Mauritius Activities

Aside from the miles of beaches in Mauritius, the island offers an abundance of nature-based activities to keep children occupied. Whether you choose to take the kids to see the hundreds of crocodiles at La Vanille Crocodile Park or you take a hike through the Black River Valley Gorge National Park, your children will enjoy learning about the local wildlife along the way.

Black River Gorge National Park
Trekking through this fantastic national park will make a refreshing change from a day at the beach, allowing children to get up close with the unique wildlife and nature on offer here. The Visitor Centre in the Black River Valley is a good place to start, located at the northwest end of the park. You can access the centre via paved road from Grande Rivière Noire on the west coast. Here you will find maps with walking routes through the park, helping to ensure that you choose a route that will let you see the most. Children should be accompanied at all times when in the park.

Île aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve
Get the opportunity to see the rare Pink Pigeon, the Green Gecko Phelsuma and the Aldabra giant tortoise at this stunning natural reserve. The protected area is only accessible on organised tour, with many agencies catering for families. Situated on an island just off-shore from Mahébourg, this is one of the best places to spot Mauritius kestrel and the island’s native trees. Children will enjoy the boat ride as well as the wildlife and will come away having learned a bit more about the ecosystems here.

La Vanille Crocodile Park
If you are looking for a place that will appeal to the whole family, La Vanille Crocodile Park is a good choice. Aside from hundreds of crocodiles, the park is also home to dozens of Aldabra tortoises, which are kept in a two-acre enclosure open to the public. Also of great appeal to children is the insectarium, where you can see many local species up close.

With 177kms of coastline, much of which is idyllic white-sand beach, it is no surprise that many visitors come here to indulge in the excellent water sports on offer. Grand Baie offers water sports such as parasailing, submarine trips and rentals of semi-submersible scooters. Alternatively, La Cuvette, is ideal for sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, parasailing and parakiting.

The southern part of the island is popular among surfers, with April through September seeing the best waves. Sailing is also popular, as is taking a speedboat from Trou d'eau Douce to Ile aux Cerfs, where the beaches and golf are excellent. Catamarans also run to the Northern Islands of Gabriel, Flat and Gunner's Quoin however the waters must be calm.

With the main island having derived from volcanic activity, the land mass is encircled by coral reefs, with the warm waters being host to a massive array of species. Divers should exercise caution as some maritime creatures can be dangerous. Prime diving spots include diving on the west coast around Flic-en-Flac, or in the north at Trou aux Biches. The Northern Islands also provide good spots from November to April.

Visitors wishing to dive during their trip here should contact the Mauritius Scuba Diving Association (MSDA), which can provide information on sites, courses and diving schools (website: www.msda-cmas.org).

If you don’t have any diving qualifications and are not looking to learn, snorkelling provides and excellent alternative, allowing you to see many of the creatures that live among the coral here. Blue Bay is a good place to start.

Black River Gorges National Park and other natural reserves provide an excellent alternative to getting wet. Land rats can trek through stunning scenery and experience the local wildlife first-hand.

The island’s French and Creole influences as well as its easy access to abundant fishing makes this island a seafood lover’s dream. The varied history of Mauritius ensures subtle influences from various corners of the globe finding their way onto the island’s menus. Expect to see France traditions, India spices, Chinese dishes and African ingredients.

Rice accompanies most meals, or a variety of flat bread known as chapattis or roti, but often called farata by locals. Curry of every variety is the most popular dish, with the scent of saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, thyme, basil and curry leaves powerfully wafting through the air around dining establishments.

Popular varieties include dal, a lentil curry that often includes vegetables and beans as well as a pickle accompaniment. Dholl puri and roti, originating from India, has now become a staple of the island. Biryani, a spicy curry-flavoured rice dish, comes in various forms, with or without meat.

Snack food is popular, bought on the road side. Expect to see gateaux piments, which translate as ‘chilli cakes’, and vegetable or meat samosas. French influence can be seen in the dish known as rogai, a tomato and onion based stew, similar to ratatouille.

Also known for their love of desserts, Mauritians are great sweet-makers. You will find plenty of bakeries selling cakes, referred to using the French name gateaux, as well as Indian cakes such as gulab jumman and rasgoola.

Cane rum is the cheapest and most widely drunk alcoholic beverage. It can be drunk with various mixers, but the Mauritians like it over ice, mixed with a dash of coconut milk and lime. The local beer, Phoenix, is also very delicious.

When looking for a place to dine, look for somewhere that is busy with local customers; a sure sign that the food will be good. Favourite island spots to dine at include Le Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis, with its excellent selection of restaurants and bars catering to all tastes; and Domaine du Chasseur's Panoramour Restaurant, where you can dine on roasted wild boar, duck or deer curry outdoors while admiring amazing views.

L’Aventure du Sucre (tel: +230 243 06 60) offers an acclaimed restaurant that serves up authentic Mauritian cuisine. Le Fangourin is accessible even to those not visiting the sugar mill.

Shopping is a popular pastime in Mauritius, with a variety of different shopping experiences available. From the bustling markets, with their lively sounds and low prices, to upmarket designer factory outlet shops offering labels such as Ralph Lauren at a discount; the island has it all.

There are some good savings to be had on clothing here, with everything from Western-style attire to saris and pashminas on offer. For the best prices, head for one of the island’s markets, with plenty to choose from. Mahebourg Market is held on Mondays, as is a market at Centre de Flacq. On Tuesdays, there is a market held at Goodlands, which is also held on Fridays and Saturdays. Quatre of Fount is host to a market on Sundays, while there is a daily market at Haven Louis.

The trip to the Central Bazaar at Port Louis is on virtually every visitor’s agenda. Here you can find traditional medicines, sit and relax over a cool refreshment, or just wander aimlessly to get a sense of the everyday lives of the people here. The Rose Hill Bazaar provides an equally enthralling experience, with an invasion on your senses occurring as you walk past the fresh produce.

For local handicrafts, try the Port Louis Craft Bazaar, where you can pick up souvenirs such as coral jewellery, carved wooden objects, knitwear, etchings and various artworks. This is also a good place to grab a tasty coffee and delicious cake. Grand Baie Shopping Centre is another good place to look if you want to pick up handcrafts and art objects.

In addition to clothing and handcrafts, typical buys include locally produced rum and beer; model ships made from teak or mahogany; dried coral and baskets.

Shopping Hours in Mauritius are from 09:00 to 16:00 Monday to Friday and 09:00 to 12:00 on Saturdays. Many local markets are open outside of these hours.