 Palm
trees, white beaches, turquoise water and a balmy climate – Mauritius is the archetypal
tropical island fantasy. It looks good in glossy travel brochures. Don’t be sceptical,
it’s even better in reality and those emerald green hills, bursts of bougainvillea,
frangipani and lanes of purple jacarandas do exist - almost everywhere you look.
Mauritius is the most accessible island in the Indian Ocean, boasting as much
tropical paradise as Maui or Martinique and, better still, offering it at a bargain
price. Though nestled up alongside Africa, it's actually more influenced by its
British and French ties and massive Indian workforce.
You can enjoy a dish of curried chickpeas or a nice Yorkshire pudding on the terrace
of a French café, sipping imported wine or a thick malty ale while listening
to Créole music and the conversation of locals in any number of lingoes.
Its range of visitors facilities runs the gamut from pamper-happy beach resorts
and organised excursions to locals who'll put you up in their homes and rent you
their cars for daytrips. If you're looking for a lazy beach vacation, you could
certainly do worse, but don't forget the rambling interior and the multicultural
capital Port Louis.
FACTS
Full country name: Republic of Mauritius
Area: 1,860 sq km
Population: 1.2 million
Capital City: Port Louis (pop 150,000)
People: Indo-Mauritian (68%), Créole (27%), Sino-Mauritian (3%),
Franco-Mauritian (2%)
Language: English is the official language. French, Creole, Hindi and Bhojpuri also widely spoken.
Religion: Hindu (51%), Christian (30%), Muslim (17%), other (2%)
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Head of State: President Sir Anerood Jugnauth
Head of Government: Prime Minister Paul Bérenger
Area: 2040 sq km (788 sq miles).
Population: 1,159,729 (1998).
Capital: Port Louis
LANDSCAPE
Mauritius, a volcanic and mountainous island in the Indian Ocean, lies 2000km (1240 miles) off the southeastern coast of Africa, due east of Madagascar. The island-state stands on what was once a land bridge between Asia and Africa called the Mascarene Archipelago. From the coast, the land rises to form a broad fertile plain on which sugar cane flourishes. Some 500km (310 miles) east is Rodrigues Island, while northeast are the Cargados Carajos Shoals and 900km (560 miles) to the north is Agalega.
CLIMATEWarm coastal climate (particularly January to April), with relatively little seasonal variation in temperatures, although they are generally slightly lower inland, with more rain on the plateau around Curepipe. Cyclones may occur between November and February. Sea breezes blow all year, especially on the east coast.
HEALT
WHO International Travel and Health
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