Friday, April 3, 2009

Mauritius Island: An Exotic Luxury Beach Holiday and African Cultural Travel Destination

By Maina Njihia

The Island of Mauritius is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating vacation destinations in Africa. Mostly renowned for its tropical beauty and sandy beaches, Mauritius also offers a cultural travel experience sometimes easily overlooked. The traditions, religion, and culture of Mauritius borrows from the many immigrant populations that have been to the island's shores in different periods of Mauritius history. Today, the culture of this Island is a beautiful amalgam of several cultures.

The unique cultural mix in Mauritius is composed of Indians, Europeans, Chinese, Africans and other inhabitants who all have their own cultural celebrations and religious festivals. In deed many of these customs have been around for more than four centuries.

Discovering Mauritius can be a journey into one of the most fascinating ancestral traditions. The rich cultural diversity is found in every aspect of Mauritius. Churches can be found next to mosques or Hindu temples next to Chinese pagodas and this co-existence is what makes Mauritius an interesting travel destination.

The cuisine of Mauritius island is yet another manifestation of it's rich cultural heritage. The cuisine combines both western foods from the colonial past of the island and oriental foods brought in by Indian and Chinese migrants. This is in addition to other several foods unique to Mauritius.

While traveling in Mauritius, you may also be interested in watching the unique folk dances of the island. These, alongside the folklore, are yet another indication of the depth of the Mauritius culture. You can also watch Mauritius dancers perform sophisticated Indian dances as well as traditional Chinese dances like the dragon dance and the lion dance.

Mauritius is home to a huge array of wildlife and bird life, including some brilliantly hued birds that you can admire at the game parks. Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius is a great place to relax in and so is the neighboring town of Mahebourg. If you are looking for a place with some bit of action, you can tour Mount Limon and Mount Malartic - ideal for hiking. It is also rewarding to visit the area around Port Mathurin, good for coastal hiking, Rodrigues for best diving opportunities, and Caverne Patate for caving.

Entering Mauritius requires a visa unless you are a national of a Commonwealth country, the EU, Japan or USA. Always check updated visa requirements prior to travel. Mauritius is well connected by international air carriers and shipping companies. There are several monthly shipping services between Mauritius and Reunion - contact the Mauritius Shipping Corporation in Port Louis.

The national airline of Mauritius is Air Mauritius. The airline operates daily scheduled flights to Rodrigues Island. Traveling within the island can be done by bus, taxi, or rental car. For taxis, you have to negotiate the fare in advance because the fare can be quite high especially after dark. You can also hire a boat at some of the major tourist hotspots.

The best time to take a Mauritius holiday trip is from July to September when humidity and heat are lower. Tropical rains are likely from January to April and this is the appropriate time to visit Mauritius if you are looking to have romance indoors.

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