Mauritius, the eco-friendly way!

Greetings, everyone!  Earlier this year, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Mauritius. In my search for rest and relaxation spots, Mauritius soon came to the top of my list.  My current requirements for R&R destinations are:

• Islands, and therefore an ocean or sea;
• Interesting landscape that’s hike-able;
• Great cuisine, worth breaking keto for;
• Fresh seasonal fruit.

I think this is my personal recipe for ultimate rest and relaxation.  And if you are reading this post, there’s a large chance that you feel the same way.

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1. Introduction to Mauritius

Mauritius is an independent island nation 1100 km | 700 miles off the coast of Madagascar in the South Indian Ocean, or 2000 km | 1100 miles off the coast of the African mainland.  Mauritius was an uninhabited island for many centuries.  Although people are not native to Mauritius, do you know what is?  The famous, but extinct, dodo bird. 

In the Middle Ages, Arab explorers visited the island, but did not stay. Portuguese explorers in the early 1500s did the same and had little interest in staying on the island. It wasn’t until the Dutch inhabited the island in 1638 that Mauritius developed an economy around ebony trees and sugar cane. The Dutch also gave Mauritius its name, after Prince Maurice of Nassau. By 1710, the Dutch abandoned their settlements.

Fast forward an occupation by the French, who brought African slaves to the island, and then a war with the British, that ended in French surrender after 5 days, in December 1810. When the British took over Mauritius, slavery was still ongoing, but by 1835, the crown abolished slavery in its colonies. Following the abolition of slavery, the British brought indentured servants from India to supplement the shortage of labor in the sugar fields. Unfortunately, the Indian indentured servants were not treated any better than the slaves.

By 1968, the British granted independence to Mauritius, with Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam as their new prime minister, and Queen Elizabeth II still retaining the title of head of state, and Queen of Mauritius. Since 1992, Mauritius has been a republic, independent of Britain.

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2. Mauritius Conscious Travel

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored, in part, by Mauritius Conscious Travel.

Included in my custom package:

• 7 nights lodging
• 7 days rental car (automatic transmission)
• Breakfast (every day), lunch (1), dinners (4), one food tour that can sustain you through lunch
• Entrance tickets or local guides for 6 activities
• Suggested activities for free days
• Donation to offset your carbon footprint
• Custom Google Maps for your trip

Excluded:

• Flights
• Travel insurance
• Petrol / gasoline for the rental car

Interested in a trip to Mauritius?
Contact them here and see a sample itinerary,
made just for my blog readers!

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3. My Costs

• Travel arrangements by Mauritius Conscious: 1452 EUR | $1631 USD;
• Dubai to Mauritius round trip flight on Emirates (paid by my work): 4275 AED | $1163 USD;
• Kabul to Dubai round trip flight on Emirates (paid by my work): $442 USD;
• Petrol / gasoline for one week: approximately 2,200 MUR | $58 USD.

Total cost: $3294 USD.

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4. Lodging

Everything is tailor-made on this trip! Including my choices for lodging, which comprised of local guesthouses with boundless hospitality, delicious local cuisine for breakfast and dinners, and lots of friendly, Mauritian smiles around.

For the first part of my trip, I stayed at a delightful guesthouse in historic Bel Ombre (“bell om” for those who want to pronounce it correctly). Located in the South, the guesthouse is situated on the property of an old Bel Ombre plantation. The stay also included free access of a nearby beach club, as well as entrance to the plantation house.

I absolutely loved staying at this guesthouse! Everything was so stylish and comfortable. The staff were amazing! Every morning, before I could function, they knew I would need a coffee, even before food showed up.

At this location, breakfast and dinner were included. Breakfast typically had made-to-order eggs, crepes, fresh breads and jams, and fruit. The dinners were amazing, and normally has a buffet of Mauritian, creole cuisine or barbecued, grilled meats. The last night I was there, they served a normal sit down dinner, of Mauritian cuisine.

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For the second guesthouse, I moved to Belle Mare, on the northeastern coast of the island. Opened by a Thai and Mauritian couple, it was a hidden sanctuary in the tropics. The guesthouse was separate from another complex that housed the pool. The dining area was there too, with a view of the lake.

This location is great for those who want to unwind and take a break from the outside world. WiFi is only available in the public spaces and dining area, not in the rooms. Normally this is fine, as long as I’m mentally prepared for it. Unfortunately, I had work to do, so this made it a little challenging.

The meals at the guesthouse were also amazing! Dinners are usually a Thai and Mauritian mix, with one dinner having a chicken satay appetizer and some curries and cole slaw. Absolutely delicious! The breakfasts were equally as amazing, with a fresh fruit platter, crepes, and some eggs!

Click here to read about Mauritius’ COVID-19 Travel Update

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5. Activities

5.1. Eau Bleu Waterfalls

My first day in Mauritius, fresh from Kabul and a long layover in Dubai, I landed at MRU at 09:00 AM. What better way to get rid of the exhaustion of travel than jumping into a fresh pool from a waterfall? I know not everyone is as adventurous as I am, but I cannot recommend this enough!!

Day 1 #Mauritius, a few hours after my red eye flight, I jumped in here. Literally. 🤩🇲🇺 pic.twitter.com/DTsekSRQrn

— Lannie (@lannietravels) February 22, 2020

My guide, Vik, and I did a mild hike to reach a secluded waterfall area, and took a break to jump in and relax. Vik is a part time hiking guide, who has a genuine passion for conservation. We picked up some trash along the way and took it with us when we left. We only have the one earth – we need to take care of it.

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5.2. Ile aux Aigrettes

The next day was learning about conservation with a tour to Ile aux Aigrette, an islet off the east coast of Mauritius. The island is a nature reserve and has a research station for local flora and fauna. Ile aux Aigrette is also home to the last remains of the “dry coastal forest”, which before deforestation, covered all of Mauritius Island, as well. Unlike Mauritius, which is a volcanic island, Ile aux Aigrette was formed of calcified limestone layers over the centuries.

Similar to Mauritius Island, Ile aux Aigrette suffered in the past due to logging and land clearance. It wasn’t until 1965 when it was declared a nature reserve, that intense conservation of the island began.

Rose, our guide, taught us about the different species of plants and animals on the island, both existing and extinct. There is also ample bird watching available, but the real stars of the show are the tortoises that live on the island. The one below, next to Rose, is about 90 years old, and old George with me is 100+!

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5.3. Blue Bay snorkeling, from a glass bottom boat

A short drive down the road is Blue Bay, the most beautiful waters you can find. Perfect for snorkeling, or relaxing and looking through a glass bottom boat. I honestly could not give you any more specifics on the reef or any of the coral or fish in the bay. The excursion was guided, but they only spoke French from the beginning and I did not make the effort to tell them I only spoke English.

After the glass bottom boat and snorkeling, we were taken across the bay to an island that the government leased out to a resort. We hung out on the island while our hosts prepared a lunch for us! Fish curry, coleslaw and rice. And of course, they paired it with a view of Blue Bay and Lion Mountain, and some rum punch!

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5.4. Lion Mountain

The next day, I was back with Vik, attempting to hike up Lion Mountain! I say “attempt” because it was so much tougher than I expected! More on that in a bit…

Lion Mountain is located in the southeast part of Mauritius, overlooking the Vieux Grand Port (the old port where the Dutch landed in 1598) and the coastal town of Mahébourg (pronounced MAY-burg). Rising to a height of 480 meters, Lion Mountain is a landmark on this side of the island. The hike is a bit challenging, and not recommended for people with lower fitness levels. Part of the challenge is the terrain, which varies from the infamous 102 stairs in the beginning, to rocky, uneven terrain. When you get closer to the top, there is also some bouldering. For those inexperienced in “bouldering,” that is both hands and feet on rock face, pulling yourself upward!

Imagine me, with my approx 7-10 kg backpack full of camera gear. Ok, before you say anything, this is my normal hiking backpack weight due to all my camera equipment! When I don’t bring my camera gear, the regrets run so deep that I purposely train to carry all this weight with me on hikes. And in fairness, I didn’t know there would be aspects of “climbing” on this hike. So, all of this just to say, a HUGE THANK YOU to Vik, for being patient and understanding with me. There were moments that were personally challenging and frustrating.

When I say “leave me alone,” I really only mean, “let me try my best to manage on my own.” If I still fail, I will ask for your help and be grateful that you offered help to begin with.

– said the stubborn, independent w-o-m-a-n, who really appreciates the offer.

The hike was originally advertised to take 3 hours total, but Vik and I ended up taking over 6 hours. Sure, we stopped along the way and at the top, but I cannot imagine having done this at twice the speed! Luckily we had enough water and snacks to keep us both alive. And, true to Vik’s eco-conscious ethos, we picked up trash along the way, as well. Unfortunately, as before at Eau Bleu, we found trash inside nooks and crannies of the boulders, as well as at scenic viewpoints. Let’s keep this earth beautiful, people!

We still picked up trash along the way, despite my challenges.

To keep me going at the very end, when motivation was at an all time low, Vik made the promise of bringing me to “the best noodles in Mahebourg.” Is there any better motivation than that? Obviously not. Well, when you promise me noodles at the bottom of a mountain, you better believe I’ll make it down! And we did. Thank you, Vik for the two incredible hikes! And of course, the spicy noodles (called millie boouillie manguac).

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5.5. Chamarel

Located in the Rivière Noire District of Mauritius, the village of Chamarel is home to many of the island’s natural wonders – waterfalls, ebony forests, and the 7 Colored Earth. While my itinerary also suggested a visit to the Black River Gorges National Park and the Bois Cheri Tea planation, due to unforeseen circumstances, regretfully, I was unable to make it there. Instead, I added my own nuance, and stopped by the Rhumerie de Chamarel (the Chamarel Rum Distillery) for a tour and some lunch.

I detoured to Rhumerie de Chamarel for a few reasons:

• Given Mauritius’ history of sugar cane and its recent emergence on the global rum scene, I really wanted to visit a rum distillery;
• I heard that its restaurant, L’Alchimiste (the Alchemist), was amazing;
• If you eat lunch at L’Alchimiste, your rum tasting and tour is free!

In addition to the above reasons, the rum tasting came with NINE DIFFERENT RUMS. Nine! Sure, I’ve had eight course tasting menus of tacos and Scottish fare, but alcohol? Nine different rums? It was unreal! I purposely chose to do the tour and tasting before lunch, so I could sober up during lunch. This trip, afterall, has been a solo, driving adventure. Safety first!

Fully sober, I had to cut my day short in search of a gas station. I did not pass a single gas station between Bel Ombre and Chamarel, and after asking several locals, the nearest gas station was in Black River (in the opposite direction of Black River Gorges National Park and Bois Cheri Tea). According to Google Maps, it was about 16 km away, and my trusty car indicated I had 39 km left on this tank.

After awhile, my car stopped its countdown, basically telling me: it’s dire. Get gas now! In situations like that, there is literally nothing you can do but hope that the 39 km, even with a little plus or minus, means you can still at least drive half of that. And even if 20 km (half) was my absolute maximum, I could still make it to Black River to fill up.

I can sense my sister’s anxiety rising as she is reading this. She would never allow the gas tank to get to that level, basically, systematically filling up when the car has one-quarter of a tank left. If only I learned from her… but no. Just so everyone can rest assured, SPOILER ALERT: I made it to the gas station.

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5.6. Litchi Wine Tasting

Nestled in the middle of the island is a unique winery, which likes to do things differently. But hey, different is good! I love different!

So, how is this winery different?

Well, for starters, they make their wine from lychees, not grapes! For those who don’t know, lychees are a tropical fruit, with a delightful pink shell covering the white fruit (with a sizeable seed) on the inside. I’ve had lychee martinis and lychee cocktails in the past, but lychee wine was new to me! Due to Mauritius’ varied microclimates, the fruit itself is not grown on the property. The fruit comes from local Mauritian farmers, from the northern part of the island.

Lychee Fruit

Another thing that sets this winery apart from others is their committment to being ecologically friendly. The winery uses Mauritius’ abundant rainwater to wash and clean its fermentation vats. All of the discarded parts of the lychee are subsequently used in the winery’s vegetable garden or on the grounds.

The winery also has a restaurant on site. In the quiet, calm Mauritian countryside, having lunch, paired with a wine tasting, there was nothing more I could ask for in life. The tasting comprised of three different wines – two whites and a rose. The wines are sweet, light and crisp – perfectly refreshing for a summer’s day.

Thank you, Mauritius Conscious, for sponsoring this delightful wine tasting, and for planning such a great trip!

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5.7. Port Louis Historical and Food Tour

On my last full day in Mauritius, I finally set foot in Port Louis, the capital city! And what better way to round out the trip than walking, eating, and learning about the history of Port Louis?

Jaya is the most delightful guide. She is also a part time artist who loves sharing insights and stories of her home! The tour took us through Port Louis’ Indian and Chinese neighborhoods to visit generations-old shops, cultural landmarks and of course, trying all the food that we could!

One of the most unique things about this experience was the access to hidden gems around these ethnic enclaves of Port Louis. I can’t give away all the secrets, but it is absolutely worth it! These hidden gems show you a side of Mauritius that you don’t often get to see. Secret places in the Jummah Mosque, behind the scenes look into the Chinese community center (the stuff of my memories!!!), hidden courtyards, and families and businesses that have been around for generations. This experience fills your heart with rich stories of Mauritius and Mauritians and fills your belly with delicious Mauritian food.

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6. Parting Thoughts

What an absolute fun-filled week in Mauritius!! Having a tailor-made itinerary gives you so much flexibility to have the exact holiday that you want! Local perspectives and stories made the experience so much richer! Not only that, you can rest assured that you are doing your part in being an environmentally responsible tourist, promoting sustainable travel.

As part of the package, Mauritius Conscious Travel has made a donation to offset all the carbon from your trip, including flights and your driving! That makes this a carbon neutral trip! Feel free to read more on Mauritius Conscious’ Sustainable Travel Policy.

If you are looking for an eco-friendly, sustainable travel option, look no further than Mauritius with Mauritius Conscious Travel!

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7. Partnership

To conclude this post, I am delighted to announce that I have partnered with Mauritius Conscious as an ambassador. I am only counting down the days to when I can return to Mauritius to experience more local delights! Mauritius Conscious also helps create itineraries for neighboring Reunion Island and Rodrigues Island. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have about my trip, or my partnership with Mauritius Conscious!

As a disclaimer, if you book a holiday with Mauritius Conscious, I am eligible to receive a commission for your referral.

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8. Interested in going to Mauritius?

If you’re interested in a trip to Mauritius, enter your contact information and a speciailist will get back to you ASAP!

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