By: Sherine Morad
The coolest thing any job can offer is travel, and above all, the opportunity to visit destinations you never thought you would see on your own. I have to admit that I am both lucky and blessed to spend a week in one of the main hot-spot destinations in the world and specifically, Africa.
I am talking about the beautiful island of Mauritius. An island located east of Madagascar made up of 1.3 million inhabitants, and known for its mild tropical maritime climate throughout the year. That means from November to April it’s purely hot summer, and from June to September a relatively cool winter. You might have heard of it as a popular honeymoon destination.
Here are some things you might not know about Mauritius:
1. Mauritius is an African island in the Indian Ocean.
Some people might be surprised to find that most of the island inhabitants look more Indian than African. This is because of the island’s colonial past. Thousands of Indian slaves, indentured workers and soldiers were brought over when the British took control of the island.
2. If the people look Indian and were brought by the British, why do they speak French?
Well, the island was also ruled by France for a time, which left the language as their post-colonial legacy. And that’s not all! The name Mauritius actually comes from the Dutch Prince Maurice van Nassau, who also controlled the island for a time. Why were all of these European countries taking over a small African island? Before the Suez Canal, the island was important in maritime trade-routes.
3. They drive their cars on the left-side of the road, just like the Brits!
4. Because the majority of inhabitants descend from India, the main religion is Hinduism at approximately 49%, followed by Christianity, Islam and Buddhism.
Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao) is the most sacred Hindu temple in Mauritius located 1800 feet above sea level with a crater lake. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, and other Hindu gods like Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Hanuman (the monkey god) and Lord Ganesha (the well-known elephant god), it’s a beautiful Hindu experience that is not to be missed.
Another main attraction would be the Jummah Masjid in Port Louis that dates to the 1850’s, and St. James Church, the oldest Anglican Church also inaugurated in the 1850’s.
5. Mauritius was the home of perhaps the most famous extinct species; that of the flightless Dodo Bird.
The Dodo Bird serves as the symbol of Mauritius. You see it all around the island, especially in Port Louis (the island city) in parks, souvenir shops, on walls, ladies beach bags, and of course, it is on the coat of arms of Mauritius.
6. There is a spectacular offshore reef around almost the whole island.
The reef is the main factor in the genesis of this paradise with beaches and lagoons. The coastline of Mauritius is approximately 330 km long and nearly everywhere you can find nice white sandy beaches. The west coast of the island is the most visited one; with two famous beaches/bays: Flic en Flac (the longest beach on the island) and Tamarin (which has views of the Black River Mountains). All types of water sports are available in Mauritius for kids and adults.
7. Food in Mauritius is a unique fusion of Asian food, mainly a mix of Indian and Chinese cuisines.
This is representative of the large number of Mauritians of both Indian and Chinese heritage. The three most common drinks of the island are: sugarcane, pineapple and coconut. The coconut fruit drink is a must-have on the island.
8. For a real African feel, definitely check out some Mauritius’ safaris at Casela Nature and Leisure Park.
It’s a world full of adventure you can enjoy alone or with family. There are many activities including a drive-thru safari, interaction with big cats, a petting farm and canyon swings!
9. Despite the relaxed island life, 34,000 global business companies have invested in Mauritius.
The flight to Mauritius is considerably expensive, which is why it has a reputation of being a honeymooner’s destination or a one-time-visit kind of place, but the island itself is pretty cheap when it comes to transportation, food and things to do and is family friendly. It’s a calm, friendly paradise with breathtaking scenery and wildlife, and an unexpected cultural experience not too far away.
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