Mauritius holidays

Mauritius and Rodrigues Island holidays can be tailor made to add onto an African safari or as an Indian Ocean beach holiday in their own right. They are perfect for an African honeymoon destination.

Sitting in the middle of the Indian Ocean about 2000km off the south east coast of Africa, Mauritius and Rodrigues are a good all year round option with a nice warm climate. Mauritius has a lot to offer everyone and is popular for honeymoons and family holidays alike. Water sports are popular and the islands are surrounded by reefs. The diving around Rodrigues is particularly good.

There is plenty to explore inland too with tropical forests, hills and hiking, colourful markets and a tasty food culture!  

Mauritius & Rodrigues are part of the 'Mascerenes Islands' in the Indian Ocean, which also include Reunion. The climate is tropical and affected by southeast trade winds. 

History - Mauritius was 'discovered' in the 9th century by the Arabs. The Dutch were the first to colonise the island and named it after Dutch Prince Maurice Van Nassau. Unfortunately, the Dutch presided over the destruction of the ebony forest and the extinction of the Dodo, a flightless bird which was easily caught and eaten! The French took possession of the island in 1715. In 1814 Mauritius, Rodrigues and the Seychelles were handed to the British and English became the official language, though French is still widely spoken today. The British abolished slavery in 1835 and labourers were brought in from India. Traders from China and Muslims were attracted to the island at this time and added to the rich mix of culture which nows makes up the population of Mauritius.

Accommodation traditionally a package holiday destination, there are plenty of large hotel resorts but you could also consider some of the small, owner-run boutique hotels and guest houses. There are also some self catering options and hiring a car is a good option to explore the islands and experience the local food and culture. Ask us about tailor made Mauritius and Rodrigues holidays and Mauritius honeymoons.

Beaches are definitely the big draw card of Mauritius! Clear, warm waters and beautiful sandy beaches make this a tropical idyll. There are large lagoons lined with sand, perfect for enjoying swimming or just sun bathing. There are endless opportunities for water sports, diving and snorkelling.

The North has many water sports such as waterskiing, windsurfing, sailing and deep sea fishing. The West coast has lovely sunsets, great surfing and shallow waters close to shore. The East is wilder and has many nature reserves and shady coves and lagoons. The South East has dramatic high cliffs creating a craggy coastline as the waters break through the reefs from the open sea.