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International |
PORT LOUIS, [Mauritius] |
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Mauritius is sheer magic, its white beaches, brilliant coral reefs and turqoise waters sure to drown your senses. An extremely friendly people, gorgeous climate, unique wildlife and exotic shopping options make Mauritius a dream destination.
Located in the Indian Ocean 2000 km east of mainland Africa, Mauritius's geological history goes back to a primeval volcanic past.
Mauritius was discovered by Arab sailors in the 9th century and colonized in 1598 by the Dutch, who named it after Prince Maurice de Nassau. Later, the French took over. After a naval battle in 1810, the French gave the island to the British.
No island in the world has such a wide variety of beaches and lagoons to offer. The public beaches of Tamarin, (a surfer's delight), Flic en Flac with a fine lagoon, Albion, pointe aux Sables, and Baie du Tombeau dot the east coast. The north coast has impressive beaches like Pointe aux Piments, famous for its underwater scenery, Trou aux Biches, Mont Choisy, Grand Baie, the main centre for yachting, fishing, and waterskiing. The little fishing villages of Cap Malheureux and Grand Gaube in the extreme north offer splendid views of the coast.
In the south, the coast is lined with high cliffs, in stark contrast to the gentle coastline of the north.
Of course, do not miss the Mauritian Sega dance which originated from the ritual music of Madagascar and mainland Africa. This vibrant dance form is a celebration of the Mauritian way of life, its beats capturing the Mauritian spirit of joy and spontaneity.
CITIES / TOWNS - PORT LOUIS
- ROSE-HILL AND BEAU-BASSIN
- CUREPIPE
- VACOAS
- PHOENIX
- QUATRE BORNES
ATTRACTIONS - NORTH
- Grand Bay
- Pereybčre
- Balaclava Ruins
- The Triolet Shivala
- The Labourdonnais Orchards
- EAST
- Flacq Market
- The Waterpark Leisure Village
- Ile aux Cerfs
- SOUTH EAST
- Dutch Ruins
- Ile aux Aigrettes
- Mahebourg
- Domaine du Chasseur
- Souillac
- Blue Bay
- WEST
- Martello Towers
- Chamarel
- Salt Pans
- Casela
- Yemen
- INLAND
- L’Aventure du Sucre
- Ganga Talao - Grand Bassin
- Black River Gorges
- Eureka - An old Creole residence
CURRENCY: Mauritian Rupee (MUR)
TIME: Mauritius is 4 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and 3 hours ahead (2 hours in summer) of mid-European Time.
LANGUAGE: English and French are the most widely spoken languages. Creole and several oriental languages are also spoken.
TIPPING: Tipping is not mandatory.
WHAT TO WEAR: Beachwear and casuals. Carry light woolen clothing for cool evenings in the winter months (June -September). When visiting religious places, kindly wear appropriate clothes (and remove leather shoes and belts). |
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BEST TIME TO VISIT |
June to September |
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White Beaches, Turqoise Waters, Dream Destination, Dutch, Prince Maurice De Nassau, Grand Bay, Balaclava Ruins, The Triolet Shivala, The Labourdonnais Orchards, Flacq Market, The Waterpark Leisure Village, Ile Aux Cerfs, Dutch Ruins, Ile Aux Aigrettes, Mahebourg, Domaine Du Chasseur, Souillac, Blue Bay, Martello Towers, Chamarel, Salt Pans, Casela, Yemen, Ganga Talao, Grand Bassin, Black River Gorges
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