Mauritius
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Mauritius
Mauritius, a tropical island paradise and arguably Africa's wealthiest destination, is one of the world's top luxury tourism destinations. It possesses a wide range of natural and man-made attractions, enjoys a tropical climate with clear warm sea waters, attractive beaches, tropical fauna and flora complemented by a multi-ethnic and cultural population that is friendly and welcoming. These tourism assets are its main strength, especially since they are backed up by well-designed and run hotels, reliable and operational services and infrastructures. Mauritius received the World Leading Island Destination award for the third time, as well as the World's Best Beach award, at the World Travel Awards in January 2012.
Geography of Mauritius
Located just off the southeast coast of Africa, some 900km east of Madagascar, is the island nation of Mauritius. Surrounded by the warm Indian Ocean, the island is 2040km2 in size and forms part of the Mascarene Islands, with La Réunion to the southwest and Rodrigues to the northeast. As a Republic, it also includes the islands of Cargados Carajos, Rodrigues and the Agalega Islands, while its capital is the city of Port Louis.
Climate in Mauritius
Mauritius enjoys a mild tropical climate all year round. The winter months are typically warm and dry from May to November, while summer is hot and quite humid from December to April. Coastal temperatures: 22°C in winter to 34°C in summer. Sea temperature: 22°C to 27°C.
Languages in Mauritius
Mauritian Creole, French and English are mostly spoken on the island. While English is the only official language, the lingua franca is Mauritian Creole and the newspapers and television programmes are usually in French. Rodriguan Creole is a minority language and is spoken in certain parts of the country only.
What to do in Mauritius
Mauritius offers a wealth of natural beauty and exciting activities for every traveller. Visit the island's several unique natural features, including the 7-Coloured Earths of Chamarel, the Black River Gorges and two UNESCO World Heritage status monuments. For the sporty set, there are a number of world-class golf courses to enjoy, as well as a host of water sports such as deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, snorkelling and kite surfing to name a few. Go trekking through the lush forest, or explore the nearby villages and markets on bicycle. The island offers a rich colonial history to be explored with fascinating local culture and a variety of exotic and colourful religious festivals. Hundreds of shopping centres sell locally made textiles, jewellery, sugar and local preserves. Visit the nature reserves where you can spot some of the native endangered species, both in the ocean and inland. Every moment in Mauritius is an opportunity to discover something new.
