“We commemorate the triumph of our nation. Lengthy reside the Republic of Mauritius!” Because the speech attracts to a detailed, cheers get away amongst resort visitors and employees, the vivid multi-coloured flag is raised, and the sega music begins up. Welcome to Mauritius, the so-called paradise island and one of the profitable economies in Africa.
That is my first go to to the nation, coinciding with Nationwide Day, when Mauritius celebrates gaining independence from the British on 12 March 1968. I’m at Trou aux Biches Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa, watching a pool-side ceremony with dancers decked out within the flag’s colors – pink, blue, yellow and inexperienced – swirling round me.
There’s a celebration ambiance, coconut-milk cocktails are handed round, and the energetic beat from the sega band fills the air. Sylvain Petite, business government on the resort, tells me that the flag is symbolic for 2 causes.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek at the moment and get your first six journal points completely FREE
Get 6 points free
Signal as much as Cash Morning
Do not miss the most recent funding and private funds information, market evaluation, plus money-saving ideas with our free twice-daily publication
Do not miss the most recent funding and private funds information, market evaluation, plus money-saving ideas with our free twice-daily publication
The colors signify the bodily attributes of the nation – yellow for the solar, inexperienced for the sugar cane, blue for the sky and sea, and pink for the earth. However in addition they signify the cultural variety of the 1.3 million-strong inhabitants. The yellow symbolises the Hindus, pink for the Chinese language, inexperienced for Muslims, and blue for the Catholic and Creole residents. The combination of cultures makes for a novel, stunning island.
And whereas Mauritius is arguably most well-known for its palm-fringed white sand seashores, IT additionally boasts spectacular mountains, lush sugar-cane fields and calm lagoons. Tourism, Finance and textiles are the most important industries right here, because the sugar export market has waned (though sugar cane is now driving the native rum distilleries).
The white-sand seashore on the Trou aux Biches Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa
(Picture credit score: Beachcomber)
On my week-long journey, I participate in a rum tasting, and declare the Amélia rum – aged in port barrels – to be my favorite, particularly in an Outdated-Normal cocktail, with its scrumptious, deep orange notes.
Mauritius is typically often known as “Little India”, and there are definitely scenes evocative of the Asian nation. I spot brightly colored buses, tea plantations, the place the leaves are hand-picked by ladies with baskets on their backs, and Hindu temples decked out with fairly garlands.
Like in India, you drive on the left in Mauritius, making IT straightforward for British vacationers to discover the island.
However there may be additionally a lot extra to see and expertise than the Indian parallels recommend, akin to visiting the atmospheric capital metropolis Port Louis with its vibrant Chinese language temples and bustling market, and taking a ship to Île aux Aigrettes, which gives a glimpse into what the panorama might have regarded like within the time of the dodo. The extinct flightless hen was endemic to Mauritius, and is now the nation’s nationwide emblem.
Climbing, snorkelling, and easily enjoyable are additionally worthy actions, and I spend a number of time doing the second two.
Kayaking is likely one of the highlights of a keep on the Shandrani Beachcomber Resort & Spa
(Picture credit score: Beachcomber)
Three sustainable resorts
I visited a trio of Beachcomber resorts throughout my vacation. The primary, Shandrani, is a ten-minute drive from the worldwide airport, so IT’s ideally suited in case you’re drained after the 12-hour flight from London. I flew with Air Mauritius, which operated a easy check-in at Gatwick, and a cushty flight with attentive service.
The four-star Shandrani resort has three seashores, water sports activities (pictured proper), akin to kayaking and windsurfing, plus a spa. My highlights included snorkelling with tropical fish within the exquisitely clear waters, and essentially the most heavenly all-over-body therapeutic massage simply hours after I’d landed on the island. Out of the blue, the lengthy flight and wet England had been a distant reminiscence.
The pool on the Trou aux Biches Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa
(Picture credit score: Beachcomber)
Trou aux Biches, a five-star resort on the northwest of the island, was my subsequent cease. Set alongside a strip of white sandy seashore, throughout the shade of a 35-hectare tropical backyard, this was the right place for dramatic sunsets. There’s a Skilled Affiliation of Diving Instructors (PADI) diving centre, one other beautiful spa, a contemporary gymnasium, and a youngsters’s membership.
Apart from the Nationwide Day ceremony, one other excessive level was the cookery class with chef Satish at Indian restaurant Mahiya, the place we learnt make Mauritian hen curry with tacky naans.
Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa mixes beach-casual with magnificence
(Picture credit score: Beachcomber)
Paradis, within the southwest nook of the island, accomplished my journey. This five-star resort, subsequent to the breathtaking Le Morne Brabant mountain, re-opened its doorways final October after a €12m renovation. I liked newly refurbished eating places Blue Marlin and Zest, which blended beach-casual with a contact of magnificence. Don’t miss the fabulous membership sandwich on the former, and the splendid tiramisu on the latter.
The resort can be capable of organize early morning dolphin-watching excursions. We noticed a number of pods, with one spinner dolphin placing on a magical present of leaping and twirling.
Lastly, IT’s value highlighting Beachcomber’s sustainable credentials. IT was the primary resort group in Mauritius, and is the most important, with eight luxurious resorts. IT takes its environmental accountability severely, with a powerful 52 sustainable commitments.
These vary from utilizing recycled wastewater for irrigation and getting 10% of vitality from photo voltaic, to recycling practically 40% of waste, together with Nespresso espresso capsules and cooking oil.
From the unimaginable surroundings to the varied historical past, I fell in love with the Republic of Mauritius – and I can’t wait to return.
Shandrani: seven nights all-inclusive from £2,085 per particular person. Trou aux Biches: seven nights half board in a junior suite from £2,105pp. Paradis: seven nights half board from £2,190pp. All offers embody return economic system flights with Air Mauritius. Name Beachcomber Excursions on 01483 445 610, or go to beachcombertours.uk
IT/travel-holidays/review-three-magnificent-beachcomber-resorts-in-mauritius”>