Swaying palm trees, white sand beaches, turquoise lagoons – it’s little wonder Mauritius is considered a dream destination. The tropical island off the coast of Africa has a plethora of resorts catering to everyone, from budget-conscious families looking for all-inclusive packages to couples wanting the ultimate in luxury.
Choose to lie by the pool sipping cocktails all day, or take part in the activities on offer, which may include waterskiing, kayaking, snorkelling, scuba diving, surfing and deep sea fishing.
Mauritius is a volcanic island and if you can manage to tear yourself away from your resort, there are some fantastic experiences to be had: hiking through jungle and swimming in beautiful, hard-to-find waterfalls.
Beautiful beach life at Mauritius (images: Getty)
Driving around the island, you pass pineapple and sugar plantations and see rotund women with baskets on their backs picking tea in lush fields. The locals speak Creole, a French-based language with many English words and influences from the many African and Asian languages that have been spoken there.
At Grand Bassin, a sacred lake and temple for the Hindu population, women in colourful saris prepare offerings, including banana and sweet porridge, and you can receive a blessing from a priest.
The various ethnicities have also had a strong influence on the food, bringing everything from spicy coconut curries to delicious dumplings. Fresh seafood, including fish, prawns, mussels, octopus and lobster, is also abundant.
If you’re into golf, Mauritius has more than a dozen courses, many with spectacular views over the water. Another great experience is a sunset catamaran cruise, where you can sip Champagne as you watch the sky turn a blazing orange and, if you are lucky, learn the local ‘sega’ dance from the fun-loving crew.
One of the most popular tourist attractions is the Casela World of Adventures nature park, where you can walk with lions by the Rempart River.
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The 14-hectare park is also home to zebras, ostriches, deer and African antelopes and boasts adventure activities such as canyoning, zip-lining and quad bike rides. Children will love the petting farm, where they can bottle-feed or hand-feed animals, including rabbits and fawns.
A view of Mauritius - see the golf courses
Mauritius has a tropical climate, and it can be very hot and humid over summer from December to April, with the possibility of cyclones. The best time to visit is from May to July, as well as from September to late November.
During winter, from June to August, the temperatures are lower and it can be somewhat windy on the coast.
Visit your local Flight Centre store or call 131 600 for more advice and the latest deals on travelling to Mauritius.
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