MAURITIUS
Greens over the Indian Ocean

- what to see

Mauritius is an island of a great natural beauty, a volcanic mountain spat by the sea with various reliefs and surrounded by a crown of coral reef, and it has a story. Here are some unavoidable sites to see. And there are some others!

Approaching Plaisance International Airport , the first glance throughout the windows of Air Mauritius ' flight, goes to the sphinx-like profile of the nearby Lion mountain . It is a wonderful viewpoint over Vieux Grand Port which was the first settlement of the "spice travellers" on Mauritius island.

But Port-Louis is its capital city at 35 kms ( 22 mile ) on the West coast. The ancient and picturesque Central Market has been renovated in 2004 and has lost its ancient but "dirty" charm. Anyway it is still the place to find Mauritian flavour and savour from «cari» (curry) to «dithé» (tea), as well as 'old' exotic drugs and local crafts. China Town is also worth a visit in an area where to find almost anything at an affordable price while Caudan Waterfront (copy of Cape Town) and its rows of shops and restaurants are the place to discover Mauritian expertise in all fields. Nestling nearby the visit of Domaine les Pailles is a harmonious combination of history, culture and nature.

The town of Curepipe is where, in 1867, thousands of people fled mosquito infested Port Louis during malaria epidemic. Curepipe is now the centre of the island's tea and model-ship building industries. There is a great commercial centre but care of the fakes!

The most interesting is the view from the Trou aux Cerfs (stags hole), great volcanic crater, where from to have a spectacular view to the East coast. As the climate is better here than in Port-Louis, ambassadors have settled there on the foothills of the volcano.

 
The Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens are known throughout the world for their giant Victoria Amazonica water lilies . The gardens were started in 1735 by the French Governor Mahé de La Bourdonnais as a vegetable garden for his Mon Plaisir Château (which is still there) but the French Poivre and the British horticulturalist, James Duncan, took over planting an array of palms including a talipot palm, which flowers only once after about 40 years and then dies. Now there are over 500 indigenous and exotic plants. Youngsters can enjoy deer and tortoises.

At 300m from there at Bean Plan, l' Aventure du Sucre (Sugar adventure) relating the three centuries story of the sugar industry (and the island's story) is worth the visit (1h30') at the ancient sugar factory.. Before the factory, the restaurant Fangourin (name of the sugar cane's juice) offers the opportunity in a rural decorum, at fair price, to taste real Mauritian meals: fish vindaye, chicken or camarone (delicious big prawn) cari with a South-African pinot noir! And a great smile from the waitress!

In the country of Flic en Flac, at large of the mouth of the Black river , the Tamarin bay is wild and dangerous: there is no coral reef. Not far away from there, at Grande Case Royale, the road goes through the mountain (with superb viewpoints) to Chamarel, known for its teas, through sugar cane, coffee or tea plantations. A little bit further, the road goes trough ups and downs to a place called: Land of 7 colours due to mineral oxides in the rocks. From there the road continues passing through the Black river gorges to Plaine Champagne , high plateau where grow citrus fruit and rare trees.

Then the road arrives at Morne Brabant and its peninsula at the South-East corner of the island is another well known place from the tourists for its wonderful beaches and hotels. It is also part of Mauritian history: a group of escaped slaves fled there to hide in the early 19th century to remain free. But ignorant of the fact that slavery was abolished, they panicked when they saw one day a troop of soldiers making their way up the cliffs. Fearing to be recaptured, the slaves flung themselves from the cliff tops to their deaths in huge numbers, which explains the origin of the name Le Morne (Mournful One).

Coming back on the way to Plaisance airport, the road passes nearby Souillac where to find the ancient plantation La Vanille near to the Eels river; there stays since 1985 a Nile crocodile's farm with other species under a programme of conservation for endangered species. Then the road continues along a coast without great beaches but of such a great wild beauty in the Jacotet where the British freed a French Captain for a pig, and a few goats and chickens!

Owing to the remarkable work accomplished by the Mauritius Wildlife Fund , the island of Ile aux Aigrettes along the south-east coast has become an international standard for the protection of natural resources and endangered species. A few of the world's rarest birds, including the kresrel (Maurician falcon), can be seen there. You can also discover the extremely rare Pink Pigeon, the Green Gecko Phelsuma and the Aldabra giant tortoise.

Marine life . Mauritius is known for boasting a huge range of sea treasures and infinite wealth: multi-coloured fish, moray eels, magnificent coral beds. One of the most spectacular ways to explore the ocean beds is to go on board the Blue Safari submarine. Or «Le Nessie», a semi-submersible.
Mauritius is also a paradise for deep sea fishing : sharks, yellow tuna, Bonitos, 'emperor', 'pélerin', 'bécune' or barracuda and Blue Marlin from November to May. The ocean is 70 metres deep one kilometre away from the coast. Mauritius holds several world fishing records (IGFA), including that of a mako shark of 1115 pounds. Recently caught two blue marlins of 1430 and 1355 pounds. The most prestigious competition is the Marlin World Cup hosted in December by La Pirogue Hotel.

- Mauritian cuisine

By Madeleine Philippe

The eating habits of the Mauritians inevitably reflect the ethnic diversity of its people: Creole rougailles, Indian curries, Muslim byrianis, Chinese sweet-and-sour pork, French delicate dishes, English bacon and eggs, ...... you name it, you'll get it there.
Basic ingredients of the Creole cuisine are the tomatoes (known as pommes d'amour), onions, ginger, garlic and chillies. Palm heart and Camarones (giant prawns), venison and wild boar are favourite items of French cuisine. Fresh fish and seafood set the keynote for Chinese cooking.
The traditional blends of home crushed spices are the sauce base for mouth glowing Indian curries. The delicate blend of spiciness and subtle mix of ingredients constitute the setting for the event-related Muslim cuisine. Local vegetables and fruits abound all year round in a colourful selection of mouth watering delights.

Internet : http://ile-maurice.tripod.com/

Caudan at Port Louis

Multiehtnic crowd at the market

Spices..
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The Trou aux Cerfs crater at Curepipe


Giant lotus géants at
Pamplemousses gardens


The sugar adventure


Land of 7 coulours

The Java stag

and the big turtle


Submarine richness

This marlin is over 1000 lbs



La diversité des épices

Vindaye de poisson