The island of Mauritius occupies a choice section of the Indian Ocean. It is approximately 855 kilometers off the east coast of Madagascar, Africa being the nearest continent & Mombasa some 1800 kilometers away. Mauritius is a volcanic island only 1,865 square kilometers in area. The Central Plateau reaches 800 m in altitude with the highest peak, Piton de la Riviere Noire hitting 828 m. The coastline of 330 kilometers is almost entirely surrounded by one of the largest unbroken coral reefs in the world.

People & Food :

The Population of Mauritius is 1, 150, 000 approx. It is remarkable in ethnic diversity reflected by multi - cultured society such as Indians, Africans, Chinese & Europeans. This diversity is further accentuated in the eating habits: Indian curries, muslim biryanis, Creole rougailles, Chinese sweet & sour pork, French delicacies, English bacon & egg..You name it & Mauritius has it.

Language :

The official language is English - but the most widely used are French and the local dialect, Creole. Mauritians also speak their native language such as Hindi, Chinese, Urdu, etc.

Currency :
The currency of Mauritius is the Rupee. Notes are available in the denominations of Rs. 10, Rs. 50, Rs. 100, Rs. 200, Rs. 500, & Rs. 1000. Coins: 5 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, Rs. 1, Rs, 5 & Rs. 10.

Indicative buying exchange rates for the Rupee :

USD 1 = Rs 27 approx

Business Hours
Monday to Friday 0930 - 1600 Hours & half day on Saturday. On the Central Plateau, shops are open full day on Saturday but half-day on Thursday.

Radio / TV
Mainly the programs are in French & Hindi. Satellite television though available is limited.

Newspapers
Mainly the Newspapers are in French but there are occasional articles in English.

Driving
Mauritius is a left - hand drive country with priority to the right.

Electricity
All appliances use 220V. The most common electrical plug is the UK 3-pin.

Emergency
For Fire, Police, Ambulance: Dial 999 & ask for the service needed.

Credit Cards

Major credit cards - American Express, Diners, Mastercard and Visa - are accepted in most shops and hotels.

Customs Allowance
Passengers of 16 years & above are allowed to bring duty free into Mauritius 250 Grams of tobacco ( including cigars & cigarettes ); 2 litres of wine, ale or beer; 1 litre of spirits; 25cl of Eau de Toilette & perfume not exceeding 10 cl.

Tourist Office

MTPA
Head Office, 11th Floor
Air Mauritius Centre
John Kennedy Street
Port Louis
Mauritius
Tel : ( 230 ) 208 6397
Fax : ( 230 ) 212 5142
mtpa@intnet.mu

Remember To Carry

Clothes
Swimming Costumes, shorts & T shirts. Do carry light woolens for the winter months of May to September.

Others
To avoid severe sunburn, adequate sun care products with UVA - filter agents should be carried. It is advisable to wear a hat and sunglasses when in the sun during the entire day, especially in the summer months when the sun's rays are scorching hot.