How to travel like a local in Mauritius

Some say Mauritius is the honeymoon capital of Africa. From one end of the island to another it’s just resorts, beach loungers, cocktails, seafood buffets and speed boats. When I travel I like to explore the guts of a place, get in touch with the locals and see what there is to experience when you’re not at the mercy of a five-star resort itinerary. I like to travel like a local.

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Mauritius measures 61km long and 47km wide and while this may seem like a small space it certainly packs a wide array of views, climates and landscapes as well as a depth of culture and character that deserves investigation. There are so many great packages that will get you there to enjoy the sun, sea and sand; but to really experience this unique island here are five ways to travel like a local in Mauritius.

Stay:

Aside from the many impressive resorts Mauritius also has a collection of quaint bed and breakfasts and guesthouses. Staying here will give you a little more flexibility to explore some of the interesting eateries and activities on offer. You also won’t feel obliged to only relax on the resort beach but can explore more of what the island has to offer. If you are feeling even more adventurous book into a self-catering flat, especially in the Grand Bay area in the North, Blue Bay in the South or Flic en Flac in the West. This will allow you all the flexibility to really explore the island, shop for food and eat like the locals, try the many restaurants and travel around on your own time and snorkel wherever you like.

Travel:

Most resorts have extensive in-house itineraries and activities and if these include trips to visit another area of the island they’ll get you there in their resort mini-bus. Not many people know that Mauritius actually has one of the most reliable and regular bus systems in Africa. They are also clean and perfectly comfortable (although sometimes they can be busy). The tickets cost next to nothing and all you have to do is stand at one of the many bus stops, jump on when it comes past and they’ll come get money from you while you’re sitting so you can experience travelling around this island just like the locals. If that’s a little too far out of your comfort zone, hire a scooter or small car and drive around the whole island in a day. It must be said however that you need to have your wits about you as the drivers in Mauritius can be a little crazy and the hooting could drive you nuts; or you could just join in and honk away.

Eat:

Everybody loves an exorbitant seafood buffet but let’s be honest you can get that pretty much anywhere in the world. Traditional Mauritian cuisine however is a combination of Eastern and Creole flavours. Strong, spicy seafood curries are balanced with atchars and fruit takes the centre stage. There are many delicious restaurants all across the island offering everything Eastern, European and even South African. Try finding a Table D’Hôte restaurant where you go into a Creole home, meet the chef and eat with the family.

The street food however is where you will find so much diversity and flavour and it’s available every day all day. Try full-flavour stir fries with pork dumplings and noodles; or steaming creole curries that will have you downing a famous locally made Phoenix beer. You haven’t really experienced Mauritius till you’ve eaten a hot lip-smacking vegetarian roti from a guy on a scooter (it also only costs about R10) and chased it down with a famous crisp lemon drink at the market or a fresh cut coconut with a straw. Another great food secret of Mauritius is that because of the extensive French influence, you can buy freshly baked baguette every day at just about any store across the whole island.

Shop:

Grand Bay is where you will find most of the fashion outlets and clothing stores. Some of these are high priced designer stores but there are many that have locally made very affordable high fashion clothing. To really experience the local vibe however you need to head to one of Mauritius’ famous markets. Port Louis, the capital, has the biggest fresh produce market where you also find incredible textiles and curios to take home as gifts. Even better head to a small town called Quatres Bornes where the island’s biggest market is teeming with tourists and locals alike, all year round. Here you’ll find beautiful clothing, striking textiles, silks and locally made crafts to take home as mementos.

Party:

There is no doubt that when it comes to partying, the Mauritians certainly know how to have a good time. Grand Bay and Flic en Flac have some of the island’s best clubs and cocktail bars. The bars are usually going from sundown but take and afternoon nap if you plan to go out because the clubs don’t start heating up till midnight and then the music thumps well into the early hours of the morning.  Banana Beach Club in the North is a famous local and tourist hangout.

Most of the resorts in Mauritius are beautiful and luxurious establishments that will offer you an incredibly relaxing and exotic feeling holiday. Outside of these resorts however is a colourful and culture-rich island that is just waiting to be explored when you take our advice and travel like a local in Mauritius.