Located off the coast of the African continent, the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation in the south-west Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometres east of Madagascar. Mauritius is part of the Mascarene Islands and the republic also includes the islands of St Brandon, Rodrigues and the Agalega isles.

Any holiday guide will testify that Mauritius is the perfect location for good old R&R, so don't delay - find flights online and book a last minute holiday. You won't regret it.

Traditions and culture in Mauritius

Mauritius is a multicultural country and is home to people of various ethnic backgrounds. People have observed that the country lacks the identity crises common in other societies as people attempt to fit their traditional cultural practices into modern life.

The country has its own creole language, known as Mauritian Creole, which is largely derived from French but with smaller Portuguese and English influences. Mauritius also has a thriving literary, music and dance scene, which attests to the country's vibrant and diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

Mauritian music combines the sounds and rhythms of African, Western and Eastern traditions introduced by immigrants. The most popular traditional music style is the Sega which has African origins. The music is often accompanied by distinctive dancing, as Sega dancers clad in elaborately coloured skirts gyrate around a beach bonfire.

Sega is driven by the beat of the ravane, a circular drum traditionally made of goatskin, and other rhythmic instruments like the maravane. Originally the music of slaves, Sega is now embraced by all Mauritians and is played on all occasions.

Recommened in Mauritius

The Triolet Shivala is the longest village on the island and offers an opportunity to visit the Maheswarnath, the largest Hindu temple. It was first built in 1819 in honour of the gods Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, Muruga, Brahma and Ganesha.

The Dutch ruins at Vieux Grand Port are definitely recommended for an enjoyable excursion. The ruins are the oldest settlements in Mauritius and include the first Dutch fortifications. Excavation work is currently underway to uncover more aspects of Mauritian history.

Blue Bay is an absolute must-see. It offers some of the most beautifully blue waters and white sandy beaches on the whole island. Part of Blue Bay has been designated a Marine Park so snorkelling trips by boat should be sampled.

Weather in Mauritius

Mauritius experiences a hot and humid summer from December to April and a cooler, drier period from May to November.

On the coast, temperatures range from 25 to 33 degrees C (77 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer and 18 to 24 degrees C (64 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit) in winter. On plateau areas, the weather is somewhat cooler, while highland regions are typically very wet.

Travel destination for Mauritius

Mauritius has a population of around 1.3 million and the official language spoken is English. French, Chinese, Urdu and Hindi are also spoken so a holiday guide with language phrases would be helpful.

The country's official currency is the Mauritius Rupee, its international dialling code is +230 and the island is four hours ahead of GMT.