Mauritius Holidays

The island is just four hours flying time from South Africa and Kenya, and Mauritius holidays can therefore easily be combined with the thrill of game viewing and the natural beauty of Africa’s dramatic landscapes. The calm azure waters around Mauritius make it an attractive place to dust off after a safari and its possible to visit all year round, with May to October being the driest period. In the more humid summer months (November to April) the climate is warmer and wetter but has sunny spells in between showers. Read more about when to go on holiday to Mauritius here. UK citizens don’t need a visa making holidays to Mauritius one of the most popular safari and beach combinations.

Whilst holidays to Mauritius are primarily all about soaking up the rays, there are a whole host of activities and excursions beyond the beach that can be easily incorporated into most Mauritius holidays. You can explore the island by hiring a car for self-drive or with a chauffeur for a reasonable supplement, or by taking one of the excursions available from your hotel. You drive on the left in Mauritius (as we do in the UK) and this adds to the ease of exploring under your own steam.

If you enjoy flora, don’t miss the giant Victoria Regia water lilies in the Pamplemousses Gardens, one of the world’s oldest Botanical Gardens. Fine French colonial buildings and the lively covered market can be visited in the capital, Port Louis, along with its modern piazza-style Caudan Waterfront and its shops and cafés located around the port.

In central Mauritius, drive through Curepipe to the surrounding hills for panoramic views of the island from Trou aux Cerfs, an extinct crater 85m deep and 200m wide. Access to the near by Black River Gorges National Park is via La Marie, and it protects the remaining indigenous forests of the island. Finding sanctuary in the forest of Black River Gorges National Park are some of the world's rarest and most endangered birds, notably the Mauritius kestrel; Pink pigeon; Echo parakeet and Mauritius fody. A half-day walk in the forest should reveal most of these rarities, along with other endemic species. Grand Bassin Lake, another extinct volcano crater close by, is a revered pilgrimage site for Hindus.

Apart from discovering the forest and unique birdlife on walking trails or perhaps on one of the protected offshore islets like Ile Aux Aigrettes, try a mountain bike tour or take a catamaran cruise with snorkelling opportunities.

For the most part beach resorts are relatively large in Mauritius, although well-designed to maximise a sense of space, but there are also small boutique hotels such as Hotel 20°Sud with just 28 rooms, and a number of exclusive mid-sized hotels such as Shanti Maurice with 61 suites and villas, and the elegant Oberoi with 71 villas and pavilions. Some hotels are adult-only such as Paradise Cove which we recommend for honeymooners and many have facilities specifically for families. The Belle Mar Plage is an excellent option, with a 2-km long beach, that manages to work well for couples and families alike.

See our suggested selection of hotels – there is a superb range of hotels on the island and we tailor-make all our Mauritius holidays, so just tell us what sort of things you like (style, size, facilities, sporting activities) and when you want to travel.