Introduction viii PART ONE MAURITIUS: GENERAL INFORMATION Chapter 1 Background Information 3 Geography 3, Climate 4, Natural history 5, Nature reserves and conservation 12, History 20, Government and politics 28, Economy 29, People 35, Language 36, Religion 37, Education 39, Culture 39 Chapter 2 Practical Information 41 When to visit 41, Highlights 41, Suggested itineraries 42, Tourist information 44, Tour operators 44, Red tape 45, Embassies and consulates 48, Getting there and away 49, Health 53, Medical tourism 56, Safety 57, Women travellers 58, Disabled travellers 59, Travelling with kids 59, Gay/lesbian travellers 59, What to take 59, Money 60, Budgeting 60, Getting married 61, Getting around 62, Accommodation 66, Eating and drinking 67, Public holidays and festivals 70, Churches 73, Shopping 73, Arts and entertainment 76, Photography 78, Media and communications 78, Business 80, Cultural etiquette 82, Travelling positively 83 Chapter 3 Activities 85 Spa treatments 85, Golf 86, Horse racing 87, Horseriding 87, Hunting 88, Football 88, Deep-sea fishing 88, Scuba diving and snorkelling 89, Other undersea experiences 92, Sailing 93, Windsurfing 94, Kitesurfing 94, Water skiing 94, Hiking and adventure sports 95 PART TWO MAURITIUS AND ITS DEPENDENCIES 97 Chapter 4 Port Louis 99 Around town 99, Getting there and away 106, Tourist information 107, Where to stay 107, Where to eat 107, Nightlife and entertainment 109, Shopping 110, Other practicalities 110, What to do in Port Louis 111, What to see in Port Louis 111 Chapter 5 Northern Mauritius 115 Baie du Tombeau to Pointe aux Piments 115, Trou aux Biches to Pointe aux Canonniers 119, Grand Baie 122, Pereybere 127, Cap Malheureux to Grand Gaube 128, Northern offshore islands 130, What to do in Northern Mauritius 131, What to see in Northern Mauritius 133 Chapter 6 Eastern Mauritius 137 Roches Noires to Belle Mare 137, Trou d'Eau Douce 140, South of Trou d'Eau Douce to Bois des Amourettes 142, What to do in Eastern Mauritius 144, What to see in Eastern Mauritius 145 Chapter 7 Southern Mauritius 147 Vieux Grand Port and Mahebourg 147, South of Blue Bay to Souillac 152, Riambel to Baie du Cap 154, What to do in Southern Mauritius 157, What to see in Southern Mauritius 159 Chapter 8 Western Mauritius 163 Morne Brabant to Tamarin 163, Wolmar and Flic en Flac to Port Louis 169, What to do in Western Mauritius 173, What to see in Western Mauritius 175 Chapter 9 Central Mauritius 177 Plaines Wilhems 177, Moka 185, What to do in Central Mauritius 187, What to see in Central Mauritius 187 Chapter 10 Island Dependencies 191 Agalega 191, St Brandon 191, Tromelin 192, The Chagos Archipelago 192 PART THREE RODRIGUES 195 Chapter 11 Background Information 197 Overview 197, Geography 197, Natural history and conservation 197, History and politics 202, Economy 203, People 205, Language and education 205, Religion 205, Culture 206 Chapter 12 Practical Information 209 Highlights 209, Tourist information 209, Tour operators 209, Red tape 210, Help 210, Getting there and away 210, On arrival/departure 211, Health and safety 211, What to take 212, Money and banking 212, Getting around 212, Accommodation 213, Eating and drinking 214, Photography 214, Communications 215 Chapter 13 Exploring Rodrigues 217 Port Mathurin 217, Around Rodrigues 220, What to see and do 225 PART FOUR REUNION 233 Chapter 14 Background Information 235 Geography 235, Climate 235, Natural history and conservation 238, History 240, Government and politics 242, Economy 243, People 244, Language 244, Religion 245, Education 245, Culture 245 Chapter 15 Practical Information 247 When to visit 247, Highlights 247, Suggested itineraries 248, Tourist information 249, Tour operators 249, Red tape 250, Help 251, Getting there and away 251, On arrival/departure 252, Health 253, Safety 254, Women travellers 254, Disabled travellers 254, Gay/lesbian travellers 254, Travelling with kids 254, What to take 254, Money 255, Budgeting 255, Getting around 256, Accommodation 259, Eating and drinking 261, Working hours 263, Public holidays 264, Festivals 264, Shopping 264, Arts and entertainment 265, Photography 266, Media and communications 267, Business 268, Buying property 268, Cultural etiquette 268 Chapter 16 Activities 269 Multi-activity companies 269, Hiking 269, Canyoning 272, Mountain biking 272, Horseriding 273, Golf 273, 4x4 excursions 274, Microlighting 274, Paragliding 274, Bungee jumping 275, Helicopter rides 275, Surfing 275, Water skiing 275, Other watersports 276, Sailing 276, Scuba diving 276, Deep-sea fishing 276, Glass-bottom boats 277, Dolphin watching 277 Chapter 17 Northern Reunion 279 St-Denis 279, Around St-Denis 286, What to do in Northern Reunion 286, What to see in Northern Reunion 287 Chapter 18 Eastern Reunion 289 Ste-Suzanne to Bras-Panon 289, St-Benoit 291, Ste-Anne 292, Ste-Rose and surrounds 292, South to La Pointe de la Table 294, Piton-de-la-Fournaise 294, What to do in Eastern Reunion 295, What to see in Eastern Reunion 296 Chapter 19 Southern Reunion 299 St-Philippe and surrounds 299, St-Joseph and surrounds 300, St-Pierre and surrounds 302, St-Louis to L'Etang-Sale 309, What to do in Southern Reunion 311, What to see in Southern Reunion 312 Chapter 20 Western Reunion 315 St-Leu 315, St-Gilles-les-Bains and surrounds 317, St-Paul to La Possession 324, What to do in Western Reunion 326, What to see in Western Reunion 327 Chapter 21 The Interior 329 La Plaine-des-Palmistes 329, La Plaine-des-Cafres 331, What to do in La Plaine-des-Palmistes and La Plaine-des- Cafres 332, What to see in La Plaine-des-Palmistes and La Plaine-des-Cafres 333, The cirques 333 Appendix 1 Language 347 Appendix 2 Further Information 349 Index 353
