Destination Education Report: Mauritius

LE M O R N E P E N I N S U L A , M A U R I T I U S S T R E G I S . C O M / M A U R I T I U S 1

DESTINATION EDUCATION REPORT

MAURITIUS ISLAND

THE ST. REGIS MAURITIUS RESORT

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MAURITIUS ISLAND

“Mauritius, a sparkling crystal in the turquoise waters of the

Indian Ocean, will fascinate you. The contrast of colours,

cultures and tastes makes the island so charming that the scene

is set for an unforgettable holiday. Here, you have the

opportunity to experience unparalleled luxury: a level of

refinement that is head and shoulders above that on offer in

other tropical holiday destinations”.

LE M O R N E P E N I N S U L A , M A U R I T I U S S T R E G I S . C O M / M A U R I T I U S 3

INDEX

ITEM

MAP ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4

TIME & PLACE .................................................................................................................................................... 5

OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................................................... 5

NEAREST AIRPORT & AIRLINE INFORMATION ..................................................................................... 6

DIRECT FLIGHTS TO/FROM DESTINATION ............................................................................................... 7

OTHER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS ........................................................................................................ 8

WEATHER/SEASONS & AVERAGE TEMP ..................................................................................................... 8

PASSPORT & VISA REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER SAFETY & SECURITY INFO ............................... 9

CURRENCY, CUSTOMS & EXCISE ................................................................................................................. 9

HISTORICAL & CURRENT FACTS ............................................................................................................... 10

WHEN TO GO .................................................................................................................................................... 15

THINGS TO DO.................................................................................................................................................. 15

LE M O R N E P E N I N S U L A , M A U R I T I U S S T R E G I S . C O M / M A U R I T I U S 4

MAP

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TIME & PLACE Time Zone: EST + 9/GMT + 4

Daylight Saving: Summer

Weights Measures System: Metric

OVERVIEW

East of Africa, east of Madagascar, on a remnant of the land bridge that once ran between Asia and

Africa, the island of Mauritius basks in the tropical sun of the Indian Ocean. The pristine locale, most

famous as the home of the extinct dodo bird, was created by volcanic activity and is encircled by a nearly

unbroken coral reef that renders snorkeling and diving sublime. Known to 10th century Arabs and 16th

century Portuguese sailors, the island wasn't settled until 1598, when the Dutch established a small

colony which they abandoned in 1639 after extinguishing the dodo and disrupting the island's ecology.

The French quickly stepped in (1715) – changing the island's name from Mauritius to Île de France –

built roads, and bolstered the sugar industry. A hundred years later, the British usurped control, and

although the French gave up claim to the island, their culture and traditions remained firmly in place,

even to this day. In the later half of the 19th century, Chinese and Indian immigrants came to Mauritius

as indentured servants and comprise much of the current-day population, although they've achieved

political power now.

On the 12th March 1968, the island was given independence from Britain and, on the 12th March 1992,

was declared a republic. Lately, the country has cultivated tourism to much success, thanks to

spectacular scenery, a perpetually warm climate, and opportunities for leisure, whether they be in the

water or inland. The multicultural environment also gives rise to fabulous restaurants, incomparable

shopping, and a welcoming citizenry. Port Louis, the capital, looks out over a western harbour and

boasts the Natural History Museum, an amazing market, and charming colonial architecture. Other

must-see activities on the island include visiting Pamplemousses Garden (with its tropical flora and giant

water lilies), the Casela Bird Sanctuary, the Naval Museum, and any of the parks and natural attractions

which so elegantly display the exotic beauty which Mark Twain said appeared to be the model for

heaven.

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NEAREST AIRPORT & AIRLINE INFORMATION Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, MRU

• Air Austral

• Air France

• Air Madagascar

• Air Mauritius

• Air Seychelles

• Air Italy

• British Airways

• Comair

• Condor

• Corsairfly

• Emirates

• Edelweiss air

• Meridiana Fly

• South African Airways

• Transaero Airlines

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DIRECT FLIGHTS TO/FROM DESTINATION

BLR Bangalore

BOM Bombay

BUD Budapest

CDG Charles de Gaulle

CPT Cape Town

DEL Delhi

DME Moscow

DUR Durban

DXB Dubai

FRA Frankfurt

FCO Rome

GVA Geneva

JED Jeddah

HKG Hong Kong

JNB Johannesburg

KUL Kuala Lumpur

LHR London (Heathrow)

LHW London (Gatwick)

LYS Lyons France

MAA Chennai

MBA Mombasa

MEL Melbourne

MRS Marseilles

MUC Munich

MXP Milan

NBO Nairobi

NTE Nantes

ORY Orly France

PER Perth

PVG Shanghai (China)

RUN Roland Garros (Reunion)

RRG Rodrigues

SEZ Seychelles

SIN Singapore

TNR Tananarive

VRN Verona

ZRH Zurich

ZSE Pierrefonds (Reunion)

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OTHER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS Highways

• Total: 1,860 km • Paved: 1,960 km (including 60 km of expressways) • Unpaved: 40 km (2002)

Waterways: none Ports and harbors: Port Louis Merchant marine

• Total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 66,004 GRT/90,017 DWT • Ships by type: cargo 2, combination bulk 2, container 2, cargo 2

Note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience:

• Belgium 1, India 3, Norway 1, Switzerland 2 (2002 est.)

WEATHER/SEASONS & AVERAGE TEMP

Month Average High Average Low Mean Precip.

JANUARY 30° C 25° C 28° C 160.0 mm

FEBRUARY 30° C 25° C 28° C 170.2 mm

MARCH 30° C 25° C 28° C 132.1 mm

APRIL 29° C 25° C 27° C 96.5 mm

MAY 28° C 23° C 26° C 66.0 mm

JUNE 26° C 22° C 24° C 53.3 mm

JULY 25° C 21° C 23° C 58.4 mm

AUGUST 25° C 21° C 23° C 50.8 mm

SEPTEMBER 26° C 21° C 23° C 27.9 mm

OCTOBER 27° C 22° C 24° C 30.5 mm

NOVEMBER 28° C 23° C 26° C 27.9 mm

DECEMBER 29° C 24° C 27° C 71.1 m

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PASSPORT & VISA REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER SAFETY & SECURITY INFO Crossing Borders

No visa is required by nationals of most countries although they may be somewhat strict in enforcing

that you have a return/onward ticket and sufficient funds for your stay.

Nationals from Algeria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Yemen,

Afghanistan and Liberia must have a visa prior to arrival.

Local Health Conditions

Compulsory vaccinations: None Recommended immunizations: None, however check travelers have up

to date tetanus & polio immunizations.

CURRENCY, CUSTOMS & EXCISE

Currency: Mauritius Rupee (Rs)

Sample Price Guide (items found outside The St. Regis Mauritius Resort)

• Cup of coffee Rs 45.00

• Sandwich Rs 45.00

• Meal in cheap restaurant Rs 130.00

• Meal in expensive restaurant Rs 500.00

• Litre of bottled water Rs 12.00

• Small bottle of beer Rs 45.00

• Souvenir t-shirt Rs 200.00

• Street snack (dahl puris) Rs 10.00

• Scuba dive (including gear) Rs 1500.00

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HISTORICAL & CURRENT FACTS Pre-20th-Century History

Arab traders knew of Mauritius as early as the 10th century but never stopped to settle it. Portuguese

naval explorers later stumbled upon the island in the wake of Vasco de Gama's voyage around the Cape

of Good Hope in 1498. Apart from introducing pesky monkeys (makak) and rats, the Portuguese did

little to influence the place. This was left to the next wave of immigrants, the Dutch. In 1598, Vice

Admiral Wybrandt van Warwyck came ashore and claimed the island for the Netherlands, christening it

after his ruler, Maurice, Prince of Orange and Count of Nassau. It was another 40 years before the

Dutch began to settle the country, preferring instead to use it as a supply base on the route to Java.

The colony never really flourished, and the Dutch departed for good in1639, leaving in their wake the

extinction of the dodo and the introduction of East African, Mozambican and Madagalasy slaves, Javan

deer, wild boar, pigeons, ducks, tobacco and sugar cane. Seventy- one years later, French captain

Guillaume Dufresne d'Arsel claimed the island, renamed it Île de France and gave it over to the French

East India Company to run as a trading base. Popular settlement began in 1721, and within 15 years the

first sugar mill had been built, along with a road network and hospital. During the second half of the

18th century, the island's capital, Port Louis, became a free trading base and haven for corsairs,

mercenary marines paid by a country to plunder the ships of its enemies. Tired of competing, the British

moved in on the corsairs (and on Mauritius) in 1810. After an initial defeat at the Battle of Vieux Grand

Port, the Brits landed at Cap Malheureux on the northern coast and took the island.

The 1814 Treaty of Paris ceded Île de France, Rodriguez and the Seychelles to the victors but allowed

Franco-Mauritians to retain their language, religion, and Napoleonic Code legal system and sugar

plantations. In 1835, the slaves were freed and the labor force was supplemented by workers brought in

from India and China.

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Modern History

While Franco-Mauritian plantations supported some wealthy sugar barons (as they do today), Indian

workers continued to be indentured by the thousands. Through strength of numbers, Indians gradually

bolstered their say in the country's management, aided in 1901 by a visit from Mahatma Gandhi. In

1936, the Labour Party was founded to continue the struggle for laborers' rights. The following year,

their burden was lightened by a new constitution granting the vote to anyone over 21 who could sign

their name.

Under the direction of Dr Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (who was later knighted), membership swelled and

the party flourished. Mauritius was granted independence from Britain on 12 March 1968, and Sir

Ramgoolam was elected prime minister, a title he retained for the next 13 years. He was succeeded by a

coalition of the leftist Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM) and the Parti Socialiste Mauricien,

though tensions in the parties' upper ranks rattled the infrastructure throughout their reign. In 1986,

three Mauritian MPs were caught at Amsterdam's airport with heroin in their suitcases, and the resulting

inquiry implicated other politicians in drug money and led to several resignations. Mauritius officially

became a republic on March 1992.

Recent History

In 1999, tensions between the Creole population and the Indo-Mauritian majority exploded. Popular

reggae singer Joseph 'Kaya' Topize was arrested during a rally to legalize marijuana and died of a skull

fracture while in police custody. Riots broke out across the island, particularly in Port Louis. On the

political front, Paul Bérenger became the country's first non-Indian prime minister in 2003. It was short-

lived, however - Navinchandra Ramgoolam, son of Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, took over in July 2005.

With its traditional industries of sugar, tea, tobacco and textiles at the end of a long decline, Mauritius is

in the process of reorienting itself towards IT, banking and tourism to ensure its long-term economic

viability.

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Culture

The cuisine of Mauritius is a blend of Indian Cuisine, Creole, Chinese and European. It is common for a

combination of cuisines to form part of the same meal. The "cari poule" or chicken curry, for example,

is a very popular dish. Other common Mauritian dishes include the "dholl puri" (a type of bread, made

from lentils) the "mine-frit" (Chinese fried noodle), and "niouk nien" (dumplings). A common

Mauritian drink is "alouda", a milk based drink containing basil seeds. The production of rum is

common throughout the island. Sugarcane was first introduced in 1639 some months before they left the

island (on the island when the Dutch colonised it in.) Even then, the propensity of making rum out of

sugarcane was strongly recognised.

Sugarcane was mainly cultivated for the production of "arrack" a strong drink made of the juice

extracted from the cane plant a precursor to rum. Only much later, after almost 81 years, the first proper

sugar was produced. However, it was during the French and English administration that sugar

production was fully exploited, which considerably contributed to the economical development of the

island. It was Pierre Charles François Harel who in 1850 initially proposed the concept of local

distillation of rum in Mauritius. In part due to his efforts, Mauritius today houses five distilleries (Grays,

Medine, L’aventure du sucre and St Aubin, Chamarel).

The sega is a local folklore music. Sega has African roots, and main traditional instruments for

producing the music are goat-skin percussion instruments called ravane and metallic clicks using metal

triangles. The songs usually describe the miseries of slavery, and have been adapted nowadays as social

satires to voice out inequalities as felt by the blacks. Men are usually at the instruments while women

perform an accompanying dance. Shows are regularly hosted in the coastal hotels.

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In 1847, Mauritius became the fifth country in the world to issue postage stamps. The two types of

stamps issued then, known as the Red Penny and the Blue Penny are probably the most famous stamps

in the world, being very rare and considered to be the among the most valuable in the world. When

discovered, the island of Mauritius was home to a previously unknown species of bird, which the

Portuguese named the dodo (simpleton), as they appeared not too bright. However, by 1681, all dodos

had been killed by settlers, makak monkeys or their domesticated animals. An alternate theory suggests

that the imported wild boar destroyed the slow breeding dodo population. Nevertheless, the dodo is

prominently featured as a supporter of the national coat-of-arms.

The island has also given rise to a diversified literature, prominent in French, English, Creole and Indian

languages. Ancestry Mauritian society includes people from many different ethnic groups. A majority of

the republic's residents are the descendants of people from the Indian subcontinent. Mauritius also

contains substantial populations from continental Africa, Madagascar, France, Great Britain, and China,

among other places. The Indo-Mauritians (when the ethnic groups are combined) compose

approximately 60% of the total population, the remaining 40% being mostly Creoles. There are

approximately 30,000 Mauritians of Chinese descent, from the Hakka, Mandarin, and Cantonese

language groups. More than 90% of the Sino-Mauritian community is Roman Catholic, the remainder is

largely Buddhist. While there is a sizeable population of British citizens living in Mauritius, most of

whom have Mauritian nationality, few identify as being Mauritian. The term Anglo-Mauritian, a term

which may include Mauritians living in the UK, is used unofficially. Small groups of foreign students

from Europe or the Indian Ocean region are also present. Recent years have seen a steady flow of foreign

workers into the textile industry (primarily Chinese women), the construction industry (primarily Indian

workers), and harbour-related activities (primarily Taiwanese men). Immigration policy does not

provoke much debate in Mauritius, and the relative economic stability of the island serves to attract

foreign workers.

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Language

The official language of Mauritius is English. All government administrative documents are therefore

drawn up in English. Together with English, French is also used in instruction in the educational system.

French, however, predominates in the media, both broadcast and printed as well as with business and in

corporate affairs. A majority of the population can speak French fluently. American and other English-

language movies and TV programmes shown in Mauritius are conventionally dubbed in French.

The most widely-spoken language of the country is Mauritian Creole, which has close ties with French

pronunciation, but with a few marked differences - Creole does not contain some of the deep and

rounded consonants that French does. Mauritian Creole is considered the native tongue of the country.

Creole was the language used by the African slaves to communicate with their French masters. Today,

Creole is used in everyday life by all Mauritians. When Franco-Mauritians engage in conversations with

Creole speakers, French is more commonly employed than Creole. Hindi and Urdu also have numerous

speakers in the country, although both are used mainly by the Indian community. Several other

languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Punjabi and dialects of Chinese, such

as Cantonese, Hakka and Mandarin, are also spoken. The Indian languages are spoken by descendants

of the laborers brought from British India during the British rule. Arabic is taught in Mosques around

Mauritius.

Religion

The largest religions of the republic are Hindu (52%). Roman Catholicism (26%), Muslim (17%),

Buddhism (3%), Adventist Protestantism (2%) and Sikhism (0.3%).

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WHEN TO GO Mauritius enjoys a typically tropical climate with year-round heat, although the southeast trade winds

help it to never feel too muggy. The best months to visit Mauritius are from mid September to early

December. January and February, the peak cyclone months, are best avoided by water-sports enthusiasts

and divers. Cyclones rarely hit Mauritius (but Rodrigues has suffered far more regularly than the

mainland). Hardly a week goes by in Mauritius without some celebration. On Rodrigues, the main

cultural event is the Festival Kréol, which takes place over three days at the end of October. Apart from

the Christmas-New Year peak, Mauritius doesn't really have high and low seasons.

THINGS TO DO

Water Sports

No visitor to Mauritius should miss the opportunity to sample the tremendous range of water based

activities at many of the beach resorts. Offshore winds are consistent during summer months and

provide ideal conditions for parasailing, windsurfing and Kitesurfing at Le Morne. Underwater

submarine rides are also available and offer a unique

glimpse of the colourful marine life of Mauritius.

Always popular, water sports are fun and a fulfilling

experience for visitors of all ages.

Beaches

The sun kissed beaches of Mauritius are the major attraction of the island and offer idyllic tropical

settings for sunbathers. Long sweeping bays and crystal clear lagoons provide perfect relaxation and

swimming for those seeking peace and seclusion. Lovely beaches are found all along the coastline and

many have ample facilities for water sports and beach activities such as the popular Grand Baie.

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Golf

Enjoy a round of golf at one of the many hotel and country clubs in Mauritius. Challenging fairways and

well manicured greens will provide a test for any golfer and many offer delightful sea views and

mountain backdrops. Tuition and equipment hire is available everywhere and visitors are warmly

welcomed on golf courses. A game of golf is a relaxing

pursuit and Mauritius has the ideal climate for a

golfing holiday.

Port Louis

The main town of Port Louis is an interesting excursion away from the beach resorts and offers good

shopping and sightseeing opportunities. It contains a colourful Chinatown district full of authentic shop-

houses and restaurants and the busy central market is well worth a visit. Selling a wide range of local

crafts and produce it has a lively, friendly atmosphere. The town offers an eclectic mix of buildings and

monuments which include colonial residences and Hindu temples, Pagodas (which are only found in

Port-Louis) and visitors are assured of a warm and

friendly welcome from the local population.

The main town of Port Louis is an interesting

excursion away from the beach resorts and offers

good shopping and sightseeing opportunities. It

contains a colourful Chinatown district full of

authentic shop-houses and restaurants and the busy central market is well worth a visit. Selling a wide

range of local crafts and produce it has a lively, friendly atmosphere. The town offers an eclectic mix of

buildings and monuments which include colonial residences and Hindu temples, Pagodas (which are only

found in Port-Louis) and visitors are assured of a warm and friendly welcome from the local population.

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Fishing Villages

Experience Mauritius local life largely untouched by mass tourism with a visit to one of many fishing

villages located around the coastline. Enjoy the bustle of a local fish market and see old colonial ruins

and an exotic mix of African and Indian houses. Take

time to enjoy alfresco seafood specialties and a

refreshing fruit cocktail or browse for souvenirs such

as basket ware and crafts. This offers a perfect way to

see the real Mauritius and its famous hospitality.

Events

With its host of cultures and multinational residents, it's no surprise that Mauritius celebrates an equally

diverse number of holidays and special events. Teemeedee, a Hindu and Tamil fire-walking ceremony

held in honour of various gods, takes place throughout the year but mostly in December and January.

Hindus celebrate the major Thaipoosam Cavadee in January or February at temples throughout the

island. Look for processions carrying flower covered

wooden arches and pots of milk, with devotees

skewering their tongues and cheeks in homage to the

second son of Lord Shiva. Around the same time,

Tamils mark the end of the harvest season by feeding

rice pudding to decorated cows in the festival of

Pongal, and Chinese New Year is celebrated with the

standard barrage of fireworks and foodstuffs. Maha Shivaratri occurs over three days in February and

March and is the largest and most important Hindu festival outside of India.

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Most of the island's Hindu population makes a pilgrimage in honour of Lord Shiva to the holy volcanic

lake Grand Bassin, where they make food sacrifices and stockpile vessels of the holy water. If you

happen upon a celebration of Holi, the Hindu festival of colours, count on a good soaking: exuberant

celebrants throw cupfuls of coloured powder and water on anyone in their path sometime in February or

March.

Independence Day (or Republic Day) is held on 12 March. Similar in intent to the Teemeedee

celebrations, Hindu and Tamil sword-climbing spectacles take place mostly between April and June, the

best demonstrations occur at Mont Choisy and the towns of Triolet and Solitude. Père Laval Feast Day

in September marks the anniversary of the Catholic convert-king's death, and pilgrims come from all

over the world to his shrine at Ste-Croix to pray for miracle cures. Muslims celebrate Eid-ur-Fitr to mark

the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the lunar year. Eid-ur-Fitr is a

public holiday.

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