Travel Guide Mauritius

There are many reasons why Mauritius can be called a true jewel of the Indian Ocean: Beautiful sandy beaches, turquoise water, countless palm trees and wonderful temperatures – the island’s magnificent landscape fascinates visitors from all over the world. On Mauritius, relaxation and adventure go hand in hand as the country offers numerous opportunities to go hiking, climbing, diving and snorkelling. Our travel guide Mauritius reveals more about the awe-inspiring island state.

Our trips to Mauritius:

Volunteering Mauritius – Species Conservation

Highlights in Mauritius

The impressive twin waterfalls of Chamarel plunge about 100m into the valley below. The view from the two platforms is fantastic. The area is also suitable for hiking.

The 6,500 square kilometres large national park offers signposted hiking trails that lead through the original forest of Mauritius.

The island Ile aux Cerfs is located off the east coast of Mauritius and can only be reached by boat. Snow-white beaches, turquoise water and beautiful lagoons await you. There are no people living on the island, but it has become a popular destination for tourists and locals.

With its international specialities, fresh fruit, vegetables and fine spices, the Mauritian cuisine is very delightful. In the top restaurants, chefs create new dishes inspired by Indian, African and European cuisine. Curry fans will certainly get their money’s worth here. South African wine or one of the three types of beer brewed in Mauritius are often enjoyed with some food. During the day there are freshly squeezed fruit juices made from exotic fruits and coconuts drinks everywhere.

Geography of Mauritius

The island state Mauritius lies in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar and belongs to the Mascarenes. The capital is Port Louis which is located in the west of the 2,000 km2 large island. Besides the main island, Mauritius also includes the islands Rodrigues, Agalega and the Cargados-Carajos Islands.

Geomorphology/Geology

Mauritius is of volcanic origin. Thousands of years ago enormous volcanic eruptions occurred on a plateau in the Indian Ocean, which led to the formation of several smaller islands. However, most of these islands disappeared again because the volcanic rock was very susceptible to erosion. Today, only Mauritius and the island of La Réunion bear witness to these eruptions. With 828m the highest mountain of Mauritius is the Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire.
Today Mauritius is almost completely surrounded by coral reefs. They slow down the surf which lead to the development of calm lagoons.

Travel Tips and Trivia for Mauritius

Mauritius does not distinguish between winter and summer time.

The currency in Mauritius is the Mauritian rupee (MUR).

In Mauritius, the metric units apply.

In Mauritius, the voltage is 220 volts as in Germany. The sockets are also the same.

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport is located in the southeast of the island. A motorway connects it with the largest cities of the island and is therefore easy to reach. The traffic infrastructure in Mauritius is comparable to the European standard, but there is left-hand traffic. The island can be explored very well with a rental car. There are enough gas stations all over the island, but they are closed at night. You should therefore make an early effort to get a full tank.

• 1 January: New Year’s Day
• 1 February: Abolition of Slavery
• 12 March: Independence and Republic Day (National Holiday)
• 1 May: Labour Day
• 15 August: Assumption Day
• 1 November: All Saints’ Day
• 2 November: Arrival of Indentured Labourers
• 25 December: Christmas Day

Moving Holidays: Chinese Spring Festival, Eid al-Fitr

Dos
• If the service (in a restaurant) has been good, you should tip around 5-10%.
• Make sure to enjoy a meal at one of the numerous street stalls.
• Be patient in traffic. Keep in mind: in Mauritius, you need to drive on the left!

Don’ts
• Do not enter religious institutions wearing revealing clothing.
• Nude bathing is not allowed on Mauritian beaches.

Climate in Mauritius

Mauritius has a pleasant tropical climate all year round. There are two seasons: The warm and humid summer lasts from November to May and brings temperatures of 25-30°C. On average, winter is about 6°C cooler and drier. Precipitation is up to 2100mm annually which is distributed all year round. The mountains in the centre of Mauritius shield the western and northern parts of the island from the strong easterly winds, resulting in sunnier and less rainy weather in the west. The further you get inland, the colder and wetter it gets.

Flora and Fauna in Mauritius

The original vegetation of the island is the tropical rainforest. Today, however, this can only be found in the few protected areas and in a very species-poor state. With the deforestation of the primeval forests several hundred years ago, most of the native animal and plant species disappeared. A new planting is difficult today, because the young trees lack the protection of the slow growing hardwood plants and bend off in case of frequent cyclones.
Today, there are still a variety of colourful bird species left on Mauritius. Besides you can find some small reptile species like chameleons or lizards. Mammals, on the other hand, are few. Only bats, deer, monkeys and wild boars can be found in the green depths. Life under water is considerably richer in species: numerous species of fish, mussels and snails live in the coral reefs.