Health Considerations
· Before undertaking any travel all clients are encouraged to consult
with their GP and/or local travel clinic for the most
..up-to-date health information on the destinations
they are travelling to.
· Visitors to Mauritius who have passed through Yellow Fever infected
areas (e.g. Tanzania or Kenya) will be required to
..provide proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination
before entering Mauritius.
Travel Insurance
· When travelling internationally it is important to ensure that
a Travel Insurance Policy appropriately covers you against
..any unforeseen eventualities.
· Your insurance broker or provider will offer the necessary advice
on specific travel insurance policies.
· Travellers from South Africa can go to the IslandsOnly Travel
Shop (need link) for more details of tailor made travel policies.
Departure Taxes
· All departure taxes are included the price of your airline ticket.
There are no additional taxes to be paid in Mauritius.
The independent state of Mauritius comprises the islands of Mauritius,
Rodrigues and dependencies.
Location:
Located in the southwestern Indian Ocean between the Equator and the Tropic
of Capricorn.
Geography:
· Part of the Mascarene Archipelago the island of Mauritius covers
an area of 1,864km². However, the total area
..including dependencies
is 2,045km².
· Mauritius is a mountainous country with an elevated and impressive
central plateau.
· The island is 65km long and 45km wide.
History:
The Arabs and the Portuguese first discovered the island. The Dutch first
settled there in 1598 before it was claimed by the French in 1715 and
named Ile de France. It was a British Colony until 1968 when it became
an independent member of the Commonwealth before becoming a republic in
1992.
Government:
A parliamentary democracy based on the English Westminster model. The
president is head of state but the prime minister and cabinet have the
constitutional authority.
Population:
1,206,000 people, most of which are of Indian, African, European and Chinese
origin.
Languages:
The official language is English but Creole is the most widely used. French,
Hind, Tamil and Chinese are the most widely spoken alternative languages.
Religion:
Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are the most widely practised, along
with Confucianism and Buddhism.
Economy:
Based heavily on industrial and agricultural exports, tourism and a rapidly
growing financial services sector.
Currency:
The Mauritian rupee (Rs) is divided into 100 cents (cs)
Weights and measures:
The metric system is used (officially introduced in 1985)
Climate:
Hot summers – November to April – with average coastal temperatures
of 30°C at midday.
Warm winters – May to October – with average coastal temperatures
of 24°C at midday.
Temperatures in the interior of the island are generally 3 to 5°C
cooler than at the coast.
The rainy season is from January to May with the possibility of stray
cyclones between January and March.
Time:
GMT +4
Electricity:
220 volts |
