We all need a holiday from time to time to help us recharge our batteries and get back to work refreshed. And what better way than to go to far-flung shores and empty our mind to start afresh when we come back home later? Mauritius is a tropical island far from Europe.
Getting there
For those of you not in the know, Mauritius is a tropical island situated in the Indian Ocean, not far to the east of Madagascar. As it is in the southern hemisphere, it enjoys hot summers while the northern hemisphere is in the grip of winter. How convenient is that for a sunshine getaway when all around you is grey and freezing?
The price to pay for Mauritius holidays is a rather steep plane ticket and a long journey. It takes around 10 -12 hours flight from Europe to reach Mauritius. There are direct flights from airlines such as British Airways and Air France or alternatively, you might want to stop over for a couple of days at Dubai, change planes and make your way finally to Mauritius. If you are flying from North America, the journey is even more arduous. There is no direct flight; you will have to change planes in London, Dubai or South Africa. But once you land, you can forget about planes.
A sample of delight
The airport is found in the south east of the country at Plaisance, near the coast. Your plane will approach from the north and cross the whole island in about 30 min. You will have the opportunity to see what awaits you on the ground – a carpet of green sugar cane fields, if the crops have not been recently harvested. Rivers will snake their way to the sea, shrouded in thick green foliage and many parts of the coast are bordered by white sandy beaches. The lagoon is shallow and the water clear; reefs surround most part of the island and keep the waters within the lagoon calm. As your plane gets close the airport, it will turn around and make its approach from the sea and will descend rapidly. You might even think that you are going to land in the water as the aircraft seems to be accelerating right at it.
Climate
As soon as you land and exit the plane, you will be hit by a wall of heat, come summer or winter. The average temperature in winter averages 18 degrees Celsius but it gets much hotter on the coast. So you need to dress appropriately. If you are leaving your country in winter, there is no better time to dress in layers and shed all but one upon landing. Go light materials and light colours; pure cotton shirts are ideal for tropical climates. On the beach it is essential in the beginning to wear a hat and sunscreen. Don’t be one of those to bask in the sun from day one and turn all red from day two. You will have plenty of time to get some tan.
Let’s hope after reading up on Mauritius, you get inspired to get there and have some fun. It will be one more experience to enjoy and hopefully a very enjoyable holiday. Otherwise, there are always other places closer to visit as described in this great travel blog.
Image by von Chris of the World /very busy…
