Mauritius is a mountainous island in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar covering approximately 1,865 square km with 330 km of coastline; it is situated in the South West Indian Ocean approximately 2,000 km from Durban, 1800 km from Mombassa, 6,000 km from Perth and 4700 km from Mumbai. Mauritius is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs, a central plateau and impressive mountains. The central plateau rises to a level of some 600 meters and is marked by extinct volcanic craters, crisscrossed by rivers, streams and waterfalls.
Best tours in Mauritius
The culture of Mauritius is an amalgamation of various cultures and traditions that live in a perfect harmony. The major festivals here are Christmas, Idul Fitr, Diwali and Cavadee. The people from various religions live together in harmony and peace. There are a lot of temples, churches and mosques here. Indian influence is heavy in Mauritius and the presence of different Indian communities has created a cultural ambiance. Bhojpuri songs which are the folk songs of Bihar (India) are immensely popular in Mauritius. Mauritius truly represents a unique cosmopolitan culture with a tolerant spirit. The most common dance here is the Sega, it is an ancient musical art form which traces its origin to the slaves of Africa, it is performed by the dancers who use their hips to the ecstatic and mellifluous tunes. The Sega dance forms with a political undertone are used as a tool to propagate a socio political message. Popular location to visit are Rodrigues and Port Louis.
The locals of Mauritius
About 30% of the population is of African descent and 70% is of Indian origin. The economy of Mauritius is based on tourism, textiles, sugar and financial services, it is one of the most successful and competitive economies of Africa. Mauritius has only two seasons which makes it a perfect year round destination. Summer runs from November to April, with temperatures reaching as high as 93°F (34°C) on the coast. Humidity is highest from December to April but is never unbearable, particularly on the coast where there is a constant sea breeze. Cyclones, with strong winds and heavy rain, can occur between January and March. Mauritius will normally experience about three or four cyclones a year during this period, each usually lasting a couple of days. During winter the temperature drops a few degrees, however, there is still plenty of sunshine and it is a very pleasant time of year to visit. Sea temperatures vary between 75°F (24°C) in the winter and 82°F (28°C) in the summer. The peak holiday season runs from October to April, with hotel prices dropping over the winter months.
Top Tourist Attractions in Mauritius
The presence of white sandy beaches, calming presence of sea, beautiful scenic fields, sugarcane fields are enough to give a romantic touch to your vacation. Due to the presence of people of different ethnicities the variety of food that is on offer is diverse and the choices are plenty in Mauritius. Also don’t miss out on the sea food when flying to Mauritius. So when deciding your next vacation destination in future do give a serious thought to Mauritius.