In the Indian Ocean, south of the equator, there is an island that the famous American writer Mark Twain once said was created by god before paradise, and that paradise was made in its image. Some might find this comparison exaggerated, but if I tell you that the island has 330 kilometres of coastline, with 150 kilometres of sandy palm-fringed beaches, that it's surrounded by the ocean in countless shades of blue, and that it's covered with lush tropical vegetation and waterfalls, I'm sure you'll agree that this description fits our idea of paradise. So, let's head to Mauritius, with the hope that my article will bring some warmth during these chilly winter months.
Mauritius is both a country and its largest island, geographically part of Africa. The Republic of Mauritius is made up of several islands and archipelagos, with Mauritius being by far the largest, which is why the entire country is named after it. This article is about the 65-kilometre-long and 45-kilometre-wide island that I visited, which, with an area of 1,900 square kilometres, makes up more than 90% of the country's total land area. Mauritius is home to around 1.2 million people, making it one of the most densely populated islands in the world, and also the most densely populated part of Africa. The population is racially, ethnically, and religiously diverse, with Mauritians generally coming from Asia, Africa, and Europe. The island was uninhabited until the 16th century, even though the Arabs and Portuguese knew about it. However, neither of them ever set up permanent settlements. The first settlers were the Dutch, who ruled Mauritius from 1598 to 1710 and named it after Prince Maurice of Nassau. Despite their short rule, they left a noticeable mark on the island by introducing sugarcane and bringing the first black slaves from Madagascar. They also managed to wipe out the island's most famous resident. This was a large, flightless, clumsy, and trusting bird called the dodo. It took just 30 years for the dodo to disappear, so today it's only a myth, often sold to tourists in the form of stuffed toys. In 1715, the French followed the Dutch and left the biggest mark on the island. Even today, most places have French names, many English names are pronounced in a French way, and locals usually greet foreigners in French, only switching to English if there's no response. The locals' language, Mauritian Creole, is also based on French. Although the French renamed the island Isle de France, that name didn't stick, and today it goes by its original name again, though it also has a French version: île Maurice. Under French rule, slavery became widespread, and it wasn't abolished until 1835, when the British, who took over from the French in 1830, were in charge. When they took over, the British promised to respect the language, customs, laws, and traditions of the French settlers, which is why the island still feels more French than English, even though the British were the last colonisers. The island was renamed Mauritius, and after 1935, they started bringing in contract workers from their colony in India to work on the large sugarcane plantations, where slaves had originally worked. This had a big impact on the island's racial and religious mix. In 1968, Mauritius became independent.
The population of Mauritius definitely deserves its own chapter. Simply put, Mauritians are descendants of African slaves, workers from India, merchants from China, and colonisers from Europe. Interestingly, the island was not inhabited until the arrival of the Dutch. There were no native people, so all of today's residents are descendants of immigrants, and no one can claim to have been on the island before anyone else. This diversity has led to tolerance and a strong sense of harmony, something Mauritians are very proud of. It's no surprise that Mauritius is considered the most peaceful and developed country in Africa. Just over half of the population comes from India, and they are known as Indo-Mauritians. They were brought to the island after slavery was abolished as cheap labour for agriculture. Once their contracts ended, they stayed and didn't return to their homelands. Less than 40% of the population are Creoles, descendants of African slaves, but this group also includes people of mixed race. There are about 30,000 Chinese people, known as Sino-Mauritians, who are mainly successful businesspeople. There are also a few white people. Some families have lived on the island since the colonial times, while others have recently moved there from France, England, and more recently, quite a few people have come from South Africa. Like its racial diversity, the island is also proud of its religious variety. Indo-Mauritians are Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. Hindus make up 50% of the population, and Mauritius is the only country in Africa with a majority Hindu population. Less than a fifth of islanders is Muslim. Creoles, white people, and most Chinese people follow different Christian religions, with the majority being Catholics. A few Sino-Mauritians are Buddhists. Mauritius is an island where different cultures and religions come together, as immigrants from three continents brought their cultures, beliefs, and traditions with them. So it's no surprise that you can find churches, mosques, Hindu temples, and pagodas on the same street, often side by side.
Due to its location in the ocean, 2,000 kilometres from the mainland, Mauritius is not easy to reach. Apart from a long sea journey, the only other way to get there is by plane. Direct flights from Europe take over 10 hours, and layovers in the Middle East are especially common. Sometimes, tickets can be found for around 500 euros, but prices are usually higher. The island has an extensive network of bus connections. The rides are cheap, but they can take a while, especially with buses that make frequent stops. The most practical way to explore the island is by renting a car, but you should know that they drive on the left. You can hire a driver who's also a tour guide. I chose the latter option myself, as I wasn't keen on driving on the "opposite" side and creating unnecessary stress for myself. Mauritius is very focused on tourism, so there's plenty of accommodation available. There is everything from luxurious all-inclusive resorts to simple places to stay with locals. Food is also well taken care of, after all, we are on a tropical island. There's an abundance of exotic fruit, and in the more mountainous areas, they even grow vegetables. The menu has a lot of seafood from the ocean, and there are also food trucks with simple, affordable meals. The island's racial and religious diversity is reflected in its food, so you can try typical Indian dishes, which are quite spicy, as well as Asian food, like noodles and the always-present rice. There is something for everyone.
In the first part, we've covered the history and demographics of Mauritius. In the second part of the article, I'll focus on the specific sights I visited during my time on the island.
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