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Mauritius is a volcanic island, measuring 58km (36mi) from north to south and 47km (29mi) from east to west - about two-thirds the size of Luxembourg. It lies in the Indian Ocean, roughly 800km (500mi) east of Madagascar, 3860km (2400mi) south-west of India and 220km (135mi) north-east of its nearest neighbour, Réunion.
Mauritius is a volcanic island, measuring 58km (36mi) from north to south and 47km (29mi) from east to west - about two-thirds the size of Luxembourg. It lies in the Indian Ocean, roughly 800km (500mi) east of Madagascar, 3860km (2400mi) south-west of India and 220km (135mi) north-east of its nearest neighbour, Réunion.
Visa Requirements
· European passport holders do not require visas.
· South African passport holders do not require visas.
· Passports should be valid for at least six months from date of departure from Mauritius.
· Visitors are permitted to land for a stay not exceeding three months provided they have in their possession a valid passport, return or onward passage tickets and adequate funds. Yellow Fever - a certificate is required from travellers coming from infected areas.
Diplomatic Representatives in Mauritius:
· South Africa High Commission
4th Floor, British American Insurance Building,
25 Pope Hennessy Street,
Port Louis
Tel: + 230 212-6925/6/8/9
Fax: + 230 212-9346
Email: sahc@intnet.mu
· British High Commission
7th Floor, Les Cascades Building,
Edith Cavell Street,
Port Louis
Tel: + 230 208-9850
Fax: + 230 211-1369
· USA Embassy
4th Floor, Rogers House,
John Kennedy Street,
Port Louis
Tel: + 230 208-2347
Fax: + 230 208-9534
Health Considerations
· Before undertaking any travel all clients are encouraged to consult with their GP and/or local travel clinic for the most up-to-date health information on the destinations they are travelling to.
· An international vaccination certificate against yellow fever is needed if arriving from an infected area. Malaria risk exclusively in the benign form [P.Virax] exists throughout the year in some areas, except in Rodrigues island.
Geography
· Part of the Mascarene Archipelago the island of Mauritius covers an area of 1,864km². However, the total area including dependencies is 2,045km².
· Mauritius is a mountainous country with an elevated and impressive central plateau.
· The island is 65km long and 45km wide.
· With about 600 people per square kilometre, Mauritius has one of the highest population densities in the world. As a country, it includes the inhabited island of Rodrigues, some 560km (350mi) to the north-east, and other scattered coral atolls such as Cargados Carajos and Agalega.
Climate
Mauritius is an excellent holiday destination without any extreme temperature variations. In the summer months, from November to April, the temperature varies from 20° C to 28° C on the Central Plateau and from 25° C to 33° C on the coast. From May to October, the average temperature is 19° C in the centre of the island, rarely falling under 13° C at night. On the coast, all temperatures are about 5° C higher. The sea temperature approaches 27° C in summertime and is down to 22° C in winter. The hours of daylight are approximately from 05:00 to 19:00 in summer and 06:00 to 17:30 in June, July and August - the winter months. The rainy season occurs from January to March - especially on the Central Plateau. Cyclones may occur between November and February. To avoid severe sunburn, adequate sun care products should be used. It is advisable to wear a hat and sunglasses when in the sun during the entire day, especially in the summer months when the sun's rays are very hot.
History:
The Arabs and the Portuguese first discovered the island. The Dutch first settled there in 1598 before it was claimed by the French in 1715 and named Ile de France. It was a British Colony until 1968 when it became an independent member of the Commonwealth before becoming a republic in 1992.
Government:
A parliamentary democracy based on the English Westminster model. The president is head of state but the prime minister and cabinet have the constitutional authority.
Population:
1,206,000 people, most of which are of Indian, African, European and Chinese origin.
Languages:
The official language is English but Creole is the most widely used. French, Hind, Tamil and Chinese are the most widely spoken alternative languages.
Religion:
Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are the most widely practised, along with Confucianism and Buddhism.
Economy:
Based heavily on industrial and agricultural exports, tourism and a rapidly growing financial services sector.
Money Matters
1 Mauritian Rupee is equal to 100 Cents.
Major credit cards - American Express, Diners, Mastercard and Visa - are accepted in most shops and hotels.
Accommodation and Food
Every type of accommodation is available in Mauritius. Travellers can expect to pay US$10-30 for a budget hotel or room, US$30-60 for a midrange hotel and upwards of US$60 for a top hotel. Typical food in Mauritius is curry together with noodles, rice or roti (Indian-style bread).
Social Behaviour
Over half the population of Mauritius is Hindu and roughly another fifth is Muslim; both groups descend from labourers brought to the island by the British to work the cane fields.
The Mauritian public holidays should give some indication of the rich social fabric of the island: Jan 1,2 New Year Jan 20 Eid Ul Fitr Jan 31 Thaipoosam Cavadee Feb 15 Maha Shivaratree Feb 16 Chinese Spring Festival Mar 12 National Day Mar 18 Ougadi May 1 Labour Day Sep 14 Ganesh Chaturti Nov 1 All Saints Day Nov 7 Divali Dec 25 Christmas
Time:
GMT +4
Electricity:
220 volts
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