History in a nutshell

This young republic only gained its independence in 1992. This was mainly due to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, whose name you will come across at every step of your arrival in Mauritius (yes, the Mauritius International Airport is also named after this famous native). Originally a Dutch outpost on the route from Europe to Java, it was taken over by the French in the early eighteenth century. A century later, the island came under the rule of the British, who abolished slavery in 1835 and began importing labourers to work in the cane fields.

Mauritius has undergone tremendous changes in recent years, transforming from a formerly poor country dependent on sugar cane yields into one of the most successful African economies of recent decades. Evidence of this can be seen in the rising skyscrapers in Port Louis and so-called "cyber towns" such as Ebene Cybercity.

People

Mauritius' population is of Indian (68%), Creole (27%) and Chinese (5%) origin. It is not surprising that Hinduism is the most represented religion (48%) followed by Christianity (33%) and Islam (17%). Given the great racial and religious diversity, the locals are very tolerant.

Holidays

If you are visiting Mauritius in January/February, don't miss the Chinese New Year and the Hindu festival of Maha Shivaratri, during which you can make a pilgrimage to the sacred Grand Bassin Lake with the locals. You'll also have the chance to sample traditional local dishes.

Shops are open Monday to Saturday from 7am to 7pm, with large shopping malls like Bagatelle open until 10pm. On Sundays, many places have reduced opening hours, usually until 12pm; some markets, such as the one in Flacqu, may be an exception.

Culture

Mauritius is a very tolerant country due to its racial and religious diversity. The standard of living is increasing rapidly due to economic growth and the island is changing literally before our eyes. Small street vendors are slowly giving way to huge shopping malls and fast food chains, which are filled to bursting during the weekend.

Language

Although English and French are the official and official languages, many residents do not speak either of these languages. They all speak Mauritian Creole, which was created by mixing French with the indigenous languages of the indentured labourers who were brought to the island.

Minislover:

• Czech - Creole - [pronunciation]
• Hello - Bonzour - [Bonzour]
• How are you? - Ki maniére? - [Ki maniér]
• Good, thank you. - Mon byen, mersi.
• Good - Correc - [Cork]

Tourism

There are many planes full of tourists arriving on the island every day, so expect a fully functioning tourist service. If you're travelling on your own, rent a car at the airport immediately, as taxis are not very economical and buses take too long.

Geography

Mauritius is located in the Indian Ocean about 900 km east of Madagascar and 220 km from the French department of Reunion. It is made up of the islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues and several smaller islands.

The island of Rodrigues is a full 618 km east of Mauritius. A regular service operated by Air Mauritius flies here every day and prices are more than reasonable. This small island, so far almost untouched by tourists, is said to look like Mauritius 25 years ago.