Republic of Mauritius is among the most beautiful and most visited countries in the African continent. Situated off the southeast coast of African mainland, Mauritius is nearly 900 km east of the island of Madagascar. This tropical paradise covers an area of nearly 1,864 sq km in Indian Ocean and is covered with some excellent lagoons, coral reefs and golden beaches. Along with Mauritius Island, islands of St. Brandon, Rodrigues and the Agalega Islands are also a part of Republic of Mauritius.
After visiting Mauritius, Mark Twain once famously said, “Mauritius was made first, then heaven was copied from it”. After visiting Mauritius, you would feel, that if Mark Twain had not said that, these words would have been yours. Anyways, there are plenty more words that you can use to describe Mauritius as the beauty of the country invariably makes its every guest a poet. The crystal clear lagoons and white sandy beaches not only give tourists to see the wonders of nature but also options for many adventure activities like scuba diving, snorkeling and surfing. A big part of this island nation is mountainous thus creating opportunity for trekking and challenging biking.
Apart from natural beauty of Mauritius, another thing that will strike you instantly will be the welcoming nature of Mauritian people. The culture here bears influence of Indian, Chinese and European cultures. You will be amazed to know the number of festivals of different religions that are celebrated here. Christmas, Cavadee, Chinese New Year, Père Laval, Diwali, Mahashivratri and many others festivals are integral part of Mauritian culture.
Port Louis is the capital city of Mauritius and is situated on the western side of the country. One can see a lot of history of Mauritius through the many historical buildings that are situated here. Other important cities of Mauritius are Grand Bay, Bel Air, and Rose-Belle
Location – Africa
Capital – Port Louis
Population – 1,264,866
Language – English, French,Hindi
Religion - Hinduism, Christianity, Islam
Calling Code - +230
Time Zone – UTC +4, Daylight Saving Mode, UTC +5
Climate – Tropical climate
Currency – Mauritian rupee
Best time visit – September to April
Black River Gorges National Park
Black River Gorges was declared a national park in the year 1994. The park, along with housing numerous fauna species, is also home to most of the remaining humid rainforest of Mauritius. Covering an area of nearly 67.54 sq km, Black River Gorges National Park proves to be a perfect destination for adventure trekking and day safaris. There are several well laid out trek routes that will take you to all nook and corners of the park. The major animal and bird species that are found here are Mauritian flying fox, rusa deer, wild pigs, Mauritius kestrel, pink pigeon, Mauritius bulbul and Mauritius olive white-eye. Black River Gorges National Park is situated in the south western part of Mauritius.
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden
The name of this park might not be easy to remember, but it sure is hard to forget the garden once you get a sight of it. People address the park as SSR Botanical Garden but it is also commonly called Pamplemousses Botanical Garden. The oldest Botanical garden in southern Hemisphere, Pamplemousses Botanical Garden is a famous tourist attraction known for its gigantic water lilies. Built in the year 1770, Pamplemousses Botanical Garden has different spices, ebonies, sugar canes and 85 varieties of palm trees; many of which have been planted by renowned leaders from around the world like Indira Gandhi, Princess Margaret, Robert Mugabe and many more. The park covers an area of 37 hectares and is a must see attraction situated near Port Louis.
Le Morne Cultural Landscape
This is one of the two UNESCO recognized World Heritage Sties of Mauritius. Le Morne Cultural Landscape is situated on the southernmost tip of Mauritius. The main attraction of this peninsula is a huge lone standing rock that reaches a height of 556 meters. The slopes of this hill have many natural caves which were once the hiding places of runaway slaves in 19th century. The hill covers an area of approximately 12 hectares and has some of the rarest floral species. The Mandrinette, a highly rare species is found here and only two other places. Le Morne Cultural Landscape truly is one of the most breathtaking destinations in Mauritius.
Martello Tower
They are a form of forts which were an effective defensive structures and were built in many countries during 19th century. The ones in Mauritius are as well preserved as anywhere else. The thick walls of the forts are generally made of solid masonry which were meant to protect the fort against canon fires, though the introduction of rifled artillery rendered them useless. From inside, the fort is divided into three floors and a basement. Officer's and men's quarters are situated on the first floor whereas ammunition and supply rooms are situated on the ground floor. The canons are mounted on the roof of the fort. These forts are considered an important part of history of Mauritius.
Bird Watching – Winged Wonders
Bird watching is a significant part of tourism in Mauritius. There are many national parks in Mauritius that are world famous only for their bird population. Some of the must visit destinations for bird watching are Black River Gorges National Park, Le Petrin and Macchabée Forest and Bassin Blanc. The most commonly seen birds in Mauritius are Red-whiskered Bulbuls, Feral Pigeons, Common Mynahs and House Sparrows. Among the rare ones are the pink pigeon, Mauritius Parakeet, Mauritius Bulbul and Mauritius Grey White-eye.
Water Sports – The Fun Begins
Mauritius has some of the most exquisite beaches and lagoons in the world that support a lot of adventure sports like snorkeling, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, wind surfing, sailing and many more. Because of the huge coral reef and rich marine life, most tourists wish to indulge in scuba diving and swim as close to these wonders as possible. There are many schools with PADI instructors who will train you for scuba diving. Facilities for other sports too are really commendable.
Trekking – Walking On to Heights
Such is the beauty of Mauritius that no nature lover can abstain himself from enjoying at least few days of trekking through the many national parks of the country. The Black River Gorges National Park is the best destination for trekking here. It hides in itself many varied landscapes that provides a different surprise at every turn and swirl. The other adored route is Maccabee Trail that follows the gorge to Black River. But if you are looking for a long trekking trail, choose Black River Peak Trail which takes you too the top of highest mountain peak in Mauritius.
Biking – Get Into The Groove
If trekking helps you get the best out of Mauritius, biking lets you get the best as well as the most out of this country. Surrounded by heavenly beauty on all sides of the route, the well marked biking trails lead you to some really wonderful spots in Mauritius. Chamarel ride is a one hour ride around the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths. You really don't want to miss this wonder. Then there are many breathtaking beaches where you can enjoy biking with the setting sun that fill the sky with multiple colors.
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