The Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean east of Madagascar.

Ethnically majority of the population is Indian but there are many people of mixed African & European descent on the island. English is the only official language but Mauritian Creole and French are commonly used.

To see:

North: Grand Bay and La Cuvette beach are a shopping and leisure paradise with many restaurants, bars and discos for a fu filled night out. Pereybere public beach is popular for its shopping facilities, restaurants and pubs. The ruins of the old Balaclava estate are near the Baie aux Tortues named after the many tortoises in the area. The Triolet Shivala, the longest village on the island has the biggest Hindu temple, the Maheswarnath, first built in 1819 with presiding deity Shiva.

East: Flacq Market boasts the country’s largest open air market which attracts a large number of people. The Waterpark Leisure Village is a great place to visit with family, friends and children. Ile aux Cerfs has the most beautiful beach in Mauritius and is a paradise for water sports.

South-East: Ruins of the first Dutch fortifications can be seen at the Vieux Grand Port, the oldest settlements in Mauritius. A few of the world’s rarest birds, including the kestrel, the extremely rare Pink Pigeon, the Green Gecko Phelsuma and the Aldabra giant tortoise are native to Ile aux Aigrettes. The main fishing village on the island, Mahebourg has the Martello Towers symbolizing the end of slavery and the beginning of Indian immigration. Domaine des Grand Bois covering an area of 900 hectares has stags, monkeys and boars living in the luxuriant vegetation of the hillside. Souillac is a small seaside resort along the rugged coast.

West: Set amidst the erosion of the volcanic ash, the waterfalls of Chamarel rise from the moors and the native plant life. Casela Bird Park stretches over 25 hectares and contains more than 140 bird species from all five continents and includes fish ponds, tigers, tortoises, monkeys, deer and orchids. Yemen Reserve lets you get close to herds of deer, as well as admire some splendid species of Mauritian fauna.

Inland: L’Aventure du Sucre lets you discover the fascinating history of Mauritius and its sugarcane and relish authentic Mauritian cuisine at restaurant “Le Fangourin”. Resting within the crater of an extinct volcano, Ganga Talao a natural lake is an important pilgrimage site for those of the Hindu faith. Maha Shivaratri festival or the night fasting dedicated to Shiva attracts many who come walking here. The Black River Gorges national park of 6,574 hectares has magnificent landscapes, with endemic plants and rare bird species.

Mauritius is a paradise for deep sea fishing, including Marlin and Tuna. Spas at Mauritius are a tranquil attraction where experts nurture your beauty and health. Mauritius also offers great golf courses for the avid golfer. Duty free and local shopping only makes the place more attractive.

The best way to get around Mauritius is by car and car rental agencies like Budget, Europcar and Hertz offer their services.