Mauritius
by Kevin Burton
Although perhaps less tropical than some of its neighbours, being a relatively large island, Mauritius is more scenically diverse. Mountain peaks overlook fields of gently swaying sugar cane, forested hills where deer still roam and not to mention miles of sandy beaches protected by a coral reef. There is so much to entice you to visit.
The island has a multicultural blend to it, with African, Asian and European influences and this combined with the friendly warmth of its people make for a memorable holiday experience.
Mauritius is famed for being home to the extinct dodo! And for those who love flora and fauna, you will find an array of endangered species indigenous to the island that you can explore through excursions to nature reserves managed by the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation.
Scenic, historic and cultural tours can be arranged through hotels. Half day tour options take in Port Louis and Pamplemousse Botanic Gardens; Domaine Les Pailles (nature park, historic rum-making centre and restaurants); Eureka Creole Museum; Chamarel coloured earth; Domaine du Chasseur (nature reserve); Casela Bird Park; La Vanille Crocodile Park; tours of the model ship factory; boat and submarine trips. Full day tour options offer Ile aux Cerfs, one of several uninhabited desert islands; a tour of the south taking in the Mahebourg Naval Museum, visits to tea and/or sugar factories and colonial plantation houses; Black River Gorges National Park; big-game fishing (mainly marlin and tuna). It is possible to also visit Rodrigues or Reunion islands on overnight excursions.
For beach buffs, Mauritius will not disappoint, with reef protected lagoons, soft sand and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean to entice you in for dip. For the energetic, there are plenty of water sports opportunities and if diving's your thing, you will not be disappointed.
Mauritius offers hotels to suit all budgets, from cosy, rustic to ultra deluxe, as well as apartments and villas. Most hotels are situated on the east coast of the island, but there are also a handful on the northern and western coasts.
I stayed at the gorgeous colonial style Residence Hotel in Belle Mare, about an hour from the airport. This hotel re-creates the style and elegance of the turn-of -the-century colonial mansions that once existed in Mauritius in the 1920's. The service is befitting of a hotel of this standard and throughout the property, I was always greeted with a smile! The service received in the hotels restaurants was excellent and this, combined with some superb cuisine, really made for a memorable stay!
The hotel has three dining options, from the elegant Dining Room, the hotels main signature restaurant, overlooking the pool and ocean. The Verandah, serving tasty snacks and salads poolside during the day, to The Plantation, the hotels speciality seafood and Creole restaurant.
Free watersport and land sport activities are offered to guests where you can enjoy waterskiing, Hobie Cat, canoe and kayak, snorkelling and paddle boats, floodlit tennis courts, aerobics, volley-ball, fitness centre, steam room and sauna. For Spa enthusiasts, the hotel offers a well-appointed Sanctuary spa, using exclusive La Prairie products.
I would recommend Mauritius without doubt and it's ideal for anyone visiting South Africa and then wanting an idyllic beach destination to finish off with. It's also possible to twin with Kenya, Dubai and the Seychelles!