Overview
Mauritius is a country in Africa according to internetsailors. A hypnotic blend of Indian, Chinese, African, French and British influences, Mauritius is a stunning island in the Indian Ocean. Although the famous white-sand beaches and luxury hotels are its biggest draws, Mauritius offers far more than most tropical islands, as it is also home to world-class hiking, climbing and diving. Ecotourism has also gained a foothold here. Since it was off the main trade routes and was not settled until the 16th century, Mauritius had developed a great biological diversity. Pirates preferred the island, and the Dutch briefly occupied them until France eventually brought African slaves to Mauritius to work on the sugar plantations. In 1810, the British took over colonial power over the beautiful island, which gained independence in 1968. In the 1990s, Mauritius experienced an economic boom due to its thriving tourism sector, clothing industry and sugar manufacturing. In 2018 Mauritius celebrated 50 years of independence from Great Britain.
Getting there
Arriving by plane
Air France (AF) flies to Mauritius via Paris and KLM (KL) via Amsterdam, among others, from Düsseldorf, Frankfurt/M., Munich, Vienna, Geneva and Zurich. Lufthansa (LH) in cooperation with South African Airways (SA) connects Frankfurt/M. via Johannesburg with Mauritius. Condor (DE) offers from Frankfurt/M. as well as non-stop flights to Mauritius from Munich and Edelweiss Air (WK) from Zurich. Austrian Airlines (OS) flies in cooperation with Condor from Vienna via Frankfurt/M. to Mauritius.
Flight times
Frankfurt/M. – Mauritius: 11 hrs 30 mins (non-stop); Zurich – Mauritius: 11 hrs 10 mins (non-stop); Vienna – Mauritius: 15 hrs 20 mins (with stopover).
Arrival by car
Tolls: There are no toll roads in Mauritius. Documents: In addition to the national driver’s license, which the driver must have held for at least one year, the international driver’s license is required. Travelers without an international driver’s license can obtain a temporary driver’s license from the Traffic Department at Port Louis Police Headquarters, Line Barracks, upon presentation of their national driver’s license.
Arrival by ship
Port Louis harbor is frequented by numerous cruise ships from all over the world. Ferries connect Port Louis to Réunion.
Cruise ships
Transocean and Phoenix start world cruises in Hamburg or Bremerhaven with a stopover in Mauritius. MSC, Cunard and Costa also call at Mauritius on their cruises from other European ports.
Ferry provider
Mauritius Shipping Corporation Ltd Ferries operate several times a week between Mauritius and La Réunion (journey time: 10-11 hours).
Transportation
Traveling by plane
Air Mauritius Helicopter Services offers helicopter flights over Mauritius.
Traveling by car/bus
The island has a well-developed, paved road network of around 1,600 km. Tolls: There are no toll roads in Mauritius. There are enough petrol stations in the cities, but they are often closed at night.
Right-hand traffic/left-hand traffic
Left
Condition of the roads
The main roads are in good condition.
Car rental
Car rentals are available in larger towns and in the tourist areas. Drivers must be at least 21 years old (depending on vehicle category and rental company) and have held their driving license for at least 1 year.
Taxi
Taxis can be recognized by the yellow sign on the door. They are equipped with taximeters; However, travelers should make sure that these are switched on. Shared taxis, so-called taxi trains, are also waiting at central locations. Taxis can also be hired for the whole day at moderate prices.
Bicycle
Bicycles and scooters can be rented on a daily or weekly basis; guided bike tours can also be booked.
Coach
Mauritius has a well-developed and reliable network of public bus routes. Bus companies such as National Transport Corporation and Triolet Bus Service connect numerous towns on the island. Buses run regularly to all directions on the island from the bus stations in Port Louis (at the central market and at the Line Barracks), Mahébourg and Curepipe. Bus routes and timetables can be found on the National Transport Agency’s website.
Regulations
Traffic regulations: – Left-hand traffic. – Seatbelt obligation. – Alcohol limit: 0.5 ‰. – Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists. – Children under the age of 10 must be carried in the back seat. – You must carry a warning triangle, a fire extinguisher and yellow chalk to mark where the vehicles are in the event of an accident. Speed limits: – in built-up areas: 50 km/h; – extra-urban: category A roads: 80 km/h; Category B: 60 km/h; – Motorway: 90-110 km/h.
Roadside Assistance
The ADAC foreign emergency call offers ADAC members and holders of ADAC foreign health and accident insurance comprehensive assistance in the event of vehicle breakdowns, traffic accidents, loss of documents and money, and medical emergencies. The emergency number is available around the clock; in the event of damage to the vehicle: Tel. +49 (0)89 22 22 22, in the event of illness: +49 (0)89 76 76 76. The ADAC partner club in Mauritius is the Club Automobile de Rallye (CAR), Phoenix, Tel. +230 (0)696 79 92.
Documentation
In addition to the national driver’s license, which the driver must have held for at least one year, the international driver’s license is required. Travelers without an international driver’s license can obtain a temporary driver’s license from the Traffic Department at Port Louis Police Headquarters, Line Barracks, upon presentation of their national driver’s license.
Traveling in the city
Buses and taxis are available in all city areas. Buses operate in the city between 05:30 and 20:00. Bicycles and boats can be rented.
Traveling by ship
The Coraline Services subsidiary of Mauritius Shipping Corporation Ltd. offers passenger connections between Mauritius’ largest port, Port Louis, and the island of Rodrigues several times a month (journey time: approx. 36 hours from Mauritius and approx. 24 hours from Rodrigues). Coraline also connects Mauritius with the Agalega Islands on request. Catamarans call at the coral reef, the Ilot Gabriel, the Ile aux Cerfs or the Ile aux Aigrettes every day.
