Mauritius is a small subtropical island in the Indian Ocean, about 1250 miles east of Africa and 700 miles east of Madagascar. The subtropics are the part of the temperate zone in the northern and southern hemispheres of the Earth between 23.5° and about 40° latitude, but island has a tropical climate. That’s what makes the island so green all the time. 🙂
8 million years ago, thanks to a series of volcanic eruptions, Mauritius lifted out of the Indian Ocean, followed about 1 million years later by Rodrigues and the island of Réunion. These three islands and the small ones around them are called the Mascarenhas archipelago.
Volcanic eruptions shaped the mountains, the coastline and the landscape of the islands. The reefs that give the island its safe, shark-free beaches were formed later.
Life could only come to the island by air or water, which is why it has a rich flora and fauna. Millions of birds lived here undisturbed and predator-free until the arrival of man.
You will have heard of the famous Mauritius dodo bird, which also died out on the island as a result of human intervention.
Throughout its history, Mauritius has been a Dutch, French and British colony, experiencing slavery, oppression and liberation.
Following the abolition of slavery, nearly half a million Indian and Chinese migrant workers arrived on the island to work in the sugar cane plantations. Their mix gives Mauritius the diverse and colourful culture it has today.
Today, tourism is the main source of income for the island, with hundreds of thousands of tourists arriving every year. Luxury hotels and resorts have been built. There are cool golf courses and spas. They also cater to eco-tourists with projects like the Ferney Valley Forrest, the Wildlife Reserve, or the Domaine de Bel Ombre. They try to show the visitors that Mauritius is more than just an island with great beaches.
If you are planning a visit to Mauritius, you should be prepared for an active holiday. Explore the mountains and waterfalls, go hiking, take a boat trip and enjoy the magnificent underwater wildlife of the Indian Ocean , fly up in a seaplane or helicopter and admire the famous underwater waterfall. In fact, Mauritius is full of adventure and discovery.
