LIFE IN MAURITIUS
Mauritius is an island situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, about 2,400 km off the East coast of Africa. It is surrounded by more than 150 kilometres (93 miles) of white sandy beaches and the lagoons are protected from the open sea by the world’s third largest coral reef, which surrounds the island. The country is multi-ethnic and multicultural with a population estimate of 1.2 million based on 2017 figures.
The government system is closely modelled on the British Westminster parliamentary system. Mauritius is highly ranked for democracy and for economic and political freedom. The capital is Port Louis.
Weather
Mauritius has a tropical climate with two seasons. Summer is from November to April, whilst winter is from May to October. In summer the temperature varies between 20ºC and 33ºC. Winter temperature ranges from 15ºC to 25ºC. In general the weather is very comfortable and pleasant. However, Mauritius is sometimes visited by tropical cyclones during the peak summer time.
Languages & Currency
English is the official language of Mauritius. However, most Mauritians are multilingual with English, French Creole and Asian languages used.
The currency used in Mauritius is the Mauritian Rupee (MUR/Rs). Well known currencies such as US dollars ($), Euro (€) and Pound Sterling (£) in cash or travellers cheques can be exchanged on the island. Major credit cards are widely accepted. ATM facilities can be found across the island.
Communication facilities
Mauritius has a very good communication infrastructure, providing the latest technologies. SIM cards are available almost everywhere and the main operators are Orange, Emtel and MTML. Internet access is available in almost every home through telephone line and faster internet access can be obtained. Postal services are efficient. International channels are available on TV and newspapers are published in French, English and Chinese.
Food
Mauritius has a magnificent diversity of cuisines to offer. The most common varieties are Creole, Indian, European and Chinese, with seafood almost always the specialty.