
green and filled with flowers.
Mauritius' geographical isolation resulted in high biodiversity but - as best
illustrated by the fate of the dodo - the island's wildlife has been under
threat since the arrival of humans. Mauritius' reefs are now well protected and
offer excellent diving and snorkeling while away from the beaches, there are
several parks and reserves that protect the island's remaining forests and make
for wonderful hiking.