Travel Essentials: Mauritius

Mauritius has a maritime climate, hot/tropical in summer (November to April) and cooler/sub-tropical in winter (May to September). Variation between the different regions of the island is considerable. The temperature on the coastal areas varies between 22°C in winter and 34°C in summer. The sea temperature varies between 22°C and 27°C. In the central highland part of the island, the maximum daytime temperature varies from about 19°C in August to about 26°C in February. The western and northern regions are warmer and relatively drier than the eastern and the southern. A green cover of vegetation is maintained over much of the land throughout the year. The cyclone season runs from December to March.

Christmas and New Year are the absolute peak periods for travel to Mauritius, so book early and expect to pay peak season supplements for travel during this period. International school holidays play an important factor – the island is often busier during the periods of French school holidays for example. Planning a visit to the island to coincide with one of the major religious festivals makes a lot of sense, providing colour, culture and an insight into the local way of life. Divers and watersports addicts may want to think twice about travelling in peak cyclone season in January and February.

Abolition of Slavery Day

Independence Day

Labour Day

Ganesh Chaturthi (birth of Ganesh)

Arrival of Indentured Labourers

Christmas Day

New Year's Day

New Year Holiday

During this Hindu festival, bodies are pierced with needles; tongues and cheeks with pins and devotees in a trance carry the ‘Cavadi’ on their shoulders as a penitence. The ‘Cavadi’ is a wooden arch, covered with flowers and with a pot of milk at each end. Penitents also fire walk across white-hot coals at Tamil Kaylasson temple.

Ganga Talao is an important pilgrimage site and many Mauritians of the Hindu faith walk there during the Maha Shivaratri festival or the night fasting dedicated to Shiva.

The Festival of Colour is a festival of joy culminating in a procession where coloured powders and water are thrown up above the crowd of gatherers who wish each other good luck.

On Independence Day (12th March) aerial displays and music are held at Champ de Mars racecourse.

An annual game fishing competition, is held at Black River.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated each year on a different date, owing to the differences between the lunar and the solar calendars. Houses are thoroughly cleaned before the festival. No knives or scissors are used on the actual day of the festival. Red, a symbol of happiness is the main colour of the day. Food offerings are made to ensure that the following year will be plentiful and traditional ‘wax’ cakes are distributed to parents and friends. Firecrackers are set off to drive away the evil spirits.

The Telugu New Year and is usually celebrated in March.

The Id-El-Fitr signals the end of Ramadan – the fasting period for Muslim people. Prayers are said in mosques all day long.

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the 4th day of the lunar month of August/September by Hindus in honour of the birth of Ganesha, God of Wisdom

Every September 9, Mauritians of all faiths go to the tomb of the Blessed Jaques Désiré Laval, the “Apostle of the Black People” at Ste-Croix, Port-Louis. The belief in Père Laval, to whom powers of healing are attributed, is similar to the Lourdes Pilgrimage in France.

Divali represents truth (light) defeating ignorance (darkness). It is a celebration of joy and happiness and for many Mauritians, a time for sharing.

The Festival of Lights is celebrated by lighting small clay lamps on walls, balconies and yards. They are lit at sunset when their golden light guides the goddess of wealth and good fortune.