Islands of the Indian Ocean > Mauritius
Mauritius
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Islands of the Indian Ocean > Mauritius -->
Mauritius [1] is a small island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar.
[edit] RegionsThere are 9 districts
And 3 dependencies (separate islands)
 [edit] Cities
[edit] Other Destinations
[edit] Understand[edit] History[edit] Early VisitorsThe discovery of Mauritius Island was first made by the Arab sailors, at this time the island was a dense forest. There is no exact date of when Mauritius was discovered by the Arabs, it is said to be around the 9th century. But the Arabs sailors were not interested in settling on the island which they named Dina Arobi or Dinarobin. Fernandez Pereira, a Portuguese sailor who saw the island decided to give it the name of Cerne. Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505, Mauritius was subsequently held by the Dutch, French, and British before independence was attained in 1968. But the Portuguese sailors were not interested to settle on the island. [edit] Dutch Colony [1598 - 1710]The first to colonise the island were the Dutch. They took possession of the island in 1598. The Dutch settlers came on the island by a bay in the south eastern part of the island which was named Warwyck Haven after the commander VanWarwyck, the bay is now known as Grand Port. Mauritius also got its name during this period; the island was named after the Prince of Holland Mauritz de Nassau. In 1710, the Dutch abandoned the island, leaving behind macaques, the java deer, sugar cane, fugitive slaves and, also, an irreversible damage to the endemic and indigenous flora and fauna of the island - the Dodo [2] was, by then, extinct due to extensive hunting (and the extreme ease in capturing the bird) while the, once abundant, black ebony tree population was almost completely depleted due to over-exploitation for its timber. [edit] French Colony [1715 - 1810]The French settled on the island in 1715 and also landed at the bay in the southeast and named it Port Bourbon. They renamed the island as Ile de France. They made settlement on the north-western side of the island which became the harbour and was named Port Louis which is also the capital of Mauritius. During the French settlement there has been a lot of development in the country. Mahé de Labourdonnais [3], whose statue is found in Port Louis in face of the harbour, is known as the founder of the capital city and the island prospered under his governance (1735-1746). [edit] British Colony [1810 - 1968]In August 1810, the British tried to take over the island but lost after a fierce battle against the French in the famous Battle of Grand Port [4] - the only victory of the French over the British. However, the British came back in December 1810 and successfully defeated the French. From then on, the island was renamed Mauritius and remained under the rule of British until they attained independence on the 12 March 1968 within the Commonwealth. In 1835, slavery was officially abolished and, as most of the African slaves chose to abandon the agricultural fields and retire into small coastal villages, indentured labourers (Coolies) were brought in from India to work in the growing sugar-cane industry against a salary. [edit] Independence and Republic [1968 - Now]Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam [5] also known as the "Father of the Nation" was the one who brought the island to independence and did a lot for the country. On the 12 March 1992, Mauritius became a Republic under the rule of the then Prime Minister Sir Aneerood Jugnauth [6]. A stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather and declining sugar prices have slowed economic growth leading to some protests over standards of living in the Creole community. [edit] ClimateTropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May); Natural hazards : Tropical cyclones (November to April);but most cyclones usually occur from the end of December till March. Mauritius has only two seasons, winter and summer. There is not much temperature differences between the two seasons of the year. The climate on the central plateau is cooler than on the coastal areas. The West coast is much wetter and more humid than the East coast.
[edit] Get inThe nationals of many countries, including most Western countries do not need a visa in advance. For more information, visit the Passport and Immigration Office web-site[7]. [edit] By air The <listing name="Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU)" url="http://mauritius-airport.intnet.mu" phone="+230 603 6000" fax="+230 637 5306" email="airportinfo@aml.mru.aero"> at Plaisance is the major gateway for travelers coming from abroad.</listing>
[edit] By seaThe common way to enter Mauritius is usually by plane, and even though there are vessels that arrive at the port they are mainly cargo ships. The Mauritius Pride and the Trochetia are the Mauritian vessels that usually sails to Reunion Island, Rodrigues Island and Madagascar. Costa Cruises ships have recently started an Indian Ocean cruise including a visit to Mauritius. As of April 2008, one way passage prices to travel from Tamatave in Madagascar to Mauritius by boat are €275 first class or €255 second class, compared to €212 to fly from Antananarivo in Madagascar to Mauritius on Air Madagascar. The journey will take at least four days, possibly more if transiting through Reunion. A boat leaves every other Wednesday. The prices quoted are for a passage in a first or second class cabin. In attempting to go directly to the port in Tamatave to negotiate with a boat captain for a non-cabin berth, tourists are turned away at the gate. Visiting the Nautical Club in Tamatave to enquire about yachts that might be heading to Mauritius also yields no results. [edit] Get aroundBus and taxi services are best used in urban areas. Bicycles and motorbikes are also available for hire. [edit] By planeAir Mauritius [16] operates daily flights connecting Plaisance Airport and Rodrigues (flight time - 1 hour 15 minutes). [edit] By helicopterHelicopters are available for transfers and sightseeing tours
[edit] By carOne major highway runs north to south, otherwise a good network of paved, if sometimes narrow, roads cover the island. Traffic drives, erratically, on the left. Numerous car hire firms include major international and independent firms. Prices vary widely starting from 800 rupees per day. To be on the safe side, with full insurance, visitors should rent cars from companies holding a tourism enterprise license. These cars are noticeable from their car number plates. Cars duly registered have yellow registration plates. Wheras private cars ( unsuitable for rent ) have black plates. Regulations: Drivers are required to be over 18 years old. Speed limits are 90kph (50mph) on the motorway and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. Seatbelts are compulsory. A foreign licence is accepted. The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Port Louis to other major cities/towns/resorts in Mauritius. Curepipe 0:20 Grand Baie, North 0:30 Mahebourg, Southeast 0:45 Flic-en-Flac, West 0:30 [edit] By busFairly good and numerous bus services ply the island. Taking the bus is the most economical way of travelling. Air-conditioned buses have been recently introduced on some routes. The major bus companies are:
Buses are still manned by a driver and a conductor (who walks around collecting fares and issuing tickets after passengers have boarded). Tell the conductor where you want to go and he'll tell you the fare amount. Upon payment, he'll give you a ticket with the charged amount printed on. Most conductors are very helpful in providing directions to tourists. In the local creole dialect, the conductors are called con-tro-lair (literally controller). Try to pay with the small denominations or the conductor may not have enough change. Over-charging tourists (unless accidental) is seldom heard. [edit] By metered taxiThese are regulated and metered (though meters are almost never used) and linked to provinces or hotels, printed on a yellow panel on the drivers' door. Tips are not customary for taxi drivers, but appreciated. Do NOT patronize unlicensed taxis. They promise a cheaper ride but, lately, there has been a surge in cases of robbers using this trick to lure and attack their victims. See safety section below. [edit] By boat
[edit] TalkThe official language in Mauritius is English. Virtually everyone speaks Creole closely followed by French, with English a not too distant third. Other languages are: Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bhojpuri and Chinese. Usually administrative papers are in English. [edit] See[edit] Northern Touristic ZoneImage:Grand Baie, view from the offshore.JPG Grand Bay from offshore Grand Bay was the first area of the island to fully experience the tourist boom. A shopping and leisure paradise, Grand Bay also happens to be the area where Mauritians head for when they want a fun-filled night out (restaurants, bars and discos). Recently renovated, La Cuvette beach is well worth a visit.
[edit] East
[edit] South East
[edit] West
[edit] The Interior
[edit] Do
[edit] Eat When leaving Mauritius, don't wait until you go through passport control if you want to have a snack. The coffee shop after passport control is not value for money. You would be better off visiting the snack bar before check-in and taking your purchases through with you. Mauritius is a paradise for the senses, not only for the eyes with its beautiful landscape, but also for the palate. Gastronomes will find a variety of flavours and aromas inherited from the different migrations through its history. Culinary traditions from France, India, China and Africa, the best-known and appreciated cuisines in the world, have been passed on through generations. Depending on the region, rice or a variety of flat bread called chapattis or roti called farata by the local people, is eaten with curries. The extensive use of spices like saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves and herbs like thyme basil and curry leaves are the common ingredients that provide some powerful, yet subtle, savour. Dal a variety of lentil soups are many and varied according to which type of lentil is used, vegetables and beans, and pickles accompany the dishes. Dholl puri and roti, originally an Indian delicacy have become the fish and chips of Mauritians. Biryani from Mughal origins is a dish expertly prepared by the muslim community, with meat mixed with spiced rice and potato. You can buy many snacks on the streets of Mauritius including the famous gateaux piments (a variant of the indian vadai; literally, chilli cakes) and vegetable, or meat, samosas (puffs) along with octopus curry in bread. The tomato and onion based dish called Rougaille (pronounced 'rooh-guy' ) is a variation of the French ragoût [20]. The dish usually consists of meat or seafood (corned beef and salted snoek fish rougaille are very popular with the locals) and all mauritians eat this dish often if not daily. Mauritians have a sweet tooth and make many types of 'gateaux' as they are called. The cakes vary and you can find cakes very much like at home and others similar to Indian sweets like Gulab Jamun and Rasgulla among many others. Check out the queues where the street sellers are selling their type of snacks and the longest queue will probably have the tastiest food on sale and is very cheap. [edit] DrinkMauritius produces a wide range of cane rum. It is very cheap and is a nice drink when mixed with cola and ice. Don't forget the coconut water with a dash of lime and a splash of local rum over ice. The serious amateur will try to find a bottle of five years old (or older) rum. Worth the price difference! If you are staying in a hotel where the drinks are wildly expensive consider collecting your tipples while you are out and about from the local village shops or supermarkets where the prices are much cheaper. The local beer Phoenix is considered to be one of the best in the world and costs around 30 rupees (less than one pound sterling) for a pint. Serve very cold. Delicious ! =] The local Black Eagle beer, brewed in Nouvelle France is one to watch out for as well. Definite refreshment to match the sweltering summer heat. Try visiting the Medine Estate Refinery shop at Bambous (4km from Flic en Flac), on the west of the Island, for a wide variety of locally produced rums and liquors. [edit] Sleep
[edit] WorkMauritius is an ideal place to live if you have your own business, especially if you earn your money overseas. The government established a new visa category in 2006 catering to the self-employed.
Investors, Self-employed and professionals are eligible to apply for an Occupation Permit which combines both a Work and Residence Permit. For further information visit http://www.primevillas.net/livinginMU.html There are companies which are specialised in providing advisory services to foreign investors, expatriates, professionals, and self-employed on Work and Residence Permit in Mauritius. For further information, please visit http://www.fastconsult.com [edit] Stay safeBe alert for your own security in Mauritius. Exercise common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour, as you would anywhere in the world. Be a smart traveler. Before your trip: Organize comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy. Register your travel and contact details, so that you can be contacted in an emergency. Crime levels in Mauritius are low, though petty crime is on the rise. Most crime against foreign tourists is petty crime, although incidents of assault and rape occur. The rate of crime is higher in downtown Port Louis, and in the coastal tourist centres of Grand Bay, Pereybere, Flic en Flac and Tamarin. Security risks increase after dark especially on beaches, city streets and in other secluded areas. There have been incidents of tourists being assaulted and robbed while staying at beachside bungalows run by unregistered proprietors. Some safety advice:
[edit] Important telephone numbers<listing name="The Tourist Police service (Police du Tourisme)" phone="+230 213 2818"></listing> [edit] Stay healthyMauritius is a risk area for infection with dengue fever (also known as "breakbone fever" from the muscular paroxysms sometimes induced). No vaccine is available. However no cases of dengue fever have been recorded in the country for several years now. Since 2005 during the high season a certain type of mosquito called the Aedes albopictus causes the viral illness Chikungunya and the insect is more likely to be around in the daytime. It is important to use anti-mosquito protection at all times. Mosquitoes are more prevalent in rural areas but they can also inhabit the beach in the tourist zone and may lead to swollen joints and/or rashes. Symptoms last from one week up to several months depending how seriously you are affected. Some people recover quickly but it can take several months to recover completely. It shouldn't put you off visiting Mauritius. Just take good care to cover yourself completely in the best mosquito repellant you can find and re-apply again after swimming. Sleep under a mosquito net. Spray the bedroom well before going to bed with a good repellant and take an electric repellant to plug into the power supply. You can buy plenty of repellants of all types locally in mauritius quite cheaply including bracelets for kiddies. Here is a website with comprehensive information on the Chikungunya virus - Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s website: [23] In 1991, 86% of the population had antibodies indicating that they had been exposed to the hepatitis A virus, following an epidemic of the disease in 1989. Hepatitis A vaccination is generally recommended for travel in East Africa (and most other places) by the CDC. Due to recent efforts transmission of schistosomiasis in Mauritius has been "virtually eliminated", according to the [24]. Many of the beaches are infested with sea erchins. It is a good idea to either buy or bring plastic shoes when venturing into the water. This is generally not a problem at the big hotels. Reef fish in Mauritius have been found containing a neurotoxin similar but not identical to that found in Caribbean reef fish. It is important not to eat peanuts or take alcohol if you eat coral or reef fish like sea bass, snapper, mullet, grouper, there are many more. The fish eat the toxic algae that grows on the coral reefs. Don't eat intestines or testes of the fish as higher concentrations of the toxin collect here. The symptoms include gastrointestinal upset, vomiting and diarrhoea and sometimes numb feelings of the arms and legs. More info: [25] [edit] RespectWhen tourists go to Mauritius, many look for the typical Mauritian. They will not find them. There is no typical Mauritian, as Mauritians are a sum of different cultures. You have white Mauritians, African Mauritians, Indian Mauritians, Muslim Mauritians, Buddhist Mauritians ... the only thing you should know is that they all have different ways of life, and most of the time do not mix together. Each ethnic group fits a role in the Mauritian community. The Mauritians all get on well together and respect each others traditions and way of life religions and customs. They are proud of their country and join together on many occasions to celebrate being Mauritian, especially on Independence Day, March 12th, achieved in 1968 when Dr Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (now deceased) was Prime Minister. He is now regarded as the revered father of Mauritius. Presently his son Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam is the Prime Minister. Each morning the children sing the national anthem in the playground before commencing classes and it is a joy to hear them sing. Glory to thee Motherland, O motherland of mine. Sweet is thy beauty, Sweet is thy fragrance, Around thee we gather As one people, As one nation, For peace, justice and liberty. Beloved country, may God bless thee for ever and ever.
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