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Mauritius Information

History
Claimed by the Dutch in the year 1598, and occupied by the French, between 1715 to 1810, Mauritius was subsequently ruled by Great Britain in 1814 after the Treaty of Paris.

The island gained its independence from the British in the year 1968 and was a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth ll as the Head of State. Mauritius became a Republic island on March 12, 1992 with a democratic Government based on the Westminster model.

The Head of the State of Mauritius is the President who is elected by the National Assembly and Mauritian Parliament. The government is headed by the Prime Minister and a council of ministers.

The Mauritian economy is based on four sectors: Textile, Tourism, Sugar and Services.

Location
Situated in the Indian Ocean, the island is located approximately 1100 kms away from the East of Madagascar and 2000 kms to the south eastern coast of Africa. Mauritius is considered to be in the continent of Africa with a covered area of 1865 square kms and a coastline of 300 kms in approximate length.

Language
Due to its multicultural diversity, Mauritius boasts a number of spoken languages. the majority of the population is bilingual, fluent both in English and French. Creole and French are the main languages used generally. Various other oriental languages are spoken too icluding Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Telegu, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Marathi, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Culture
Diverse ethnic groups make up the population of Mauritius. Immigrants originally from Africa, India, France, Great Britain and China brought along their cultures, languages, values and traditions when they settled on the island. The various ethnicities have been living alongside each other to give Mauritius a harmonious nation of multiculturalism today.

Climate
Mauritius possesses a tropical climate accompanied by south-east trade winds occasionally blowing over the island. The hot and sunny climatic conditions during the summer are one of the elements that attract a considerable amount of tourists to Mauritius. Normally, the summertime in Mauritius falls between the months of May to November. During the months of November to April cyclones tend to affect the island. On the other hand, winter in Mauritius occurs during the months of May to November. The temperature during this time may attain 15 degrees Celsius or below on the central plateau. But in general, the winter in Mauritius is rather dry and not as harsh as in other countries.

Time Difference
Mauritius is 4 hours ahead of GMT and 3 hours ahead compared to the European Continent.

Dress Code
Pack a combination of beach wear and casual clothes. If you are visiting between the cooler months of June to September you may want to carry warmer clothing for the evening. Just note that you may have to wear more appropriate clothing when visiting religious places and long trousers are usually required when dining out in the evening at most luxury hotels in Mauritius.

Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory and is at the discretion of the visitor.

Driving
Mauritians drive on the left-hand side of the road and give way to the right. Visitors with a driving license are allowed to drive during their stay. Mauritius car hire is a good option to economize on the cost of traveling and help you explore. You can hire the car and can take it anywhere. For taking the car on hire however you need to have a valid driving license with you. This also gives freedom from looking out for the transports facilities available.

Medical Services
Both private and public medical services are available on the island. The health care system in Mauritius is quite advanced and most hospitals offer treatment free of charge. So, in case you catch a cold, you may visit the hospital nearest to you for an immediate treatment. There are as well numerous payable clinics in Mauritius. These offer a more attractive environment and modern treatment facilities. Therefore, it's completely up to you to choose where to go in case you unfortunately fall ill during your stay in Mauritius.

Currency
The currency is the Mauritian rupee, divided into 100 cents. Notes are issued in denominations of 25, 50, 100, 200, 1000 and 2000 rupees: coins as 5, 20 and 50 cents and 1, 5, and 10 rupees.

Passports, Visas and Health
A valid passport is required by all visitors to Mauritius, as well as a return air ticket. Visa and vaccination requirements differ from country to country, please consult your nearest consular office or travel agent. There are no endemic diseases in the country and any poisonous insects or dangerous animals.

Getting there
Mauritius is served by a number is international airlines. Please consult with your travel specialist for further information. It is essential to reconfirm onward flights 72 hours prior to departure either with a ground operator or the airline direct.

Transfers
There are a number of options, from helicopters, through private transfers in chauffeur-driven air-conditioned limousines or 4x4 vehicles to minibuses and taxis. Several car hire companies are represented at the hotels.