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Mauritius Travel Guide
Mauritius is a small island in the Islands of the Indian Ocean|Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar.
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Highlights
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Getting Here
By plane
By train
By car
By bus
By boat
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History
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Government
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Money
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Geography
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Weather And Climate
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Culture
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Food
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Accommodations
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Education
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Work
Mauritius is an ideal place to live if you have your own business, especially if you can earn your money overseas. The government has set up a new visa category as of October, 2006 catering specifically for the self employed.
- Investment Promotion Agency of the Government of Mauritius Extremely helpful government agancy
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Communications
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Health And Safety
Mauritius is a risk area for infection with dengue fever (also known as "breakbone fever" from the muscular paroxysms sometimes induced). No vaccine is available. However no cases of dengue fever have been recorded in the country for several years now.
Since 2005 during the high season a certain type of mosquito called the Aedes albopictus causes the viral illness Chikungunya and the insect is more likely to be around in the daytime.
It is important to use anti-mosquito protection at all times. Mosquitoes are more prevalent in rural areas but they can also inhabit the beach in the tourist zone and may lead to swollen joints and/or rashes. Symptoms last from one week up to several months depending how seriously you are affected. Some people recover quickly but it can take several months to recover completely.
It shouldn't put you off visiting Mauritius. Just take good care to cover yourself completely in the best mosquito repellant you can find and re-apply again after swimming. Sleep under a mosquito net. Spray the bedroom well before going to bed with a good repellant and take an electric repellant to plug into the power supply. You can buy plenty of repellants of all types locally in mauritius quite cheaply including bracelets for kiddies.
Here is a website with comprehensive information on the Chikungunya virus - Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s website:
In 1991, 86% of the population had antibodies indicating that they had been exposed to the hepatitis A virus, following an epidemic of the disease in 1989. Hepatitis A vaccination is generally recommended for travel in East Africa (and most other places) by the CDC.
Due to recent efforts transmission of schistosomiasis in Mauritius has been "virtually eliminated", according to the .
Many of the beaches are infested with sea erchins. It is a good idea to either buy or bring plastic shoes when venturing into the water. This is generally not a problem at the big hotels.
Reef fish in Mauritius have been found containing a neurotoxin similar but not identical to that found in Caribbean reef fish.
It is important not to eat peanuts or take alcohol if you eat coral or reef fish like sea bass, snapper, mullet, grouper, there are many more. The fish eat the toxic algae that grows on the coral reefs. Don't eat intestines or testes of the fish as higher concentrations of the toxin collect here. The symptoms include gastrointestinal upset, vomiting and diarrhoea and sometimes numb feelings of the arms and legs. More info:
Since 2005 during the high season a certain type of mosquito called the Aedes albopictus causes the viral illness Chikungunya and the insect is more likely to be around in the daytime.
It is important to use anti-mosquito protection at all times. Mosquitoes are more prevalent in rural areas but they can also inhabit the beach in the tourist zone and may lead to swollen joints and/or rashes. Symptoms last from one week up to several months depending how seriously you are affected. Some people recover quickly but it can take several months to recover completely.
It shouldn't put you off visiting Mauritius. Just take good care to cover yourself completely in the best mosquito repellant you can find and re-apply again after swimming. Sleep under a mosquito net. Spray the bedroom well before going to bed with a good repellant and take an electric repellant to plug into the power supply. You can buy plenty of repellants of all types locally in mauritius quite cheaply including bracelets for kiddies.
Here is a website with comprehensive information on the Chikungunya virus - Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s website:
In 1991, 86% of the population had antibodies indicating that they had been exposed to the hepatitis A virus, following an epidemic of the disease in 1989. Hepatitis A vaccination is generally recommended for travel in East Africa (and most other places) by the CDC.
Due to recent efforts transmission of schistosomiasis in Mauritius has been "virtually eliminated", according to the .
Many of the beaches are infested with sea erchins. It is a good idea to either buy or bring plastic shoes when venturing into the water. This is generally not a problem at the big hotels.
Reef fish in Mauritius have been found containing a neurotoxin similar but not identical to that found in Caribbean reef fish.
It is important not to eat peanuts or take alcohol if you eat coral or reef fish like sea bass, snapper, mullet, grouper, there are many more. The fish eat the toxic algae that grows on the coral reefs. Don't eat intestines or testes of the fish as higher concentrations of the toxin collect here. The symptoms include gastrointestinal upset, vomiting and diarrhoea and sometimes numb feelings of the arms and legs. More info:
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Getting Around
Bus and taxi services are best used in urban areas. Bicycles and motorbikes are also available for hire.
Air Mauritius operates daily flights connecting Plaisance Airport and Rodrigues (flight time - 1 hour 15 minutes).
Helicopters are available for transfers and sightseeing tours
One major highway runs north to south, otherwise a good network of paved, if sometimes narrow, roads cover the island. Traffic drives, erratically, on the left.
Numerous car hire firms include major international and independent firms. Prices vary widely starting from 600 rupees per day.
Regulations: Drivers are required to be over 18 years old. Speed limits are 90kph (50mph) on the motorway and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. Seatbelts are compulsory. A foreign licence is accepted.
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Port Louis to other major cities/towns/resorts in Mauritius.
Curepipe 0:20
Grand Baie, North 0:30
Mahebourg, Southeast 0:45
Flic-en-Flac, West 0:30
Excellent and numerous bus services ply the island.
These are regulated and metered (though meters are almost never used) and linked to provinces or hotels, printed on a yellow panel on the drivers' door. Tips are not customary for taxi drivers, but appreciated.
By plane
Air Mauritius operates daily flights connecting Plaisance Airport and Rodrigues (flight time - 1 hour 15 minutes).
By helicopter
Helicopters are available for transfers and sightseeing tours
- Air Mauritius Helicopter
By car
One major highway runs north to south, otherwise a good network of paved, if sometimes narrow, roads cover the island. Traffic drives, erratically, on the left.
Numerous car hire firms include major international and independent firms. Prices vary widely starting from 600 rupees per day.
Regulations: Drivers are required to be over 18 years old. Speed limits are 90kph (50mph) on the motorway and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. Seatbelts are compulsory. A foreign licence is accepted.
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Port Louis to other major cities/towns/resorts in Mauritius.
Curepipe 0:20
Grand Baie, North 0:30
Mahebourg, Southeast 0:45
Flic-en-Flac, West 0:30
By bus
Excellent and numerous bus services ply the island.
- National Transport Corporation (NTC)
- United Bus Service (UBS)
- Mauritius Bus Transport (MTB)
By metered taxi
These are regulated and metered (though meters are almost never used) and linked to provinces or hotels, printed on a yellow panel on the drivers' door. Tips are not customary for taxi drivers, but appreciated.
By boat
- Coraline Sails once a week to Rodrigues Island and to Reunion island from Port Louis Harbour. Mauritius Pride, launched in 1991, and Mauritius Trochetia, in service since 2001, are the two ships operating for the island. The ships also have Madagascar as a destination. Both vessels are used as passenger and container ships.
