Central MarketCity/Region: Port Louis
The diversity of the Mauritian population is never more obvious than during a visit to the lively, bustling and colorful Central Market, accessed from Farquhar Street, near the harbor in
Port Louis. When you enter take note of the ironwork on the gates, erected in 1844, dedicated to
Queen Victoria. Inside the market is a whirl of Muslim traders, swarthy Indian touts, Chinese and Creoles, all demanding attention as they offer their wares. It is advisable to visit the market early, before the heat of the day descends (it opens at 6am
every day including Sundays), and be prepared to have your senses assailed with a variety of odours from the fruit, herbs, spices, potions and lotions and various other goods offered for sale.
Natural History MuseumCity/Region: Port Louis
Port Louis' Natural History Museum is well visited mainly for one single important exhibit: a replica of the flightless bird, the legendary Dodo, which has been extinct since the end of the 17th century. Researchers believe the Dodo was a member of the pigeon family, which weighed about 50 pounds (23kg) fully grown. The bird was found only on the island of
Mauritius, and was discovered by the Portuguese explorers around 1505. The bird became extinct because of the predators such as dogs, pigs, rats and monkeys that were introduced to the island by European colonization. Numerous other Mauritian bird species have also been driven to extinction, including two related to the Dodo.
Address: Chaussée St
Phone Number: +230 212 6912
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm. Closed on Wednesdays
Blue Penny MuseumCity/Region: Port Louis
The lively Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis features the
Blue Penny Museum, which is primarily devoted to Mauritian art and history, but whose place of pride is given to two of the rarest stamps in the world: the Mauritian 1847 'Post Office' Penny Orange and Twopence Blue, estimated to be worth more than US$1million apiece. Mauritius was the fifth country in the world to begin issuing postage stamps, back in 1847, and some of the few remaining early island stamps are now highly valued around the world. The museum is run by the
Mauritius Commercial Bank, which formed a consortium of local companies to purchase the stamps at an auction in
Switzerland in 1993, and bring them home for posterity.
Address: Caudan Waterfront, Port Louis
Phone Number: +230 210 8176
Hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm
Royal Botanical Gardens of PamplemoussesCity/Region: Port Louis
About seven miles (11km) northeast of Port Louis, and easily reached by regular buses, lies the island's premier tourist attraction, the Pamplemousses gardens (now officially called the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens in honor of the late Prime Minister, but still colloquially referred to by their original name). The gardens are enclosed by beautiful wrought iron railings which are today in bad repair but when first manufactured in 1862 won a prize at an international exhibition at Crystal Palace in
London. The gardens were first laid out in 1735 around a mansion house called Mon Plaisir as a vegetable garden to supply ships calling at Port Louis. Later the house was bought by horticulturalist
Pierre Poivre, who introduced plant species from around the world interspersed with indigenous species. The garden is redolent with the perfume of fruit and spice trees, and the 24 hectares (60 acres) also sport a collection of stately palms, ebony, mahogany, latania and pandanus. A great attraction is a pond full of the Giant Amazon water lily.
Hours: Daily, 9am to 6pm
BeachesCity/Region: Port Louis
The beaches of Mauritius are close to perfect, with fine white sand and clear water running to heavenly shades of blue. Some of the island's best beaches on the west coast are easily reached from Port Louis. Flic en Flac is the longest beach in Mauritius and features a beautiful lagoon. Grand Baie, 12 miles (20km) to the north of the capital, is a major tourist center, offering watersports, shops, nightlife and restaurants to complement its splendid beach and deep sheltered bay. Also on the north coast road is Pereybere, one of the island's favored swimming spots. The Baie du Tamarin is at the mouth of the Tamarin River in a beautiful setting, and is popular for surfing, with
Indian Ocean rollers washing the beach all year round. In the southwest is Le Morne Brabant, characterized by a basaltic outcrop and beaches shaded by casuarinas and coconut trees. Snorkellers enjoy Trou-aux-Biches with its shallow waters and coral reefs.
Domaine Les PaillesCity/Region: Port Louis
A short taxi ride to the south of Port Louis is the
Domaine Les Pailles cultural center and nature park, covering more than 1,500 hectares (3,707 acres) and offering plenty of entertainment for visitors. Activities include horse-drawn carriage and train rides, viewing a working replica of an ox-powered sugar mill, a rum distillery, exploring a herb garden and natural spring. There is also an onsite horse riding center, several restaurants, a jazz club and casino.
MokaCity/Region: Port Louis
Those who enjoy seeking out some culture along with their sunshine holiday should visit the town of Moka, seven miles (12km) south of Port Louis, which is not only Mauritius' academic center but also blessed with some beautiful scenery and impressive historic manor houses. Moka is the home of the
University of Mauritius and the
Mahatma Ghandi Institute, tasked with preserving the island's Indian culture. There is an Indian folk museum to visit, and the Eureka House (now a museum) dating from 1830. Moka can be reached by bus or taxi from Port Louis or
Curepipe.
ChamarelCity/Region: Port Louis
In the southwest corner of the island a twisting road winds from the village of Case Noyal to an interesting geological attraction, the 'Seven Colored Earth'. This is an undulating mound of varied colored sand, swirled with patches of blue, green, red, purple and yellow earth, apparently caused by the weathering of volcanic rocks. There is also a scenic waterfall nearby set amid jungle vegetation.
CurepipeCity/Region: Port Louis
Curepipe, sitting atop the high central plateau of inland Mauritius 12 miles (20km) from Port Louis, owes its existence to a malaria epidemic in 1867, when thousands fled to the healthy, cooler high ground from Port Louis to escape the mosquitoes. The town is the center of a spread-out suburban area, and offers some good shopping opportunities. Its main attraction for visitors, though, is an extinct volcano, Trou aux Cerfs, west of the town near the botanical gardens, with a massive wooded crater floor. A road leads to the rim of the volcano and there are spectacular views from the summit. Another natural attraction, just four miles (6km) south west of Curepipe, is the
Black River Gorges National Park, home to the rare tambalacoque tree and a variety of exotic flora and fauna.
Ile Aux CerfsCity/Region: Port Louis
The small island of Ile aux Cerfs (Stag Island) off the east coast of Mauritius is a popular tourist haven, managed by the adjacent
Touessrok Hotel, but open to the public. The island, featuring splendid tropical vegetation and encircled by magnificent beaches, can be reached by boat from the small fishing village of Trou d'eau Douce. The island is equipped with a bar, restaurant and shops, as well as watersports facilities from parasailing to windsurfing. The most recent, and somewhat controversial, development on the island is an 18-hole
Bernhard Langer designed championship golf course, which affords a sea view from each hole and often requires the novelty of hitting a tee-shot over a natural sea inlet onto the fairway.
Transport: Boats leave every half hour from Trou d'eau Douce between 9am and 5pm
Black River Gorges National ParkCity/Region: Port Louis
Situated in the south-west of the Island, the Black River Gorges National Park is a popular spot for picnics, hiking and scenic drives. The park encompases thick pine forests, gorges and rugged mountains and is a sanctuary for wildlife and fauna. Bird-watchers should look out for the Mauritius kestrel, the green echo parakeet and the Mauritius cuckoo shrike. Don't feed the bands of macaque monkeys. The park's
Chamarel Waterfalls are the highest in Mauritius at 83m (270ft) and are best seen after heavy rains. The best viewpoints are at the Alexandria Falls or the Black River Gorges viewpoint.
Transport: A short drive from Curepipe or Chamarel
La Vanille Reserve des MascareigneCity/Region: Port Louis
La Vanille Reserve des Mascareigne is nature reserve best known for its thousands of crocodiles and the giant tortoises, which they are helping re-introduce to the island of Rodrigues. Children can sit on the giant tortoises and watch the crocodiles being fed. The shop sells crocodile skin products, and the restaurant serves crocodile steak.
Hours: Open daily 10am - 5pm. Crocodiles have lunch at 11am
SouillacCity/Region: Port Louis
This small seaside resort is sited along the rugged coast in the southern Savanne district. The appeal of Souillac lies in its scenery, as it is not a bathing spot. In striking contrast to the soft curves of the northern coastline, the high cliffs here drop abruptly to the sea to face the bracing winds of the Indian Ocean as it blows all year round. Among the features of the area is a public garden overlooking the sea, the popular Gris-Gris viewpoint, and the nearby
Rochester Falls.
