O Mauritius is an island nation of the southeast coast of African continent in the Indian Ocean.

O It is 870km from Madagascar and covers an area of 2040km2 and the capital city is Port Louis.

O The main languages spoken are Mauritius Creole, French and English.

O English is the only official language but newspapers and television programmes are usually in French. Asian languages also form part of the languages.

O Population is composed of Indians, Africans, Chinese and French.

O Mauritius island was the only home of the dodo bird. The birds became extinct in less than eighty years after the European colonisers took over the island.

O They were easy prey to settlers because of its weight and inability to fly.

O Population of the island is estimated at about 1,286,340 people.

O The currency is Mauritian Rupee and their time zone is UTC+4.

O Driving is on the left.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN MAURITIUS

BLACK RIVER GORGES NATIONAL PARKO Covers 6574ha, in hilly south-western

part of Mauritius.O It was constructed to save the natural

vegetation of the island.O Has the highest point of the island

known as the ‘black river peak’.O Protects most of the islands remaining

rainforest and home to many species of animals and birds.

O Endermic plants and animals including the Mauritian flying fox, Mauritius Kestrel, pink pigeon, Mauritius Parakeet, Mauritius Cuckoo-shrike, Mauritius bulbul, Mauritius olive white eye, Mauritius fody among others.

MAURITIUS BOTANICAL GARDEN

O Also called Pamplemousses Garden.O Is located near port Louis and is the

oldest garden in the southern hemisphere.

O Built by Pierre Poivre in 1767, covers 37ha.

O Famous for its giant water lillies, spice garden and unique collection of 85 varieties of palm from Central America, Africa and islands around the Indian Ocean.

PORT LOUISO Capital city and main port of the island.O Port Louis was constructed in 1735 by French

governor, Mahe de Labourdonnais.O It is sorrounded by a mountain range called ‘the

port louis moka range’- worth watching.O Has many historic and colonial buildings one of

them is a fortification named Fort Adelaide or La Citadelle built by British in 1835.

O Main attractions here include Caudan Waterfront, Port Louis Bazaar, Police Baracks, The Mauritian Chinatown and Old Port louis Theatre.

O The capital city has three museums i.e: The Blue Penny museum, the Mauritius Natural history museum and the Mauritius stamp museum.

O Oldest post office in Mauritius near Caudan Waterfront.

O There are also French styled buildings.

ILE AUX CERFS ISLAND

O Known in English as the Deer island.O A paradise for water sports and has

one of the most beautiful beaches in Mauritius.

O Near East coast of Mauritius in the Flacq district.

O Famous for sandy beaches, beautiful lagoon.

O There is no deer on the island nowadays.

GRAND BASSINO Also known as the Ganga talao.O Situated in secluded mountain area in the

district of savanne, deep in the heart of Mauritius about 600m a.s.l

O Is a holy lake for Mauritians of Hindu faith(claimed that the water inside the lake communicated with the water of the holy Ganges in India).

O Also overlooking the lake is statue of Mangal Mahader(shira statue), which is 33m, making it the highest statue in Mauritius.

CHAMAREL PARKO 7 coloured earth and Chamarel falls.O Landscape of chamarel is the only place

in the world with clay of seven colours at one place.

O Colours are red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow.

O Purple and yellow are predominant.O Waterfall of chamarel three distinct

streams plunging down into a gorge(about 100m)

TROU AUX CERFSO Is a high extinct volcano located in

curepipe, Mauritius. Is 605m in measure.

O The crater is 300m in diameter and 85m deep.

O There is a small lake at the centre of the crater.

O It was active until 600,000-700,000 years ago.

IILE AUX AIGRETTESO A tiny coral island of the coast of the

town of Mahebourg.O Has been declared a nature conservation

pane for protection of natural resources and endagered species.

O World’s rarest birds the Kestrel, rare pink pigeon can be seen.

O Also the Green gecko helsuma and the aldabra giant tortoise, and plant species found nowhere else on earth.

GABRIEL ISLANDO Located near the Round island and

the flat island at the extreme north of Mauritius.

O Distance between Gabriel Island and Flat Island is only 750m.

O Has beautiful unspoilt beaches, with crystal clear water surrounding the entire island.

O Popular site for snorkelling.

EUROKA CREOLE HOUSE

O Built in 1830 in a magnificent garden surrounded by waterfalls of Moka river and the Moka range.

O One of the largest houses in the island with 109 doors and windows.

O Was restored and opened in 1986 as a museum.

O The museum has dedicated areas to music, art, antique maps, Chinese and Indian house wares

Grand bay• Grand Bay was the first area of the

island to fully experience the tourist boom. A shopping and leisure paradise, Grand Bay is also where Mauritians go when they want a fun-filled night out (restaurants, bars and discos). Recently renovated, La Cuvette beach is well worth a visit.

Most famous waterfalls in Mauritius.

O Chamarel waterfalls.O Alexandra waterfalls.O Tamarind waterfalls.O Rochester waterfalls.O Exil waterfalls.

Tamarind falls

Rochester falls

Exil waterfalls

Additional attractionsO Balaclava Ruins- few meters away from

Baie aux Tortues. Ruins of the old Balaclava estate.

O Flacq market- one of the most important villages in Mauritius. Largest open air market in the country.

O Mahebourg- one of the main fishing village sin the island. Main attraction is the Monday markets- one of the biggest and beston the island.

Balaclava ruins

mahebourg

Activities• Watch dolphins — Up-close in their natural

habitat off the western coast (Tamarin) of the island.

• Speedboat — Rides are available from Trou d'eau Douce to the popular island playground of Ile aux Cerfs for beaches, golf and watersports

O Horse racing — The Mauritius horse racing club commonly called the Champ de Mars was founded in 1812, making it the oldest horse-racing club in the Southern Hemisphere. Horse racing is the most popular sport in Mauritius, and you can expect to have about 30,000 visitors on each race day

O Hiking and trekking — In Mauritius with breathtaking views of mountains, rivers, and forests.

O Swimming with dolphins — Go on a speed boat trip and swim with dolphins in the open sea.

O Blue safari submarine — See the wonderful underwater tropical fish without even getting your feet wet.

O Tour the Moka mountains — by quad bike, horse or 4-wheel drive at the accessible nature park of Domaine Les Pailles.

How to get aroundO The best way to get around on land is,

by motor vehicle.O The bus is the cheapest way to travel in

Mauritius.O You will require an international driver’s

license to drive on Mauritian roads.O An excitingly unique way of getting

around Mauritius is by Seaplane.O Also by use of helicopters, boats and

metered taxis.

Where to stayO Because of its developing tourism

sector, Mauritius has been able to advance its collection of hotels that beat the standards of all kinds of tourists.

O Examples of hotels and resorts are:O The Paradis Hotel and Golf Club. O Le Saint Geran.O Shanti Ananda MauriceO Also look up hotels in Mauritius.

How to get thereO By plane O Air Mauritius is the home carrier

and operates a network of routes to the local islands and to international destinations in Africa, Australia, Europe and Asia.

O Some international airlines also serve from their home bases.

O By sea with the use of yatchs.

referencesO Mauritius travel guide.O Wikitravel.O Lonely planet- Mauritius.O www.google.com

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