Suggested Tours for Mauritius
South Africa Safari & Mauritius Classic
Itinerary Highlights
- Game Drives And Walks At Garonga
- Romantic Open-Air Bush Baths
- Optional Tree House Sleep Outs On Safari
- Relaxing Beaches Of Mauritius
Madagascar and Mauritius Made Easy
Itinerary Highlights
- Malagasy culture in vibrant Antananarivo
- Indri, Parson's chameleon and other rainforest denizens of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
- Endangered endemic birds in Black River Gorges NP (Mauritius)
- Exploring colourful underwater life and enjoying rest & relaxation time in Mauritius
Indian Ocean contrast – Reunion & Mauritius
The ruggedly beautiful mountain scenery of La Reunion and the golden sand beaches of Mauritius are two dream destinations that can easily be combined to make a twin-centre Indian Ocean holiday. The flight between the two islands is just 45 minutes, making the transfer a relaxed affair. The best way to explore Reunion is by hire car as the roads are well-maintained, the scenery breathtaking and you...
Rainbow Mauritius Specialist
Helen's review
Mauritius is a lovely island – so easy to visit and to include alongside a safari or a longer South African itinerary. The weather is generally good all year round, with the winter months being slightly cooler. The locals speak of June as being the secret season – lovely weather, lower rates and less holiday makers! The holiday can be as relaxing or as active as you wish with almost all hotels offer complimentary non-motorised watersports. Personally I used my break in Mauritius as a week of downtime to relax, read a book, spend quality time with my loved ones and live life at a slower pace…..
Helen's Top Tips
- If you''re after spectacular sundowners, the west side of the island offers the most incredible sunsets.
- For something a little special, contact us about booking a catamaran cruise for a chilled day out to a remote beach with a lunch BBQ
- Car hire is a great addition to your holiday, as decent infrastructure makes it easy for you to explore much of the island under your own steam.
Best Time To Visit Mauritius
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Quick Country Facts
Time Zone:GMT +4 hours
Captial:Port Louis
Currency:Mauritian Rupee
Temperature:20-25°
Why visit Mauritius?
Mauritius is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs, providing sheltered beaches and calm lagoon waters in which to enjoy an array of watersports. Snorkelling can often take place straight off the beach and scuba diving is also good, with a variety of dive sites to explore around the island. Most hotels have their own professional dive centre.
Mauritius has a vibrant, multicultural population. Its location on the trading route to India and Asia brought the Dutch, the French and finally the English to the island to settle. Indians and Chinese came to work and trade the sugar cane that still covers much of the island, and the island’s colourful history is reflected in its cuisine, with a wide range of Indian, Chinese, Creole and European influences in its dishes, and in the variety of cultural and religious festivals that are celebrated.
Nature enthusiasts enjoy a hike in Black River Gorges National Park, which protects the island's last stand of original tropical forest and as such, is the stronghold for endangered birds such as Pink pigeon, Mauritius kestrel and Echo parakeet.
Many of our clients enjoy a relaxing break on Mauritius after having had an active holiday in either Madagascar, South Africa or Reunion.
Easy connections for safari & beach holidays
The island is just four hours flying time from South Africa and Kenya, and Mauritius holidays can therefore easily be combined with the thrill of game viewing and the natural beauty of Africa’s dramatic landscapes. The calm azure waters around Mauritius make it an attractive place to dust off after a safari and its possible to visit all year round, with May to October being the driest period. In the more humid summer months (November to April) the climate is warmer and wetter but has sunny spells in between showers. Read more about when to go on holiday to Mauritius here. UK citizens don’t need a visa making holidays to Mauritius one of the most popular safari and beach combinations.
Mauritius holidays – activities beyond the beach
Whilst holidays to Mauritius are primarily all about soaking up the rays, there are a whole host of activities and excursions beyond the beach that can be easily incorporated into most Mauritius holidays. You can explore the island by hiring a car for self-drive or with a chauffeur for a reasonable supplement, or by taking one of the excursions available from your hotel. You drive on the left in Mauritius (as we do in the UK) and this adds to the ease of exploring under your own steam.
If you enjoy flora, don’t miss the giant Victoria Regia water lilies in the Pamplemousses Gardens, one of the world’s oldest Botanical Gardens. Fine French colonial buildings and the lively covered market can be visited in the capital, Port Louis, along with its modern piazza-style Caudan Waterfront and its shops and cafés located around the port.
In central Mauritius, drive through Curepipe to the surrounding hills for panoramic views of the island from Trou aux Cerfs, an extinct crater 85m deep and 200m wide. Access to the near by Black River Gorges National Park is via La Marie, and it protects the remaining indigenous forests of the island. Finding sanctuary in the forest of Black River Gorges National Park are some of the world's rarest and most endangered birds, notably the Mauritius kestrel; Pink pigeon; Echo parakeet and Mauritius fody. A half-day walk in the forest should reveal most of these rarities, along with other endemic species. Grand Bassin Lake, another extinct volcano crater close by, is a revered pilgrimage site for Hindus.
Apart from discovering the forest and unique birdlife on walking trails or perhaps on one of the protected offshore islets like Ile Aux Aigrettes, try a mountain bike tour or take a catamaran cruise with snorkelling opportunities.
Superb range of places to stay
For the most part beach resorts are relatively large in Mauritius, although well-designed to maximise a sense of space, but there are also small boutique hotels such as Hotel 20°Sud with just 28 rooms, and a number of exclusive mid-sized hotels such as Shanti Maurice with 61 suites and villas, and the elegant Oberoi with 71 villas and pavilions. Some hotels are adult-only such as Paradise Cove which we recommend for honeymooners and many have facilities specifically for families. The Belle Mar Plage is an excellent option, with a 2-km long beach, that manages to work well for couples and families alike.
See our suggested selection of hotels – there is a superb range of hotels on the island and we tailor-make all our Mauritius holidays, so just tell us what sort of things you like (style, size, facilities, sporting activities) and when you want to travel.
What Our Clients Say
'Hi Derek,. We just wanted to say a big thank you for organising our wonderful honeymoon in Mauritius. We had the most amazing time (and wish we were still there!) Both hotels were beautiful and great picks - 20 Degres Sud was a lovely, relaxed start to the holiday with amazing service and a nic...
'Hi Helen,. Thank you very much for your email, and even more for setting us up for such an amazing honeymoon. We loved staying at Andasibe Hotel (and we really liked Maison Gallieni too). The local guide in Madagascar, Dennis, was excellent, and so was the driver. We would thoroughly recommend ...
'Hi Fiona,. Our holiday was perfect, thank you. All the transfers and timings etc were spot on and the representatives at both locations were great. The hotels were incredible, we would definitely return to either of them.. If we were to go to Reunion again we would definitely? take some hiking ...
'Overall holiday satisfaction: excellent. Vakona Forest Lodge excellent in all respects; facilities good. Paradise Cove is a lovely place'. .
'Craig Kaufman was amazingly helpful. He organised our holiday to Madagascar and Mauritius at very very short notice. We thought Vakona Forest Lodge provided excellent accommodation. Having stayed in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest with accommodation provided by local tribes we are very aware tha...
Mauritius gave us the perfect beach break after a safari in Sabi Sands. It’s so easy to relax with everything on tap at the Shanti Maurice. The food at was delicious, the beach gorgeous and the whole way everything was presented was really stylish.
All the family loved our hotel [Belle Mare Plage] and it was just right for our elderly parents too. Just the sunny break we all needed with so many activities and also perfect if we just wanted to lie on the beach. .
First Class! Efficient and detailed information from Rainbow Tours.
Another wonderful holiday, many thanks.
Overall a fantastic experience and honeymoon we will never forget. Thank you for advising us and making the booking process easy.
A splendid holiday, perfect hotels providing all we needed. The service from Rainbow Tours fully met expectations from previous holidays with Rainbow. Many thanks. Looking forward to our next holiday with you.
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Why Choose Us?
Passionate travel experts
- We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
- Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
- We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences
Personal & tailor-made
- You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
- We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
- Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love
Responsible by nature
- We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
- For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
- We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
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