"Welcome to our curated list of recommendations for traveling in Mauritius. These suggestions are personal insights gathered from myself and my team at Timeless Africa Safaris. These recommendations are personally vetted by us, they come highly recommended. Please feel free to add your favourite spots or share any updates in the comments section below." Marco van Embden, Cape Town
1. Tour Operator Recommendation
Marco van Embden owns a great tour operator based in Cape Town South Africa, Timeless Africa Safaris with expertise in 15 African countries: Mauritius, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, Uganda, Republic of Congo, and Seychelles.
Timeless Africa Safaris is a family business with Marco’s eldest daughter, Casey, being involved in the business for the past twelve years. The team truly understands the YPO philosophy – many of the travel managers have fostered relationships with local and international YPO’ers through the personal and/or family trips curated for them, their friends and their Forums as well as Intl YPO chapter visits to South Africa. These YPO’ers have become ambassadors for the work that Timeless Africa Safaris does in Africa, spreading their positive – and often life-changing – experiences with future YPO travellers.
There are a lot of good people out there, doing great work in bringing travellers to Africa. The most important thing is that you come to our magnificent continent which greatly relies on foreign travellers to support the communities and the wildlife.
2. Best Time to Go to Mauritius
- May to August is the best time to visit.
- Summer is from November to April and Winter is from June to September.
- Avoid January to March, as this is the time of high winds and potential cyclones.
3. Access to Mauritius
Direct International Flights to Mauritius:
- South Africa: Direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town are available via Air Mauritius; Airlink
- Kenya: Kenya Airways operates flights from Nairobi.
- Madagascar: Air Mauritius and Turkish Airlines fly from Antananarivo.
- Seychelles: Air Seychelles provides services from Mahé.
- France: Air Mauritius and Air France offer flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle, while Corsair operates from Paris Orly.
- United Kingdom: Direct flights from London Gatwick are available via British Airways and Air Mauritius.
- Germany: Condor and Discover Airlines fly from Frankfurt.
- Austria: Austrian Airlines operates seasonal flights from Vienna (October to April).
- Italy: ITA Airways offers seasonal flights from Rome Fiumicino (November to March).
- Switzerland: Edelweiss Air flies from Zurich, and Air Mauritius has announced new services from Geneva starting May 2025.
- Spain: Iberojet and World2Fly operate seasonal flights from Madrid (June to September).
- India: Air Mauritius and Air India provide flights from Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru.
- Malaysia: Air Mauritius operates flights from Kuala Lumpur.
- Turkey: Turkish Airlines offers services from Istanbul.
- Saudi Arabia: Saudia Airlines flies from Jeddah and Medina.
- United Arab Emirates: Emirates operates flights from Dubai.
- Australia: Air Mauritius provides direct flights from Perth.
Major airlines offering direct services to Mauritius include:
- Air Mauritius
- Air France
- British Airways
- Emirates
- Turkish Airlines
- Kenya Airways
- South African Airways
Key Transit Hubs for Connecting Flights
For travellers from regions without direct flights, major transit hubs offering connections to Mauritius include:
- Dubai (DXB)
- Paris (CDG)
- Istanbul (IST)
- Johannesburg (JNB)
- Mumbai (BOM)
4. Insights on Mauritius
- Mauritius is warm, welcoming, and impossibly beautiful, featuring idyllic beaches, sacred temples, turquoise lagoons, lush rainforests, vibrant coral reefs, and cascading waterfalls.
- Thrill-seekers and nature lovers can enjoy diving, sunset sailing, deep-sea fishing, kite surfing, snorkelling, water-skiing, parasailing, yoga, quad biking, and horse riding.
- Despite its compact size—just 65 km long and 45 km wide—Mauritius is Africa’s most densely populated country, home to 1.3 million people.
- The capital city, Port Louis, is a vibrant hub of history, culture, and commerce.
- The Dodo, extinct for over 350 years, remains the island’s national bird, symbolising its unique wildlife heritage.
- Mauritius is a rich blend of peoples, languages, and traditions, creating a dynamic mix of colours, tastes, and textures.
- The island’s rhythm is captured in sega, a soulful dance and musical tradition born from African influences.
- Enslaved Africans working on sugar plantations introduced sega as a way to express emotions and celebrate life, using the ravane drum, shaker, and triangle.
- Sighted by Arab dhows in the 10th century, visited by Portuguese around 1510, and claimed by the Dutch in 1598, Mauritius carries a fascinating history.
- Named after Prince Maurice of Nassau, the Dutch introduced sugar cane, which remains a key industry alongside tourism.
- Mauritius is a harmonious and culturally rich destination, renowned for luxury resorts, breathtaking landscapes, lively markets, and famously friendly locals.
5. Marco’s Top Activities Recommendations
- Underwater Sea Walk – Stroll on the ocean floor, surrounded by vibrant marine life.
- Swim with Dolphins – Glide alongside these playful creatures in their natural habitat.
- Canyoning Adventure – Leap off cliffs, abseil down waterfalls, and explore rugged terrain.
- Golfing – Tee off on stunning courses framed by lagoons and palm trees.
- Deep-Sea Fishing – Reel in marlin, tuna, and other prized catches in Mauritius’s rich waters.
Plus, Mauritius offers diving, sunset sailing, kite surfing, snorkelling, water-skiing, parasailing, yoga, quad biking, and horse riding
6. Accommodation Recommendations
- Constance Prince Maurice..our favourite hotel. Great restaurant – Le Barachois.Well stocked wine cellar,great Asian restaurant. ~ Marco
- Lux Grand Gaube – great family hotel – Bodrum Blue , wonderful Turkish restaurant with lovely views of the Bay. ~ Marco
- Lux Grand Baie – great hotel, better for couples. Aikisu, our favourite restaurant. ~ Marco
- In Triolet: Troux aux Biches Golf Resort & Spa
- Trou d'Eau Douce: Shangri-La Le Touessrok
- In Bel Ombre: Heritage Le Telfair
7. Destinations Mauritius Pairs Well With
- South Africa: with direct flights between Johannesburg & Cape Town and Mauritius, it makes for a seamless City, Safari & Beach adventure.
- Kenya: Direct flights between Nairobi and Mauritius are a Classic Safari and Indian Ocean Combo.
- Tanzania: No direct flights, but with connections via Nairobi, Johannesburg or Addis Ababa, a Tanzanian Safari is simple.
- Via Johannesburg, connections to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda is a part of the African Safari & Beach Dream Board.
- Direct flights between Mauritius and Seychelles will ensure "Life’s a Beach for you".
8. Mauritius Regions
- North Coast: mostly lively and cosmopolitan. Known for beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, resorts and shopping. Excellent watersports at Grand Baie and Rou aux Biches.
Stay: Lux Grand Baie, Royal Palm Beachcomber - East Coast: Home to Belle Mare, one of the island’s longest and most beautiful beaches and popular among kite surfers along the south and superb golfing.
Stay: Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Constance Belle Mare Plage - South Coast: most wild and scenic, know for nature walks and mountain biking, as well as the Blue Ray Marine Park for snorkelling, also great for golfing.
Stay at: Heritage Le Telfair - West Coast: offers the perfect balance of sun, sea, adventure and wildlife and sunnier than most other parts of the island.
Stay at: St Regis Mauritius, Luxe Le Morne, Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa