Your gateway to Mauritius

Location and Geography
Mauritius is located approximately 2000 kilometres to the southeast of Africa and east of Madagascar This small volcanic island has an area of 1865 square kilometres and includes a vast central plateau subtropical forests rivers streams and waterfalls Mauritius has 330 kilometres of coastline and is protected from the open sea by the world s third largest coral reef which almost surrounds the island

Climate
Summer from November to April 27degress Celsius on the Coast and 23 degrees Celsius on the Central Plateau Winter from May to October 21 degrees Celsius on the Coast and 17 degrees Celsius on the Central Plateau The hours of daylight are approximately from 5 a m to 7 p m in Summer and 7 a m to 5 p m in Winter July is the coolest month 22 degrees Celsius February is the warmest month 28 degrees Celsius Rainfalls are likely between January and March though this is one of the most glorious times to visit and the invigorating showers clear quickly

What to wear
Lightweight cotton and linen casual eveningwear for dining and entrance into casinos long trousers for men If you are arriving from a cold climate bring a cool change of clothing for disembarkation Beach towels and sarongs If you have your own snorkelling equipment i e snorkel mask and fins take those too Sun hats sunglasses and UV protection Cameras film and batteries for cameras Walking shoes Any medication you may require International Driving Licence

Culture, Language and Religion
Mauritius is a unique blend of different races cultures and religions thanks to the peoples of Europe Africa India and China who moved to this island during the populations movements of the 18th 19th and early 20th centuries Most people in Mauritius are bilingual being equally fluent in English and French Creole and French dominate everyday life and several oriental languages are also spoken Hinduism Christianity Islam and Buddhism are the most practiced religions

Customs Regulations
Persons over 18 years of age may import the following 250 grams of tobacco including cigars and cigarettes 1 litre of spirits 2 litres of wine ale or beer one quarter litre of Eau de Toilette and perfume not exceeding 10 cl Drug trafficking is illegal and carry very heavy penalties Firearms and ammunitions need import permits and must be declared on arrival

Economy
The Mauritian economy rests on textile tourism sugar and the service sector Expansion of the business and financial services sector coupled with the growth of the Communications and Information Technology services are perceived as the future engines of growth

Currency, Departure Taxes and Visas
The Mauritius monetary unit is the Rupee Rupee travellers cheques may be purchased in South Africa and are recommended for your visit to the island South African passport holders do not require visas to visit Mauritius Visitors may stay for up to six months provided they are in possession of a passport which is still valid for at least six months after the day of arrival in Mauritius

Local Time
Mauritius time is four hours ahead of Greenwich time and two hours ahead of South African time