Everything you need to know about Mauritius
A preferred destination for investors, Mauritius is organized in 9 districts and has cultural specificities. Overview of everything you need to know.
Mauritiusbetween Madagascar and India
Mauritius is located in the Indian Ocean, in the Mascareignes archipelago, a few kilometres from Reunion and Madagascar. There are three dependent islands: Rodrigues, Agalega and Cargados Carajos. At 9,055 kms from France and 8,320 kms from Italy, Mauritius has only a 2-hour time lag with Europe. With an area of 1,865 km2, it is one of the smallest islands in the world. From volcanic origin, Mauritius is home to Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcano that has become one of the main tourist attractions of the territory. Its reliefs revolve around low-lying mountains, plains and coastlines surrounded by coral reefs.
The 9 districts Mauritius
Mauritius is organized in 9 districts:
– To the north of the island, River Rempart houses
the cities of Grand Bay, Grand Gaube or Pereybere.
– More to the west, we find Grapemousses, the district of Trou aux Biches, Pointe aux Piments and Balaclava.
– The district of Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius and the Valley of Priests.
– Along the coast lies the Black River district, which extends from Gros Cailloux to Morne via Tamarin Bay, the heart of tourist activity.
– The Moka district, at the heart of the land, has no access to the ocean, but to the lakes of Valetta, Piton du Milieu and Midlands Dam.
– In Plaines Wilhems, Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes, Vacoas-Phoenix, Curepipe, and Le Trou aux Cerfs attract tourists and expatriates.
– To the south, Savanne district is famous for the areas of Baie du Cap and Bel Ombre, close to nature and beaches.
– More east, it's Grand Port, with Blue Bay, Pointe d'Esny, Bois des Amourettes.
– Flacq, finally, is the district of Four Sisters, Beau Champ and Belle Mare.
Official language and currency Mauritius
The official language of Mauritius is English, but French is spoken fluently. It also speaks Creole, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Mandarin, Telegou and Marathi. Mauritian Rupee (MUR) is the national currency, 1€ equals 40.46 MUR, and 1$ 34.94 MUR.
History of Mauritius
Former French colony and then English, Mauritius has been independent since 1968. Its policy is based on a democratic parliamentary model, since it acquired the status of Republic in 1992. Its flag consists of 4 colors arranged in the form of horizontal lines: the red symbolizing the struggle for independence, the blue ocean, the yellow the future and the green the lush vegetation of Mauritius.
Public holidays and emblems Mauritius
Mauritius shares holidays with France: 1 January, 1 November, 25 December and 1 May. Mauritians also celebrate February 1, the abolition of slavery, March 12, Mauritius National Day, and November 2, in tribute to the « first workers » arrived in the territory.
Dodo is the national emblem of Mauritius. He has been missing for nearly 300 years and is represented on many objects by Mauritians. Giant turtles can also be seen in Mauritius.
Internet, mobile network and electricity Mauritius
The telephone code for Mauritius is +230. To call abroad, just type the 020-33 followed by the number you want to dial. To reach Mauritius from France, it is 00-230 that you must compose. Telephone coverage is provided by Cellplus Mobile Comms and Emtel. The Internet is distributed by many access providers. Among the best known are Telecom Plus, Mauritius Network, and MauriNet.
The electrical outlets in Mauritius generally follow the English model, and are 220 Volts.
Direct flight Paris-Maurice
From Paris, Air France and Air Mauritius travel to Mahebourg International Airport (Sir-Seewoosagur-Ramgoolam) from Mauritius for a non-stop flight of 11am. Located in the district of Grand Port, the airport is connected to the rest of the island by a network of public shuttles. Mauritian taxis apply European rates.
To the island of Rodrigues from Mauritius
To reach the island of Rodrigues – famous for its giant turtle reserve – from Mauritius you can borrow the Trochetia. The boarding takes place in Port Louis and the crossing takes 36 to 48 hours. The Trochetia can carry 112 passengers and has cabins of several classes. The crossing to Rodrigues is also carried out by plane, via Air Mauritius, and lasts 90 minutes.
