Located just east of Madagascar, Mauritius boasts of stunning sandy white beaches and turquoise waters, majestic sceneries, a multitude of activities both land and water based, and an extremely diverse culture, making it a prime holiday destination for vacationers all over the world.
There is never a lack of things to do and places to see in Mauritius. Tourists can go bathing, yachting and windsurfing in Blue Bay, the most popular beach located in the southeastern part of the island, Grand Port . The influences of Mauritius’ diverse ethnic background can be seen in the architecture, restaurants and sights of the island’s charming district capital, Port Louis . Marvel at the splendid displays of natural beauty in Black River , where the famous Tamarin Falls and Chamarel Coloured Earth are located. The picturesque district of Pamplemousse is sure to appeal to history buffs, with its rich historical background. The wild, undeveloped, and mountainous Savanne is ideal for the more outdoorsy types, whilst avid fans of water-based activities such as parasailing, windsurfing, kayaking and snorkeling are sure to love Flacq .
The combination of bustling urban districts contrasted with untamed natural beauty, hospitable locals, wide range of accommodation, and an extensive palette of cultures that has influenced everything from architecture to food makes a holiday in Mauritius one for the books.
Black River Mauritius
Black River is the third largest district of Mauritius in area, but the smallest in terms of population. Located on the western side of the island, it is famous for areas such as Tamarin Falls and Chamarel coloured earth and it contains much of Mauritius' unique tropical forests, including those found in the Black River Gorge. During winter, deer hunting is practised in the forests.The popularity of the west coast of Mauritius owes a great deal to its dramatic scenery and sunsets, and its proximity to the plateau towns. It is also the driest and sunniest part of the island, which is known for its deep-sea fishing potential, superb beaches and excellent scuba diving.
Several fishing villages have been progressively converted to tourist areas, e.g.
Tamarin,
Flic en Flac and Le Morne. Tamarin is the only area where surfing is possible during the winter months of June to August.Flic en Flac is the longest beach on the island and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful ones. The number of bars, restaurants and affordable places to stay makes Flic en Flac a popular destination for independent tourists and a lively place to lunch and enjoy the twinkling lights of evening.Le Morne, which means 'the mournful one', has a sad history: during colonial times, runaway slaves used to hide and throw themselves off Le Morne Mountain when they were to be caught. When the conditions are right, surfers also take advantage of the natural splendour and good breaks at the northern end of the peninsula, and the waters off the promontory are increasingly popular with kite surfers.
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Savanne is the southernmost district of Mauritius, stretching westwards from the sugar-growing village of Savannah along a coast that is the island’s most rugged. Cane fields interspersed with fishing villages dominate the coast, while the interior around Grand Bois is tea-growing country.
The south of Mauritius is wild and undeveloped, a dramatic sweep of empty beaches and treacherous cliffs. This is a land of natural splendour, where you can venture deep into the cane fields to a new coloured earths site and deep lakes. Since rivers cascading down into the sea have broken through the protective reef, big waves and strong currents that make swimming on the exposed beaches unsafe, but there are a few sheltered coves.
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Grand Port district encompasses much of the south-eastern part of Mauritius. Its capital is Rose-Belle but the most important town of the district is Mahebourg (former capital of Mauritius). Plaine Magnien, a town in the district of Grand Port, hosts the only airport of the country.Grand Port is named after the village of Old Grand Port which saw the first Dutch landing and the first port of the island. It is centered on the town of Mahebourg on the coast, inside the Grand Port Bay. Built by the Dutch and later taken over by the French, the town is a reminder of the colonial past of the island.
The northern part of the district is mountainous with forested valleys and rivers. The eastern part gently rises to meet the central plateau and enjoys a cool temperate climate suitable for tea plantations. The southern part is a flat plain on part of which sits the international airport.The district’s well known beach is Blue Bay, one of the finest bathing spots on the island surrounded by a semicircle of filao trees. Situated on the southeast coast, not far from Mahebourg, 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.
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Port Louis District is the capital district of Mauritius. It has the biggest harbour on the island. A sugar terminal has been built close to the harbour for the exportation of sugarcane which is one of the biggest pillars of the Mauritian economy. The harbour has been extended through reclaimed land over the decades. The Caudan Waterfront for example which is just next to the harbor has been built over these reclaimed pieces of land.The noisy, vibrant city of Port Louis is a wonderful amalgam of different races and cultures, and its architecture, restaurants and street names reflect the multi-ethnic mix. French and British colonial periods are evidenced in many of the public buildings, the theatre and the racecourse, whilst colourful mosques, pagodas and temples are to be found at every turn.
Despite the maddening hubbub of rush-hour traffic and the narrow, one-way streets that make navigation a nightmare, there is something about Port Louis that is charming and energising. Most of the major sights are concentrated in a small central area and you can stroll around for hours stumbling across buildings of historical interest and interacting with friendly shopkeepers and fellow pedestrians.
Riviere du Rempart Mauritius
Riviere du Rempart is located in the North-East of the island and its biggest town is the tourist resort of Grand Bay.This district is linked by two roads and is located northeast of Port Louis and north of Grand Port. Goodlands is a very popular shopping town. It is small but bustling with traders. It is also fast becoming a popular shopping venue for tourists as the prices of goods there are much lower than those in Port Louis. Goodlands has a market which trades a few times a week. Nearby there is the coastal village of Grand Gaube. Grand Gaube makes a very interesting drive when you use the scenic coastal route to Grand Bay and Cap Malheureux. There are also beautiful villages in the coastal area like Poudre D'Or Village and Poudre D'Or Hamlet. Melville is also a small village about 1.3 km from Grand Gaube. It is beautiful, wealthy and it is believed to boast the highest number of PhDs per capita on the whole island.
One of the most advanced and vital districts in the country, Plaines Wilhems hosts some of the more progressive towns such as Curepipe, Beau-Bassin, Vacoas, and Phoenix. This landlocked district is divided into two plains: Lower Plaines Wilhems and Upper Plaines Wilhems. Since it is a progressive district, Plaines Wilhems is naturally one of the most populated in Mauritius.
As part of the central portion of the island-country, Plaines Wilhems belongs to the districts that produce a majority of Mauritius' important products such as sugarcane, vegetables, and tea. And like other districts in Mauritius, Plaines Wilhems has a lot of attractions that can excite even the most lukewarm of tourists such as the Trou Aux Cerfs, a volcano that is now extinct yet offers a great view of the island. Trekkers are fond of going to this place because of its well-defined crater
Moka Mauritius
Moka is one of the two landlocked districts in Mauritius; the other is Plaines Wilhems, located on the central plateau of the island. The Moka district is devoted largely to agriculture, but recently the district and its towns have experienced major changes and agriculture importance is decreasing in Moka District.
The picturesque region of Moka, home to the University of Mauritius, is the country's centre of academia. Those with an interest in history should visit the archives of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute. The campus is home to the Folk Museum of Indian Immigration – a traditional-style museum that charts the lives of Indians brought to work in the cane fields in the 19th century.
A highlight of a visit is a hike down the slippery slope to the Moka River. A series of three waterfalls tumbles down a ravine lined with exotic plants and flowers. You can take a guide or wander for a couple of hours, splash in the pools and enjoy the majestic views of the Moka mountains.
Flacq Mauritius
The district of Flacq occupies most of the east of the island and houses the village of Flacq, which is well known for its market. There is also the small village of Trou d'Eau Douce, from where visitors take boats for tours on Ile aux Cerfs Island. This uninhabited island is one of the best-known tourist attractions of the east, with its miles of beaches and an 18-hole championship golf course.
If you seek solitude, a walk around the island can be done in a couple of hours, but allow more time to swim and enjoy the tiny power-sand coves. There is some great snorkeling off the rocks and all manner of watersports, including parasailing, windsurfing and kayaking, are available from the boathouse.
Belle Mare plage beach, an exotic beach with white sand and nice lagoon attracts a lot of Mauritians and tourists.
Pamplemousses Mauritius
Pamplemousses is one of the island's most historically important districts. The name of the district comes from the French word for grapefruits. It was here that the influential early governors of the island, Mahe de Labourdonnais and Pierre Poivre lived. The latter constructed the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden in 1770.
The area is 25 hectares and the garden features spices, ebonies, sugar canes and many more. It also features lotuses as well as 85 varieties of palm trees from Central America, Asia, Africa and the islands around the Indian Ocean.
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Often overlooked by tourists travelling to Mauritius, Rodrigues lies 560 km east of Mauritius Island and is the smallest of the Mascarene Islands. It is 109 sq km in size and like Mauritius Island is surrounded by a coral reef. The capital of Rodrigues is Port Mathurin. The interior of the island is constituted by a chain of mountains reaching 398 meters at its highest point (Mount Limon).
There is a saying in Rodrigues that sums up life on the tiny island: ‘Pas vite le matin, doucement l’apres-midi et lentement le soir’. Loosely translated, the instruction is ‘Don’t rush in the morning, go gently in the afternoon and slowly in the evening’. The French version, uttered in that wonderfully sensual and evocative tongue, epitomises the seductive pace of Rodriguan life.
