MAURITIUS TRAVEL INFORMATION > MAURITIUS

West is Best

Mauritius generally has good weather all year, but due to the prevailing south-east trade winds, the western side of Mauritius offers more protection against these winds and therefore it tends to be drier and warmer in the western regions.  This has the biggest effect between the months of April and October, where the eastern side suffers from the trade winds resulting in cooler temperatures, cooler lagoons and higher rainfall and the western side has more daylight hours than the eastern side. 

People

Hindus, Creole, Chinese, Muslims and Europeans. 

Time

GMT+5 hours in Summer (Oct - Mar) and GMT+4 hours in Winter

Currency

The monetary unit is the Mauritian Rupee (Rs.) which is divided into 100 cents (cs).  Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, hotels and the airport.  

Languages

English is the official language. The most widely spoken languages are French, Creole, Hindi and Bhojpuri.

Capital

Port Louis.

Religions

51 per cent Hindu, 31 per cent Christian, 17 per cent Muslim

Culture

The Sega dance – the national dance of Mauritius, derived mostly from African music dating from the days of slavery, the Sega is now performed with sophisticated Latin American influences and instruments, as well as the traditional 'plans-plans' (drums) and percussion. The shuffling, hip-swaying dance and Creole patois lyrics are an integral part of the music.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. UK-type 3-pin plugs commonly used in hotels.

Communication

Country code: 230.  Internet cafes are widely available.

Getting There

Air Mauritius & SAA operates daily flights to Mauritius (and for certain packages British Airways (BA) fly on selected days of the week).  

Flights on MK – Air Mauritius, SAA – South African Airways or BA - British Airways.

SAA and BA flights: Depart early morning from Johannesburg to Mauritius and depart late afternoon from Mauritius to South Africa.

MK flights: Depart in the afternoon from Johannesburg to Mauritius and depart in the morning from Mauritius to South Africa.

International Airport

The SSR (Sir Seewoosagar Ramgoolam) International Airport  located in the south of the island is one hour (48km) south-east of Port Louis.

Flying Time

Johannesburg to Mauritius – 4 hours

Best time to travel

The best time is from May to December. These are the drier months and maximum temperatures during these months average around 25C.  November - April is the hottest months (Summer) and the highest rainfall occur between December and March. 

Visas and Passports (Info provided for SA passport holders only): 
A valid passport (must be valid for at least 6 months from return date) is required to enter Mauritius and a return or onward ticket.  All visitors will be required to have proof of their accommodation for the duration of stay, as well as a valid return air ticket at hand when entering Mauritius.

The above requirements are subject to change at any time without prior notice.  It is therefore very important that you contact the relevant consulate before you travel, to confirm all relevant requirements to enter Mauritius.

Health Precautions(Info provided for SA passport holders only): 

Vaccinations:  South Africans do not currently require a yellow fever vaccination.

Malaria:  No Malaria Risk, but insect repellent is recommended.

The above information is subject to change at any time without prior notice.  It is therefore very important that you contact a travel clinic before you travel to confirm all relevant requirements to enter Mauritius.

Travel Insurance:

It is extremely important that you have adequate travel insurance.

Travel Expeditions offers adequate travel insurance for your international travel.  If you receive free travel insurance by paying with your credit card, please make sure that the cover is adequate.  Travel Expeditions make use of TIC travel insurance which covers up to R50 000 000 in medical and related expenses (depending on the policy chosen) as well as up to R25 000 baggage insurance (depending on the policy chosen).  A valuable insurance cover can come in very handy when needed.  The free travel insurance your credit card company provides when you pay for your flight tickets with your credit card, might be very basic.  Travel Expeditions can top-up your free credit card travel insurance for a small fee so that your cover is more comprehensive if you feel that the free credit card insurance is too basic. 

No one expects a confirmed trip to be cancelled, having to pay extra amounts when a sudden emergency situation [Medical Expenses, Assistant Services, Hospitalisation, Accidental Death or Disability, Trip Cancellation or Curtailment, Hijacking, Baggage Loss, Baggage Delay, Travel Delay, Stolen cash or travel documents, Loss of cash or travel documents and Personal Liability Law Suits] occurs.  However, unfortunately these situations do arise – make sure that you will not be caught off-guard.

Security and general Airline Regulations:

Due to all destinations enforcing security restrictions and altering these restrictions from time to time we strongly suggest that you check with the applicable airline a few days prior to your departure to ensure  that the information below is correct and no additional requirements have been enforced. 

Permitted items in hand luggage:

• All liquids shall be required to be carried in containers with a capacity not greater than 100ml (or the equivalent in other volumetric measurements, e.g. fluid ounces).  Other liquids, aerosols and gels that are considered liquid, shaving lotion and other foams, creams and lotions, pastes including toothpaste, mascara, lipsticks, perfumes, sprays, and gels including hair and shower gels.

• Liquids carried in containers larger than 100ml are not to be accepted, even if the container is only partly-filled.

• Containers shall be placed in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag of a maximum capacity not exceeding 1 litre.  The containers must fit comfortably within the transparent plastic bag, which should be completely closed.

• The plastic bag shall be presented by the departing passenger for visual examination and subsequent screening through x-ray at the screening point.

• Only one transparent plastic bag per passenger shall be permitted.

• Any item that does not fit into a transparent re-sealable plastic bag as described above, the item will not be permitted beyond the security screening point. 

• Examples of LAGS include, but are not limited to:  Water and other drinks, soups, syrups, creams, lotions and oils, perfumes, sprays, gels, including hair and shower gels, contents of pressured containers, including shaving foam, other foams and deodorants, pastes including toothpaste, liquid-solid mixtures, mascara, any other items of similar consistency.   

There are a few exemptions where the above restrictions are not to be applied to:

• In respect of liquids purchased by departing passengers either at airport duty free shops, or on board aircraft, such liquids must be packed in a sealed plastic bag that is both tamper evident and displays satisfactory proof of purchase at airport duty free shops or on board the aircraft, on the day of the journey.  This also applies to transfer passengers.

• Medications, Baby Mild/Foods and Special Dietary Requirements, provided the genuineness of these items is verified through prescriptions.  Physical Checks and visual inspection will be made by screening staff. 

Please note, the airlines will no longer accept any item of baggage exceeding 32kg in weight or size exceeding 900mm x 720mm x 450mm.  This is enforced to comply with Health and Safety laws.

Golf bags or other sport equipment can be transported at additional charges.  (Weight limits might apply).

If you are taking golf clubs or other sporting equipment to Mauritius, please notify us so that we can ensure the airline is informed and that adequate transportation to and from the hotel has been booked to accommodate the additional requirements.  Please note that surcharges may apply.

Import Allowances:

If a passenger is of 16 years of age or over he/she may bring in the following goods, free of customs duty:

• Tobacco (including cigars and cigarettes) not exceeding 250 grams

• Spirits not exceeding 1 liter

• Wine, ale or beer not exceeding 2 liters in all.

Climate:
A mild tropical climate where temperature varies between 20°c in winter and 34°c in summer and between 16°c and 25°c in winter.
The western and northern regions are warmer and relatively drier than the East and the South.

Mauritius has a climate that is great for all year holidays and the cooler season is May – November.

Mauritius enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year. Tropical cyclones can occur between December and March. The best time is from May to December. Maximum temperatures during these months average around 25C.

Money:
Euros and US$ are widely accepted in most establishments, hotels/resorts.  You can exchange some Rands for these currencies before your departure to Mauritius.

The local currency is the Mauritian Rupee.  You can exchange Rands for Rupees at the airport upon arrival in Mauritius.  Rupees are also widely accepted in Mauritius, especially in local towns/restaurants/shops.

There are foreign exchange facilities available at all major hotels and banks.

Credit cards are normally accepted by banks and most hotels, restaurants and tourist shops for payment purposes.

Best is to travel with hard cash in Euros or US$, but this is not always the safest.  Traveller’s cheques are the safest, but cannot be exchanged everywhere.  

Consult the Bureau de change where you change your currency before you leave SA for the best recommendations on how to carry your money to your destination. 

What to pack:

Pack lightweight casual wear and beach attire. Take a lightweight sweater for the evenings, especially in the cooler season. Pack an umbrella, suntan lotion, sunglasses and rubber sole shoes to protect you from the coral on the beach.

Dress is cool and casual – swimsuits and pareos for the day and smart-casual wear for the evenings. During the cooler months, jackets or light sweaters for evening wear are recommended.

HOTEL DRESS-CODE POLICIES:

While swimming trunks, beach wear, and shorts are acceptable during the daytime around the hotel, the hotel requires guests to dress appropriately for dinner in the restaurants:

For Gentlemen: Long pants, closed shoes, and t-shirts with a collar or shirts.

For Ladies: Smart casual wear, including trousers, skirts, or dresses.

What Things Cost - Guideline only:

The cost of meals, snacks and drinks at the hotels of Mauritius are generally more expensive than in South Africa.  You might find a local café or restaurant in town or nearby your hotel that offers more affordable prices.  A guideline is that meals and drinks at the hotels are generally 3 to 4 times more expensive than what you will find in South-Africa.  Occasionally goods can even be more expensive, especially imported alcoholic wines and drinks.  Taking this into consideration, it is important to budget enough spending money for your proposed trip, taking into consideration your chosen meal plan of the package booked.

Rough Guide:

Budget minimum between R300 to R400 (Rand Value) per person per day (for a light lunch and roughly 2 to 3 drinks per person per day as most packages includes breakfast and dinner).

Bottled water – US$3 to US$5

Beer – US$5

Cold drinks – US$3 to US$5

Fruit Juice – US$ 3 to US$5

Toasted sandwich – US$9 to US$12

Light lunches – 8US$ - 25US$

Cocktails US$10 – US$15

Glass of wine – US$5 to US$10

Tea/Coffee – US$4 to US$6

Local Vodka/Whisky/Rhum/Malibu – US$4 to US$10

Ice Cream – US$3 to US$5

Local tastes:
A variety of local foods including the following:  Dholl, yellow split peas, dholl purri, wheat pancake stuffed with dholl and served with a tomato sauce and gâteaux piments; dholl and chillies deep-fried in batter, samosas, chicken, beef and fish curry are very popular as well as seafood, particularly snapper. Try Phoenix beer and be blown away by Green Island rum.
 

Evening flavour:

Most hotels offer evening entertainment and at most hotels you will experience Sega dancing and cultural shows.

Divers:

Best time for diving: 

Diving is possible all year and there is no typical “diving season”, but the best season remains November to April.  Water Temperatures can reach up to 29 degrees Celsius. 

In winter, the sea is cooler and can fall below 20 degrees Celsius, with rough waters and poor visibility. 

Most Popular Spots: 

• West Coast of Mauritius - Has a variety of interesting diving spots.  Water temperatures vary from 22 degrees Celsius in winter (5mm wet suit) to 28 degrees Celsius in Summer (3mm wet suit).  Average visibility:  20 – 25m.

• Southwest - Is popular for the sight of dolphins.  One can admire these fascinating animals in their natural environment all year in the Le Morne region. 

• The famous Passe St. Jacques dive in Le Morne:  White fin sharks, Grey reef sharks, Bull sharks, Eagle rays and Stingrays.  

Cost:  The cost of activities and excursions (which are not included in your holiday package inclusions) in the Indian Ocean Islands generally range between about R400 to R1500+ per person, per activity/excursion – depending on activity, the itinerary and inclusions of the excursion.  Taking this into consideration, it is important to budget enough spending money for activities/excursions for your proposed trip. 

Spending money will be dependent on the amount of activities you would like to do and the cost of a specific activity.  The basic activities like undersea walk, parasailing and similar activities usually go for around R300-R400 per person (rough estimate in Rand value), but certain activities might be more (e.g. catamaran cruises which are half/full day are more expensive – depending on the duration and trip inclusions).

Car hire starts in the region of R500 per day, to give you an idea.  (Can be a bit more or less, depending on specific car etc.).  If you would like to take part in about 3 – 4 activities plus car hire for a day, a good amount to consider might be about R2000 – R3000 (Rand Value) per person.

All activity and tour bookings can be made at your hotel/resort or with local tour operators in Mauritius. 

Some of the most popular excursions/activities:

Besides the exciting activities that most hotels offer free of charge (selected motorized/non-motorized water-sports & land activities) or at a charge (e.g. undersea-walk excursions, parasailing, golf if not included into your package etc.), there are many exciting attractions / activities to explore in Mauritius.  Below is a list of some that might be of interest. 

Please note that hotels have an excursion desk where you can obtain information on trips available. 

Most of these excursions can be arranged by your hotel/resort at an extra charge.  These activities are guidelines of what is available to you in Mauritius, and excursions offered may change from time to time and from hotel/resort to hotel/resort.  Your hotel/resort will be able to advise of what is available during your stay.

Jardin Botanique de Pamplemousses – Northern (Inland): 

An area of 25 ha famous for its exotic indigenous plants.  It is home to the giant Victorial Regia water lilies, and the Talipot palm, believed to bloom once every sixty years and then die.  Spices, ebonies, sugar canes, lotuses and varieties of palms.  The garden was constructed by Pierre Poivre in 1770.

The Castle of Mon Plaisir  – North: 

Created by Pierre Poivre in 1767 on the ancient domaine of Mahé de Labourdonnais.

Coloured earths of Chamarel  - South West: 

Near the beautiful Chamarel waterfalls lies the amazing seven-coloured undulating land, created by erosion and weathering of volcanic rocks in shades of green, blue, red and yellow.  Sunrise is the best time to see this.

Chamarel Falls – South West: 

90 m Fall from St. Denis River in the Black River Mountains.

Rochester Falls – South: 

10 m Fall from the Savanne River.  Road to the falls passes sugar plantations open to visitors.

Tamarind Falls – West: 

250m Fall consisting of seven falls.  Beautiful scenery.

Tea Plantations – South: 

Tea is mainly manufactured for local consumption and the plantations cover about 760 ha of the island. 

L'adventure du Sucre – Inland: 

Visit this authentic old sugar cane factory completely restored and discover the fascinating world of Sugar. The exhibits take you back in time to let you understand the extent to which the history of Mauritius is so strongly linked to the sugar industry.

Casela Bird Park – West: 

Situated in the Riviere Noire district with a variety of 140 bird species (2500 birds) from around the world.  One of the highlights is the Mauritian Pink Pigeon – a very rare species.    Rs 125 – 150. 

Ile Aux Cerfs - East: 

Located about 20 minutes from the East Coast of Mauritius, A small island popular for its great beaches for swimming and snorkelling – Ile Aux Cerfs.  Boats leave every half hour from 9am to 5pm.  Why not take a 3 hour walk around the coast of this island. 

Nature Park of Domaine Les Pailles – North: 

Located at the foot of the Moka Mountain range.  Tours can be done in a Land-Rover, riding in a horse drawn carriage or in a train.  Visit the ancient sugar mill.

Le Val Nature Park – South East: 

View nature in its different forms from the natural marine life and freshwater fish to ponds, various bird species, deer parks and monkeys.

Vanilla Crocodile & Tortoise Park – South: 

Take a guided tour to where more than thousand Nile crocodiles are bred, surrounded by tropical forest and exotic lush green palm trees, bamboos and plants.

Mauritius Waterpark:

Aquarium: 

View more than 200 species indigenous fish and beautiful corals.  The aquarium is situated between Pointe-aux-Piments and Trou-aux-Biches.

Curepipe: 

This is an urban centre with good shops and restaurants.

Trou aux Cerfs Crater – Curepipe: 

Covered by woodlands, but great views around the island.

Rose Hill – West: 

As the third largest town in Mauritius, Rose Hill features a variety of shops and you can stroll in "Arabtown" for some cheap shopping and around the fair.

Port Louis: 

The capital of Mauritius…rich in history.  Stroll through the markets, experience the exotic spices, variety of souvenirs and Caudan Waterfront - a shopping centre with various shops, restaurants, cinemas and entertainment areas.  Visit the mosque, theatre or even the Champ de Mars horse race track.