LOCAL INFORMATION

TROU-AUX-BICHES

Mauritius has all the exoticism of the most exotic resorts, but none of their scars. No high-rise, non-concrete jungles. No charter flights, no mass tourism. No social or environmental pollution.

 Only virgin beaches embraced by coral reefs, translucent sea lagoons, weird and wonderful landscapes, sophisticated cuisine, charming, cosmopolitan people, civilized politics – like a paradise free from original sin. No wonder Mark Twain was moved to exclaimed that god modeled heaven on Mauritius.

Mauritius basks in splendid isolation in the bosom of the warmest ocean of all, the Indian Ocean, just inside the tropic of Capricorn, bounded by Africa, India and Australia.

Quick History 

It was known to the intrepid Arabs in antiquity, visited by the ubiquitous Portuguese and the colonised by the Dutch, the French and finally the British before it won independence in 1968. It became republic in 1992.

Mauritius has what it takes, and more to gratify the whims of sunbathers, beachcombers, sightseers, mountaineers, swimmers, yachtsmen, water skiers, snorklers, surf-riders, wind surfers, skin-divers, anglers, big-game fishermen, sunken treasure hunters, philatelists, conchologist, punters, golfers, gambles, gourmets, all-night ravers and ultimate escapist.

Within its 720 square miles there are more than 1,000 miles of good roads lined with bougainvillea and flame trees, violet moonscaped mountains, deep craters, wild gorges, thick forests, tumbling streams, twisting rivers, waterfalls, rainbows and shooting stars, villages hidden in lush coastal vegetation, plateau towns with charming old colonial houses, flowers and trees growing out of the red earth in a riot of colour and everywhere the green and golden mantle of sugarcane.

The people are unique for their sheer diversity: Indians, Creoles, Muslims, French, Chinese and an intoxicating range of mixture. Beautiful people with soft features, infectious smiles and disarming personalities.

Collectively, they make Mauritius the unique place it is – not just another exotic island in the sun, but an island nation, shaped by the richness of Asia, Europe and Africa, yet free and fully independent. While preserving their original cultures, they live, work and play together achieving a unity in diversity which offers the rest of us an inspiring vision of tomorrow’s cosmopolitan world.

Shop signs are in French, English or Chinese or in all three. Television and radio programmes are broadcast in a dozen languages and there are more than 30 newspapers and magazines for a population of just over a million, but with one of the highest literacy rates in the world. Hey celebrate almost every festival under the sun from Christmas to the fascinating Hindu Cavadee from Muharram to the Chinese New Year.

The spectrum of colours, cultures, customs, creeds, costumes, languages and gastronomical delicacies stimulate the sensesand the soul.

Mauritius is embraced by a spectacular coral reef which transforms the mighty Indian Ocean into coastal lagoons as calm as a baby’s bath, laced with golden, powder-soft coral beaches, fringed with exotic coconut palms and casuarinas

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These lagoon waters are ablend of exotic shades of blue, green turquoise and indigo and astonishingly translucent. The protecting, reef sustains the delicious warmth of the waters,preserves their calm, keeps the little fish in and the big ones out.

It makes Mauritius one of the few places on earth where you can indulge whichever water sport you fancy, or swim and sunbathe, all the year round.

 The beaches are among this coral island’s most prized treasures unsurpassed anywhere in the world for their quality or beauty.

 Heirs to the culinary secrets of three continents, the Mauritians can turn out a feast of international foods calcualted to revive the most jaded palates: indian and creole curries, French peppered steaks, English roast beef, bryanis and a host of Chinese delicacies.

But with the abundance of the sweetest pineapples in the world, papayas, mangoes, litchis, guavas, jack-fruits, water melons, avocado pears, custard apples, bananas, to name a few, one can survive happily on the luscious fruits of the fertiles volcanic soil.

And to quench your thirst, you can call on the full range of wines and spirits and exotic tropical cocktails. Try the worlds famous Mauritian white rum with coconut water and ice. But in the hot sun, down by the beaches, the favourite thirst quencher is a glass of international award winning Mauritius beer.

 Given the most exotic beaches, it is hardly surprising if you divide the golden days between sunbathing on the powder soft sand and swimming in the warm waters of the lagoons, refreshing yourself with equally exotic cocktails at very frequent intervals. 

But if it’s action you want there’s more than you can handle before the sun goes down: land and water sports ,horse riding, big-game fishing and scuba diving, golf, tennis, water-sking, wind-surfing, sailing, and snorkeling are all available at reasonable prices via private companies or hotels.

Mauritius is one of the few resorts on earth where you can catch big fish well within sight of shore: wahoo. Yellow fin tuna, blue and black marlin, jackfish, barracuda and sea bass.

In the blue green lagoons within the coral reef you can dive to explore the fantasic underwater worls with some of the most bizarre marine fauna, plant and coral in the worlds. If you prefer riches beyond the dreams of avarice, you can dive for sunken treasure: there are more than 50 wrecks to explore.

You can hire sophisticated fishing boats and buy fishing equipment and tackle locally free of tax, and you can secure temport membership of yacht or anglers’ clubs and comete in their activities.

 You can visit game reserve throughout the year and join shooting expeditions.

 From May to October, you can attend the races at the oldest turf club in the Indian Ocean, beautifully sited in the capital Port Louis.