Mauritius is part of the Mascarene Islands. This archipelago was formed in a series of undersea volcanic eruptions, as the African plate drifted over the Reunion hotspot about 10 million years ago.The Republic of Mauritius consists of the most populous main island of Mauritius, sparsely populated Rodrigues to the north-east, the Cargados Carajos Archipelago to the north and the small islands of Agalega 1000km to the north.

The Island of Mauritius is fifty-eight kilometres in length and forty-six kilometres at its widest point. It has a dramatic landscape of wild jagged peaks, a lush central plateau sloping gently down to the white, sandy beaches that are mostly protected by coral reefs just off-shore.The north is the flattest part of the island, rising gently as you move inland. The north-west coast, incorporating the capital city of Mauritius as Port Louis and the popular tourist city of Grand Baie is also the location of some of the best beaches on the island and therefore some of the most idyllic accommodation.

History

After a brief Dutch settlement, French immigrants who came in 1715 named the island Île de France and established the first road and harbor infrastructure, as well as the sugar industry, under the leadership of Gov. Mahe de Labourdonnais. Blacks from Africa and Madagascar came as slaves to work in the sugarcane fields. In 1810, the British captured the island and in 1814, by the Treaty of Paris, it was ceded to Great Britain along with its dependencies.

Indian immigration, which followed the abolition of slavery in 1835, rapidly changed the fabric of Mauritian society, and the country flourished with the increased cultivation of sugarcane. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 heralded the decline of Mauritius as a port of call for ships rounding the southern tip of Africa, bound for South and East Asia. The economic instability of the price of sugar, the main crop, in the first half of the 20th century brought civil unrest, then economic, administrative, and political reforms. Mauritius became independent on March 12, 1968.

The Mauritian economy has undergone remarkable transformations since independence. From a poor country with high unemployment exporting mainly sugar and buffeted by the vagaries of world demand, Mauritius has become relatively prosperous and diverse, although not without problems.The 1970s were marked by a strong government commitment to diversify the economy and to provide more high-paying jobs to the population. The promotion of tourism and the creation of the EPZs did much to attain these goals. Between 1971 and 1977, about 64,000 jobs were created. However, in the rush to make work, the government allowed EPZ firms to deny their workers fair wages, the right to organize and strike, and the health and social benefits afforded other Mauritian workers. The boom in the mid1970s was also fueled by increased foreign aid and exceptional sugar crops, coupled with high world prices.

The economic situation deteriorated in the late 1970s. Petroleum prices rose, the sugar boom ended, and the balance of payments deficit steadily rose as imports outpaced exports; by 1979 the deficit amounted to a staggering US$111 million. Mauritius approached the IMF and the World Bank for assistance. In exchange for loans and credits to help pay for imports, the government agreed to institute certain measures, including cutting food subsidies, devaluing the currency, and limiting government wage increases.

By the 1980s, thanks to a widespread political consensus on broad policy measures, the economy experienced steady growth, declining inflation, high employment, and increased domestic savings. The EPZ came into its own, surpassing sugar as the principal export-earning sector and employing more workers than the sugar industry and the government combined, previously the two largest employers. In 1986 Mauritius had its first trade surplus in twelve years. Tourism also boomed, with a concomitant expansion in the number of hotel beds and air flights. An aura of optimism accompanied the country's economic success and prompted comparisons with other Asian countries that had dynamic economies, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

The economy had slowed down by the late 1980s and early 1990s, but the government was optimistic that it could ensure the long-term prosperity of the country by drawing up and implementing prudent development plans. According to Larry W. Bowman, an expert on Mauritius, four development aims of the country into the 1990s will be "modernizing the sugar sector, expanding and diversifying manufacturing infrastructure, diversifying agriculture, and developing tourism." In addition, because of the threats to agriculture resulting from Europe's common agricultural policy and the potential effects on textiles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), Mauritius hopes to transform itself into a center for offshore banking and financial services. A stock exchange opened in Port Louis in 1989. Another sector needing attention is that of housing because increased family incomes have raised the demand for housing. Overall, Mauritius had a 1993 gross domestic product (GDP) estimated at US$8.6 billion, with a growth rate of 5.5 percent, and a 1993 inflation rate of 10.5 percent.

As with all the Indian Ocean islands, the Mauritian Creole is the lingua franca on the island. It is based on French, but contains vocabulary and syntax from the African and Asian languages that slaves spoke in the 18th century.The official languages of Mauritius are English and French, with the latter being more widely spoken and dominating the media.

Other languages on the island are those of the immigrants and slaves who were brought to Mauritius from Asia. These include Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Arabic, Cantonese and Mandarin

The various religions found on Mauritius tend to play a major part in the island's cultural events and churches, temples and mosques are to be found everywhere.Festivals such as Divali (the festival of lights), Holi (in which participants are covered in colourful powders) and Thai Poosam, in which Tamil devotees pierce their bodies with masses of needles as an act of penance, are popularly attended by Mauritians.

Of the remaining Mauritians, approximately a third are Christian and about 15% Muslim, followed by small Buddhist and Sikh communities.There are also a number of diverse practices and superstitions originating in beliefs brought from Africa and Asia. Local sorcerers, known as longanistes or traiteurs, are sometimes called in to settle arguments, exact revenge or administer love potions.

Mauritius has a tropical climate with only two seasons, which makes it a perfect year-round destination.The temperature in the coastal areas of Mauritius varies between 22°C in winter and 34°C in summer. The sea temperature varies between 22°C and 27°C.

In the central part of the island, the maximum daytime temperature varies from about 19°C in August to about 26°C in February. The western and northern regions are warmer and relatively drier than the east and the south.It's most humid from December to April, but never unbearable, particularly on the coast where there is a constant sea breeze.

Cyclones, with strong winds and heavy rain, can occur between November and April. Mauritius normally experiences about three or four cyclones a year, each usually lasting a couple of days. You should listen to all cyclone warnings and heed any directions or advice.

Required Clothing:
Take your best beach and casual wear. In the winter months (June -September), carry some light woollen clothing for the cool evenings.Show due respect when visiting religious places. Wear appropriate clothing (and remove leather shoes and belts) when entering the premises.

The unit of currency is the Mauritian Rupee (MUR).Traveller's cheques in any major currency can be exchanged without a problem in Mauritius and they bring a better rate of exchange than cash.The government sets the exchange rates, so there is no need to bank hop. You can bring any amount of foreign currency into the country

The Bank of Mauritius has branches everywhere. Branches of Barclays and HSBC can be found in tourist areas. Banking hours are 9.15am to 3.15pm from Monday to Thursday and 9.15am to 3.30pm on Fridays. In Port Louis and tourist areas, banks are also open on Saturdays from 9.15am to 11.15am.Currency exchange facilities are widely available at Bureau de Change offices. Opening times are 3.15 to 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on Saturdays, and 9am to 12pm on Sundays and public holidays.You can also use a credit card to withdraw cash from ATMs.

Credit cards are widely accepted, with cash advances available from most major banks. Cheaper pensions and local cafés generally don't add tax or service charges to their bills, while mid-range to upscale restaurants and hotels add a 15% government tax.

• Time: G.M.T. + 4 (+ 2 hours for Europe during summer), (+ 3 hours in winter) Sunset.
• Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. UK-type three-pin plugs are commonly used in hotels.
• Country code: 230

• Passengers over 18 years of age may import the following duty-free items: 250 grams of tobacco (including cigars and cigarettes), 1 litre of spirits, 2 litres of wine, ale or beer, one quarter litre of Eau de Toilette and perfume not exceeding 100 ml.
• A plant import permit must be obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, prior to the introduction of plants and plant material including cuttings, flowers, bulbs, fresh fruits, vegetables and seeds.
• It is prohibited to introduce sugarcane and parts thereof, soil micro-organisms and invertebrate animals.
• All imported animals including animal products need an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture and a health certificate from the country of origin.
• Drug trafficking is illegal and carries very heavy penalties. Firearms and ammunition need import permits and must be declared on arrival.

Getting Around Mauritius

The national airline is Air Mauritius (MK).Mauritius (MRU) (Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam), commonly referred to as Plaisance Airport is 48km (30 miles) southeast of Port Louis.There are also Taxis are available to the city (journey time - 45 minutes), Duty-free shops, banks/bureaux de change, snack bar, post office, shops and car hire at the airport.

Port Louis is the main port and primarily commercial but there is a limited passenger service to Madagascar, Réunion and Rodrigues Island

Most Mauritians get around the island using public transport, so you shouldn't have a problem if you choose to use it. Buses are plentiful and inexpensive and connect every part of the island.However, some attractions are not accessible by public transport, especially in the Black River Canyon area. Taxis are numerous and all have meters, but these are rarely switched on. It is therefore advisable to agree on a price before starting a journey.There are 2,000 km of classified roads in Mauritius, 98 percent of which are paved. Mauritians drive on the left hand side of the roadIt can be fun to rent a bicycle, scooter, or car and explore the island for yourself. Scooters and bicycles are available to rent from many hotels and shops. On most back roads traffic is light and it's safe to ride though if you haven't ridden a scooter before you should probably avoid the main roads and bigger towns. An international driver's licence is compulsory and drivers must be over 23 when renting a car.

A visitor must be in possession of a valid passport and a return or onward ticket. A visitor’s visa is normally granted for a period of two weeks to one month upon arrival, to almost all holders of a valid passport, with one or two exceptions. Visitors are strongly recommended to contact the Passport and Immigration Office in Mauritius or the nearest Mauritian Embassy or Consulate.

Black River Gorges National Park, which was opened in 1997 to preserve what remains of the island's indigenous tropical forests.The park's 65km2 aren't a wildlife wonderland, but they're gorgeously forested for anyone who wants a break from the beaches or a scenic walk or drive.The plant and birdlife are also stunning here.It is also contains four field stations that are used by staff of the National Parks, the NGO Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, and University students to carry out research work, monitoring and management of threatened bird species.

The Domaine du Chasseur Nature Reserve was once a hunting reserve, but now targets eco-tourists who wander its 30 kilometres of nature trails. The paths run through beautiful forests of indigenous trees and spice plants.Wildlife isn't a major feature of the Domaine du Chasseur, but you might spot the Javan deer, which is reared here. Wild boars, monkeys, hares and many local bird species also inhabit this reserve.You can do a mini-jeep safari or watch the daily afternoon migration of the endangered Mauritius kestrel, which draws a large crowd.