MAURITIUS
The island of Mauritius occupies a choice section of the Indian Ocean. It is situated just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, in latitude 20º south and longitude 57º 35' east of Greenwich. It is approximately 855 kilometres off the east coast of Madagascar, Africa being the nearest continent from Mombasa some 1800 kms away. Mauritius is a volcanic island about 10 million years old - only 1,865 sq kms in area. The central plateau reaches 800 m in altitude with the highest peak, Piton de la Riviere Noire hitting 828 m. The coastline of 330 kms is almost entirely surrounded by one of the largest unbroken coral reefs in the world.
History
Mauritius was known to the early Arabs traders as it can be found marked on their maps, but the first visitors from Europe were the Portuguese who landed in 1510. They used the island as a victualling stop on the way to Goa and Malacca but did not settle. The first attempt at colonisation was made by the Deutsch who arrived in 1598 and named the island Mauritius after Prince Maurice of Nassau. They introduced sugar, Malagasy slaves and a herd of Javanese deer. But they were also heedlessly destructive and are said to be responsible for the disappearance of the magnificent ebony forests and the extinction of the famous dodo. They eventually abandoned their settlements in 1710.
The French then occupied the island between 1715 and 1810 and renamed it "Isle de France". The names of many places are reminders of this period. In 1810 with the British take-over, the name reverted to Mauritius. The abolition of slavery lead to the importation of Chinese and Indian indentured labourers, who were followed by traders of their own nationalities. Mauritius gained independence from Britain on 12th March, 1968 and since then has been an independent sovereign nation within the British Commonwealth. On 12th March, 1992 Mauritius became a Republic.
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Language
The official language is English - but the most widely spread is French and the local dialect, Creole. Teaching is in English but written and spoken press predominantly in French. Most Mauritians also speak their native language such as Hindi, Chinese, Urdu, etc...
General Information
Basic Information
The island of Mauritius occupies a choice section of the Indian Ocean. It is approximately 855 kilometers off the east coast of Madagascar, Africa being the nearest continent & Mombasa some 1800 kilometers away. Mauritius is a volcanic island only 1,865 square kilometers in area. The Central Plateau reaches 800 m in altitude with the highest peak, Piton de la Riviere Noire hitting 828 m. The coastline of 330 kilometers is almost entirely surrounded by one of the largest unbroken coral reefs in the world.
People & Food
The Population of Mauritius is 1, 150, 000 approx. It is remarkable in ethnic diversity reflected by multi - cultured society such as Indians, Africans, Chinese & Europeans. This diversity is further accentuated in the eating habits: Indian curries, muslim biryanis, Creole rougailles, Chinese sweet & sour pork, French delicacies, English bacon & egg….You name it & Mauritius has it.
Currency
The currency of Mauritius is the Rupee. Notes are available in the denominations of Rs. 10, Rs. 50, Rs. 100, Rs. 200, Rs. 500, & Rs. 1000. Coins: 5 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, Rs. 1, Rs, 5 & Rs. 10.
Indicative buying exchange rates for the Rupee
USD 1 = Rs 27 approx
Business Hours
Monday to Friday 0930 - 1600 Hours & half day on Saturday. On the Central Plateau, shops are open full day on Saturday but half-day on Thursday.
Credit Cards
Major credit cards - American Express, Diners, Mastercard and Visa - are accepted in most shops and hotels.
Customs Allowance
Passengers of 16 years & above are allowed to bring duty free into Mauritius 250 Grams of tobacco ( including cigars & cigarettes ); 2 litres of wine, ale or beer; 1 litre of spirits; 25cl of Eau de Toilette & perfume not exceeding 10 cl.
Remember To Carry
Clothes, Swimming Costumes, shorts & T shirts. Do carry light woolens for the winter months of May to September.
Others
To avoid severe sunburn, adequate sun care products with UVA - filter agents should be carried. It is advisable to wear a hat and sunglasses when in the sun during the entire day, especially in the summer months when the sun's rays are scorching hot.
Places of Interest
Port Louis
Port Louis is the Capital city and also the harbour of Mauritius. It lies on the north-western coast & is surrounded by a semi circle of mountains. The city covers only 45 square kilometers. It is the hub of all business activities in Mauritius. Port Louis shows the signs of its past elegance through the Government House off the Place d' Armes, the Supreme Court, the Museum and also the colonial houses lodged between modern buildings. There is a bustling market with stalls selling everything from spices to T-shirts, postcards to pareos & dried fish to jewellery. From the heights of the Fort Adeaide, now an open air theatre, magnificent views of the Champ de Mars race course, the town & the harbour can be enjoyed. [Port Louis, Capital of Mauritius]
The Caudan Waterfront
In November 1998 Port Louis got a new look with the addition of 'The Caudan Waterfront' to its skyline. It's an architectural marvel. It houses large & spacious shopping centers, fast food outlets, restaurants, cinemas, casino apart from a luxury hotel. Overlooking the harbour this place is a must see.
Grand Baie
Grand Baie lies 20 kilometers north of Port Louis with its splendid beaches and its deep and sheltered bay, often as calm as a lake. It is the main touist attraction and as been aptly named the ' Mauritian Cote D' Azur '. Grand Baie has a host of restaurants, . discotheques, clothing and craftswork shops, self catering bunglows, hotels & beach resorts. It is also the main water sports hub in Mauritius where one can indulge in all kinds of water sports like the Undersea Walk, Semi-submersible rides, the submarine apart from a host of other water sport activities. The high class shopping arcade the Sunset Boulevard is also located in Grand Baie. . It is a must visit.
Pamplemousses Garden
This famous botanical garden was started in year 1735 by Mahe de Labourdonnais, with Mon Plaisir Castle, once his residence. The 60 acre garden boasts of 500 different species of plants of which 80 are palms. Of particular interest are the giant water lilies, a spice garden & the Talipot Palms. Talipot Palms are said to flower once every 60 years after which they die.
Domaine Les Pailles
A unique site where Mauritius can be observed as it used to be. Discover the traditional way of making sugar from freshly crushed sugarcane and see rum being distilled from sugarcane syrup. The train, a horse-driven carriage and the colonial architecture blend in to complete the picture. Tours can be done in the natural reserve on horse back or in land rovers. Equestrian sports are also available at the stables.There are a selection of the finest restaurants here specializing in Chinese, French, Indian & Creole Cuisine.
Ile Aux Cerfs
Located on the east coast, this emerald lagoon is easily accessed through the regular half-hour boat service that runs to the island from Pointe Maurice. With clear calm waters & long beaches fringed by fialo trees, Ile Aux Cerfs is a heaven for lovers of the sea, the sand & the sun. Abundant watersports facilities & the two open - air restaurants are available on the island. It is a must visit.
Casela Bird Park
This beautiful garden & a bird sanctuary spread over 25 acres is located in the west of the Island. Almost 2500 birds of 140 different species are housed in 90 aviaries. One of the rarest bird, the Mauritian Pink Pigeon can be seen here. Casela also houses wallabies, ostriches, crown-cranes, cassowaries, axis deer, giant tortoises, lemurs, tigers & emus.
Chamarel Coloured Earth: Located in the district of Black River these are coloured dunes of volcanic ash which are naturally displayed in an orderly pattern of seven distinctive colours, result of weathering - a fascinating phenomenon worth the visit.
Trou aux Cerfs
This is a crater of an extinct volcano located in Curepipe. It is 85 metres deep & more than 200 metres wide. From here one can have a panoramic view of the western part of the island. It is also possible to go down the crater.
Grand Bassin
This natural lake resting in the crater of an extinct volcano is a place of pilgrimage for all hindus, especially on the occasion of Maha Shivratree.
La Vanille Crocodile Park
South of the Island in the heart of an unspoilt forest lies this farm where Nile Crocodiles imported from Madagascar are bred. Also to be found is a small zoo with wild animals that can be found in Mauritius.
Waterfalls
There are two main waterfalls in Mauritius. One is the Rochester Falls near Souillac in the south, formed by strange columns of contracted lava. The other one is the Chamarel Falls with its fairy-like atmosphere in the south-west next to the seven coloured earth.
Entertainment /Activities /Night Life
Undersea Walk
This is one of the most unique & enthralling activity that one MUST experience when in Mauritius. Just off the coast from a floating platform one goes under the water, which is about 3 meters deep. A Helmet with a transparent visor is placed on your head. A special apparatus allows normal breathing under the water. Life Guards assist in taking you down. Once there it gives the feeling of walking on the moon. You witness the beautiful fauna, corals & the wide variety of fish in their natural habitat with assistance from a guide who takes you around. You could make it a photo opportunity too. Offering a piece of bread brings in fish by the droves to you. The Guide could then click you with them with his special underwater camera & give you the roll for developing.
Catamaran Cruises
Reach the jetty in Pereybere ( North ) or Riviere Noire ( West ) and get on board the catamaran boat.After an exciting 2 - hour long boat crossing in the open sea , reach Ilot Gabriel, a perfectly preserved small Eden. Discover the beautiful submarine marvels, the immaculate beaches. Throughout the cruise, fresh soft drinks are offered. Lunch is served on board the catamaran in an abundance of fresh drinks and food.
Deep Sea Fishing
For people interested in Deep sea fishing Mauritius offers a lot. Its waters abound with large varieties of fish: marlis, dorados sharks, sailfish, yellow fin tuna, wahoo, barracuda & bonitos among others. Big Game fishing competitions are organized from October to March. From March to May is the yellow fin tuna season. The main fishing activities extend from the south - west to the north coast. Boats for deep sea fishing can be booked from most of the beach resorts.
Blue Safari
The BLUE SAFARI 600, a unique Submarine in the Indian Ocean, can make your dreams of a nice trip under the sea come true. The Safari will last one hour. The submarine can accommodate 5 passengers and the pilot. The submarine is air-conditioned with fully transparent-glassed cabin at atmospheric pressure. You will thus enjoy exceptionally clear panoramic views of the extraordinary underwater world. At 25 or 30 meters undersea, you may notice some rare species, just like on any other traditional safari. Around a coral massif, at the foot of a ridge, or even at a wreck spot, you will discover a vivid fresque made up of fish and coral. The amazing maneuverability of the submarine and the pilot's dexterity, will allow you to move around or follow a fish or even watch, remaining standstill, a morray eel, coming in and out of its hole. Diving in the night is also possible. Under powerful spotlight beams, you can well witness the most fascinating show on earth, a silent symphony, fish performing a memorable ballet, a colourful choreography.
It's worth a try.
Diving
The Mauritius Scuba Diving Association consists of about 5 Diving Centres located in large hotels along the coasts. Aqualung diving lessons can be had from these centers. Beautiful coral gardens are found at the depth of 15 metres and are home to over 1000 different species of fish. Note that the use of spear-guns is forbidden & the collection of shells & corals is strictly prohibited.
Horse Racing
From the beginning of May until the end of November the horse racing season would interest the horse racing enthusiasts. The meetings are held during weekends at the Champ de Mars racecourse in Port Louis.
Sega
It is a local specialty dance which is a must see. The music for the Sega is derived from the African music of the old slave days, with added Creole patois lyrics. Listening to its beats & the overall atmosphere it creates will make the most inhibited & introvert visitor join the dance floor trying to match the swaying hips. Most of the hotels have a Sega performance once a week.
Shopping
Mauritius is a good place to buy beach & swimwear, T-shirts, knitted woollen jumpers & sweaters, ceramic products, Chinese goods like the kimonos. One could also purchase a hand made model of an ancient ship from the factories making them, where one could even bargain.
VISA
VISA for Nepalese nationals can be obtained by having the following documents:
Hotel confirmation fax, confirmed return air tickets, receipt of currency endorsement, letter from the employer, photocopy of 1-3 pages of the passport. However VISA is not required for passport holders of USA & UK.
