Mauritius Facts and Culture

What is Mauritius famous for?

• Family: In many Mauritian families, three generations live together. Older people do not go to retirement homes unless they have no... More
• Fashion: Traditional clothes are saris and churidaars. Most people wear them on special occasions and some wear them daily. Younger people... More
• Recreation: Soccer is the most popular sport in Mauritius. Children in Mauritius enjoy playing with marbles and with toupies (spinning tops).... More
• Cultural Attributes: Mauritius an island nation in the indian ocean was formed by volcanoes. More than a third of the peoples' income... More
• Diet: A Mauritian might start the day with a continental breakfast of coffee and a French croissant, enjoy Indian food for... More

What is the capital of Mauritius?

Capital	Port Louis
Government Type	parliamentary republic
Currency	MUR
Total Area	788 Square Miles 2,040 Square Kilometers
Location	Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Language	English (official), Creole, French (official), Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bhojpuri
GDP - real growth rate	3.2%
GDP - per capita (PPP)	$19,500.00 (USD)

What is the population of Mauritius?

Ethnic Groups	Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%
Nationality Adjective	Mauritian
Nationality Noun	Mauritian(s)
Population	1,379,365
Population Growth Rate	0.68%
Population in Major Urban Areas	PORT LOUIS (capital) 151,000
Predominant Language	English (official), Creole, French (official), Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bhojpuri
Urban Population	41.8%

What type of government does Mauritius have?

• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Pritivirajsing ROOPUN (since December 2019); Vice President Marie Cyril Eddy Boissézon (2 December 2019) note -... More
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal More
• Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 out of the previous 7 years... More
• National Holiday: Independence Day, 12 March (1968); note - also became Republic Day (1992) More
• Constitution: several previous; latest adopted 12 March 1968; amended many times, last in 2015 More
• Independence: 12 March 1968 (from the UK) More

What environmental issues does Mauritius have?

• Overview: The Island of Mauritius, volcanic in origin, lies in the southwest Indian Ocean just within the Tropic of Capricorn, 1,250... More
• Climate: Mauritius has a maritime climate with slight differences between tropical summer and subtropical winter. Humidity is high, and annual rainfall... More
• Environment - Current Issues: water pollution, degradation of coral reefs More
• Environment - International Agreements: party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of... More
• Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau More

How big is the Mauritius economy?

• Economic Overview: Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has undergone a remarkable economic transformation from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a diversified,... More
• Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing; chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery; tourism More
• Currency Name and Code: MUR More
• Export Partners: UK 30.5%, France 20.3%, US 20.2%, Madagascar 4% More
• Import Partners: South Africa 12.6%, France 11%, China 8.5%, India 7.3%, Australia 4% More

What current events are happening in Mauritius?
Source: Google News

What unique things can you discover about Mauritius?

• A burial site in Bambous is shared by Muslims and Jews. In 1940, about 1,500 Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis in East Europe took a boat to the Indian Ocean, hoping to reach Palestine via the Red Sea. They were stopped at Mauritius, and the British placed them in a detention camp. Those who died on the island were buried in a Muslim cemetery.
• Bagasse is a byproduct of sugar cane that is used to produce energy. The fibrous residue of crushed sugar cane can be burned as fuel. The sugar estates use this energy for their own consumption and sell the surplus to the electricity board.
• Because of the elimination of malaria and improvements in health care in the 1950s, the population of Mauritius grew so quickly that the government decided to encourage contraception and family planning. Today, the birth rate has decreased.
• Because of the mix of cultures and languages, many Mauritians are multilingual. A person might speak Bhojpuri at home, French to a supervisor at work, English to a government official and Creole to friends.
• Bertrand François Mahé de la Bourdonnais was the most famous French governor of Mauritius. He greatly improved living conditions on the island in the 18th century, ensuring a regular supply of food, encouraging the cultivation of sugar cane and expanding port facilities.
• French language and culture are promoted through the Centre Culturel Charles Baudelaire in Rose Hill. Baudelaire, one of France's best-known poets, was on his way to India in 1841, but decided to get off the boat in Mauritius. He stayed on the island for a brief period before returning to France.
• In 1744, a ship called St. Géran was wrecked off the northeast coast of Mauritius during a storm. This event inspired French novelist Bernardin de Saint-Pierre to write Paul et Virginie, about two young lovers on Mauritius who are separated when Virginie is sent to France. She returns on the St. Géran and is drowned before she can be reunited with Paul.
• In Mauritius, women usually greet friends with a kiss on the cheek, and men shake hands. Indians may greet each other with the gesture called namaste, bringing both hands together in a praying gesture.
• International paragliding competitions have been held in Mauritius. The first international paragliding event took place in November 1993, and 47 of the world's best paragliders took part.
• Mark Twain, who visited the island in 1896, was so impressed by its beauty that he said, “God first made Mauritius and from it, he created Paradise.” Mauritius has also been called “The Star of the Indian Ocean” and “The Island of Rainbows.”
• Mauritians call tomatoes pommes d'amour (love apples). Mauritian tomatoes are smaller and more strongly flavored.
• Mauritius and its neighboring islands, including Rodrigues and Réunion, were once known as the Mascarene Islands, after the Portuguese admiral Pedro Mascarenhas, one of the first Portuguese explorers of the area.
• Mauritius is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with about 600 people per square kilometer.
• Mauritius once had a railway system that connected the island's towns. Today, the railway right-of-way has been turned into a path for hikers.
• Mauritius was one of the earliest centers in the southern hemisphere to have a printing press. Today there are 173 printing centers on the island. Records of printed material date back to 1768.
• On September 9, Christians remember Père Jacques Laval (1803-64), a French Catholic priest who set up a mission in Mauritius in the 1830s to help poor people, including newly freed slaves. His grave near Port Louis is a popular pilgrimage site and is known as the 'Lourdes of the Indian Ocean.'
• The dodo, a large, flightless bird, once lived on Mauritius. It quickly became extinct, killed by the Dutch and the domestic animals they brought with them.

What can you learn about Mauritius in this video?

Mauritius, the Gem of the Indian Ocean YouTube: ClubTravelie

What makes Mauritius a unique country to travel to?

Country Description

The Republic of Mauritius is a small island nation consisting of four inhabited and several other islands in the southwestern Indian Ocean. Mauritius has a stable government and a diverse economy. Its 2012 per capita GDP of US $8,850 is one of the highest in Africa. Facilities for tourism are well-developed. Although English is the administrative language, Creole and French are the languages used in daily life. English may not be understood outside of main towns and tourist areas. The capital city is Port Louis.

Crime

Violent and petty crime is increasingly common in tourist areas throughout Mauritius. Visitors should keep track of their belongings at all times due to thepotential for pick-pocketing and purse-snatching, especially in crowded areas.Residential break-ins are reported frequently on the island. It is unwise to walk alone at night outside the immediate grounds of hotels. Foreigners should exercise caution on beaches and poorly-lit or deserted areas at night.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Bootlegs are illegal in the United States, and their purchase may also violate local laws in Mauritius.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Mauritius, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. Certain actions might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. Driving under the influence of alcohol in Mauritius could land you immediately in jail. If you break local laws in Mauritius, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go. Persons violating Mauritian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines in Mauritius.

Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Medical facilities are available, but are more limited than in the United States. Emergency assistance is also limited. While public hospitals provide free care, visitors may choose to be treated by private doctors and clinics. Prescription and over-the-counter medicines are generally available, though they may not be specific U.S. brand names. Service Aide Medicale Urgence (SAMU) is a government-run medical assistance service that provides free ambulance and emergency assistance in response to calls to 114 (Address: Volcy Pougnet Street, Port Louis). MegaCare is a private organization that provides assistance to subscribers only (Address: 99 Draper Avenue, Quatre Bornes; phone: 116; 464-6116). Point aux Canonnier Medical Center tel: 263-1010, Private Clinic Fortis Darne tel: 118, and Private Clinic Apollo Bramwell tel: 132 also provide paid Ambulance Service.

Safety and Security

U.S. citizens should avoid crowds and street demonstrations, and maintain a low profile. Women should avoid walking alone, particularly on public beaches and at night. There have been occasional reports of robberies, sexual assault, and harassment of foreign travelers.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

While in Mauritius, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Driving is on the left side of the road. Many roads are narrow and uneven with inadequate lighting, making night driving hazardous. Speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour and all road and traffic signs are posted in English. Drivers and all passengers are required to wear seat belts. Drivers and passengers on motorcycles are required to wear helmets. Babies and toddlers should be placed in child seats. Many accidents occur due to excessive speed and violations of road regulations.

Drivers involved in an accident are required by law to remain at the scene until the police arrive. However, if an angry crowd gathers and those involved in the accident feel threatened, police and judicial authorities have in the past not taken action against drivers who leave the scene if they have proceeded directly to a police station. In cases of accidents involving two parties but which involve no injuries and where drivers are not under the influence of alcohol/drugs, drivers may fill out and sign an “Agreed Statement of Facts.” Police presence is not required for this action. Each party should retain one copy of the statement to claim auto insurance reimbursement.

While there are organizations that provide emergency or roadside assistance, their resources and capabilities are limited; on occasion, they are unable to respond to non-life threatening situations.

Public transportation by bus is available between the main towns until 9:00 p.m. and in remote areas until 6:00 p.m. Taxis are also available.