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1.1 Mauritius
Travel: Mark Twain’s Idea of Heaven
AToday, the city is a perfect blend
of past and present. Its architecture reveals the different
masters who have ruled it at various times. The capital
is the best place to catch up on the island’s history
and past adventures, told through its museums, statues,
street names, and architecture.
The city’s Le Caudan and Port Louis
waterfronts are modern and excellent places to experience
Mauritian culinary delights, entertainment, and shopping.
At the waterfront, the Blue Penny Museum will take you
through the island’s history coupled with a rich
display of artefacts.
Away from the waterfront is the old
General Post Office (GPO) of 1810 – 1868, which
today is a national monument. In 1847, this post office
made its debut in history as the first among the British
colonies to release its own postage stamps. If you appreciate
stamp collecting, there is the Philately Museum, by
the GPO, that displays collectors’ stamps, both
local and international.
Nearby is the colourful 1828 Port-Louis
Central Market, commonly known as the “Bazaar”.
The old market is saturated in a mixture of scents,
and showcases a variety of merchandise- handicrafts,
sculptures, textile, perfumes, medicinal herbs, spices,
and vegetables. This is perhaps the best place to pick
a souvenir in the city. You also have the chance to
delight in local taste bud teasers, including the famed
‘dholl puris’ –
pancakes accompanied by a curry sauce.
Leaving the market behind, the street
opens up to a different world –the Place d'Armes
–a promenade overlooking the harbour. With the
statue of Mahè de La Bourdonnais, the city pays
homage to its founder. Nearby, stands Mauritius’
oldest building, the elegant 1729 French colonial Government
House with its embellished iron gates. The city is pasted
with many statues of worthies from the past, and numerous
18th and 19th century structures as well as modern buildings.
As you tour the capital, don’t
miss out the Aapravasi Ghat Immigration Depot –now
recognised as a World Heritage Site. This is the point
where most of the forbearers of Indo-Mauritians made
their entry into the island, mostly as indentured labourers.
Over half a million people passed through the depot
from 1834, and right up to the 1920’s.
Today, a commemoration of the arrival
of indentured labourers is held here every November.
The British –who were instrumental in abolishing
slavery, invented the indenture system as a means by
which free men could provide cheap labour in the colonies.
Other interesting places around the
city include: the Mauritius Institute –which houses
the country’s Natural History Museum and the Public
Library; the tombs of Port Louis Cemetery; the 19th
century Citadel -for a breathtaking view over the city;
the elegant Port Louis Theatre; Galèrie d’Art
de Port Louis –which shows local art; the Domaine
Les Pailles -for an open-air display setting of olden
Mauritian lifestyle, and Chinese Quarter –a Mauritian
version of China Town.
The legendary 1812 Champ de Mars racecourse
is not to be missed. This is the island’s only
racecourse, whose claim to fame is based on being the
oldest racecourse in the southern hemisphere. The racing
season runs from May to November. There are also various
ancient religious sites, which include colourful Hindu
temples, Chinese pagodas and shrines, the Sainte Croix
Church and the Jummah Mosque.
Heading north from Port Louis, you go
through a stunning coastline, and see some of Mauritius’
most beautiful bay beaches. Grand Baie has no rival
as the most popular spot on the island. Bustling and
lively, the bay offers some of the best shopping for
local textile and artefacts, fine dining, entertainment
and the most vibrant nightlife on the Grand Baie’s
newly renovated La Cuvette Beach is worth a visit. This
is also one of a few places in the world where you can
enjoy underwater walking.
A short distance away, the mildly rugged
beach of Trou aux Biches is a favourite with sunbathers,
golfers and fishers. Not favourable for swimming, the
stretch compensates with very good fishing. Small pools
between the rocks are fun spots for shallow fishing,
but big game fishing is even bigger here. The turquoise
waters offer some of the world finest opportunities
for giant blue and black marlin, and tuna fishing. After
your fishing expedition, a 9-hole golf course is nearby
for a relaxing game.
The northern waters are the reason why
so many yachters throng the island. Off the shores,
enjoy some sailing, water skiing and wind surfing. The
Pereybère cove presents one of the island’s
finest public beach and bathing spot. A stop at Paloma
Beach is the best place to catch picturesque views of
the smaller northern islands.
If you are not for fishing, water sports
or golfing, then try sightseeing. The fishing village
of Cap Malheureux –at the island’s most northerly
tip -is of historic significance. Be sure to check out
the red roofed chapel, renowned for its intricate interior
designs and fixtures.
A tour to the model shipbuilding factory
in Goodlands is a good experience for those who love
the art. There is also a flea market here, where you
can get good bargains on local fabrics, fruits and vegetables.
Triolet, the longest village on the island has the distinction
of hosting the 1891 Shivala Hindu temple –the largest
in Mauritius.
Your trip to Mauritius will not be complete
without a tour to the world-renowned Royal Botanical
Gardens at Pamplemousses. On the gardens 25 hectares,
you find a vast collection of indigenous and exotic
plant life, some unique to the island. There are over
80 palm varieties, but the most glorious of all floras
here is the giant water lily –Victoria Amazonica.
The gardens also house a number of animal
enclosures, and a multi-faith graveyard. A good trekking
or hiking challenge can be taken up at the Nicoliere
Mountains south west of the gardens.
The eastern edge of the island is a
wild coastal plain more famous for its exceptional beaches,
fashion boutiques, restaurants and entertainment spots.
But the best of the east is ile aux Cerfs- a small island
10 minutes by boat from the mainland-, which has probably
the most beautiful beach in Mauritius. On the east coast,
you find two golf courses, and excellent water sports-
parasailing, scuba diving, water skiing, yachting, big
game fishing, and paragliding.
At the colourful Flacq flea market,
you will have an opportunity to socialize with the locals,
and practice the art of bargaining. The 1840 Victoria
Museum-, which also houses the Maniglier Foundation
and a Contemporary Art Museum, -makes an interesting
tour. At the Grand River South East, where the river's
current meets the ocean's tide, you can see some impressive
ravines and spectacular cascades.
At the Belle Mare Beach and the Waterpark
& Leisure Village, there awaits loads of water fun,
and entertainment- especially for children.
Towards the Lion Mountains, the sugar estates and pineapple
plantations make a good day excursion. A stop at Mahèbourg,
the region’s capital is a good way to begin or
end a tour of the islands east and south.
The south is an area of shrubby tropical
grasslands, and rugged landscapes. Some of the attractions
here include: sugar fields, the Savanne Mountains, Gris
Gris Beaches, Rochester Falls, birding at Bassin Blanc,
the luxuriant La Vanille Reserve and Crocodile Park,
the Robert Edward Hart Museum, the Tea Museum, the Telfair
Gardens, and the Blue Bay Marine Park.
Most of the beaches in the south are
shabby, and are not good for
swimming and water sports. At the Battery of the Pointe
du Diable, you will hear legends of the war fought between
the British and the French at Grand Port.
Western Mauritius is on the leeward
side of the island and therefore
enjoys calm conditions. The region is characterised
by lush natural vegetation, and has extensive sugar
fields, long stretches of gorgeous
beaches, and hilly landscapes.
At the Black River Gorges National Park,
you will find the largest
remaining indigenous forests in the country. The park
offers excellent
hiking, and nature lovers will be delighted by the variety
of floral life endemic to the island, as well as wild
boars, monkeys and birds. It is here that efforts to
revive the threatened Mauritian Kestrel and the Pink
Pigeon are based. The hills present exceptional birding,
game viewing and panoramic views.
The Morne Brabant, which served as a
shelter for runaways in the dark
days of slavery, today hosts a major kite–surf
event. Other attractions
include the Chamarel Falls, a charming multi-coloured
hill at Chamarel,
the La Preneuse archaeological site, and the beautiful
gardens at
Casela -with its variety of bird and wildlife. The Tamarin
Bay is perfect for surfing, scuba diving and is a good
place to watch dolphins
in their protected habitat.
On the western countryside, you can
enjoy walking tours through trails at Morne Brabant,
the Tourelle de Tamarin, Yemen Valley and the Black
River Gorges National Park. At the Yemen Valley you
will be able to see herds of antelopes, zebras, deer
and a few other ungulates you wouldn’t expect to
find on the island.
At the hilly central highlands –which
are mainly occupied by residential areas, you can take
a cultural tour. Within Rose-Hill Town, visit the Mauritius
Glass Gallery and the Textile Museum, and you can also
shop at the centres and intermittent markets of Curepipe
and Quatre Bornes. Also enjoy serene sightseeing at
the Balfour Gardens at Beau Bassin, and breathtaking
sights from the island’s second highest peaks at
Pieter Both.
Many people from all over find the romantic
ambience of Mauritius very conducive for a marriage
ceremony and honeymooning. The procedures are simple,
but it is advisable to commence the paperwork at least
30 days before the date of the ceremony.
For an island in the midst of the Indian
Ocean, Mauritius is surprisingly accessible. International
travellers usually enter through a major airport hub
in Europe –especially London and Paris, Asia –mainly
Singapore, Hong Kong, Mumbai and Dubai, and Africa -
Johannesburg and Nairobi.
There are plenty of good Hotels in Mauritius
http://www.africapoint.com/hotels/mauritius.htm?ezsite=44
- ranging from 5-star luxury to those
with just basic amenities. Budget stay comes in the
form of bungalows, guesthouses and self-catering apartments.
The period June to September and around Christmas are
the busy seasons and if you plan to travel you are advised
to book your accommodation in advance. Mauritius is
still relatively affordable, though there has been talk
of turning it into an up market beach destination.
Mauritius generally enjoys relatively
moderate climatic conditions throughout its two seasons
of summer and winter. Summer lasts between November
and April, when it is hot and humid with temperatures
scaling an average of 26-30 degrees Celsius. There are
heavy rains in summer between February and March.
The cyclone season comes in summer though
Mauritius hardly ever gets a direct hit due to the small
size of the island. December to March is the best time
to go scuba diving as the waters are clearer and marine
life is abundant. Schedule your deep-sea fishing from
October to April.
Winter falls between May and October,
and it is then much cooler and windier. With temperatures
falling to 20 degrees Celsius, this is definitely the
best time to go surfing and gliding. The beaches are
good all year round, making Mauritius a year-round destination.
The south, east and central plateau are much cooler
and wetter relative to the north and west.
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