[PODCAST] 8 Essential Things to Know about Mauritius

Why come to live in Mauritius?

The multicultural heritage of the country is reflected in various aspects of everyday life such as language, cuisine, religious traditions and customs.

Mauritius boasts beautiful beaches, a pleasant climate and friendly inhabitants. Lots of people have heard about the island but how many of them actually know it? To gain deeper insight, here is a brief recap of 8 essential things to know about this jewel in the Indian Ocean.

#1 Where is Mauritius?

The island is located in the Indian Ocean, south-east of Africa and about 800 km east of Madagascar. The Republic of Mauritius has a total surface of 2,040 square kilometres, including the outer islands of Agalega, Saint Brandon and Rodrigues.

#2 A bit of history of Mauritius

The Portuguese explored the island in the 16th century and the Dutch settled there in the 17th century. The French arrived in 1715 and as early as 1725, thousands of slaves were introduced from Madagascar and Africa. The British took over the island in 1810, during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1835, slavery was abolished and more than 200,000 Indian and Chinese immigrants landed in Mauritius. The country became independent in 1968 and acceded to Republic status in 1992.

#3 Who are the Mauritian people?

The Mauritians are the descendants of French, African, Malagasy, British, Indian and Chinese people who have settled on the island throughout History. This is why Mauritius is often referred to as a ‘rainbow nation’. The country has a population of over 1.3 million.

#4 Beautiful weather all year round…

The island has a tropical climate with a mild and dry winter season from May to November and temperatures varying between 17°C and 25°C. Summer is warm and humid from November to May with temperatures between 27°C and 33°C. It can indeed be concluded that it is a great place to live all year round!

#5 A country of many faces

The multicultural heritage of the country is reflected in various aspects of everyday life such as language, cuisine, religious traditions and customs.

The most commonly spoken languages are Creole, Bhojpuri and French, although English is the official language. Hinduism is the prevalent religion and Mauritian food is as diverse as its population.

#6 What does the island look like?

Mauritius is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs. The topography consists of a coastal plain that rises towards the mountains surrounding the Central Plateau.

The lowest point is 0m at the Indian Ocean and the highest point is Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire (828m).

#7 Let’s talk about the economy of Mauritius…

The economy is currently driven by the tourism, textile, and financial services sectors. It is increasingly developing into the information and communication technology and property sectors.

Read our article on the evolution of the Mauritian Rupee over the last 10 years here

#8 Political stability

Mauritius is a parliamentary republic and a stable democracy with free and fair elections at regular intervals as well as a positive human rights record. The country attracts substantial foreign investment and has one of the highest per capita income levels in Africa.