Mauritius
A few years back I was lucky to visit the unspoiled paradise Mauritius. I can still remember the Vanilla scent my hotel room lingered in (the country is in love with their Vanillas - tea, rum, welcome towel scent, etc.! It was a trip filled with a variety of experiences ranging from the laid back beach lifestyle, to a day in the busy street markets, lush mountain treks and luxurious resort pampering. One thing that was present in all the experience was the warm hospitality of the locals, lovely Creole food and interesting cultural heritage. I just loved hearing the Mauritians speak French, and I was not even in France!
Here are snippets which take me back to paradise and allow you to dream about yours:
1. Spend the day at the sprawling property at Sugarbeach resort sipping cocktails or anything you fancy. The in-house restaurant, Citronella, offers the best Creole cuisine ever! The view isn’t bad either. You may even catch the staff playing live music/entertainment (in their colourful garb) to complete the beach vibe.
2. Spend a day inland and visit the Pamplemousses Garden – see the famous pond with giant water lilies. This botanical garden is the oldest in the southern hemisphere and is lovely to stroll in if you love your greens. Along the way, stop for scrumptious lunch at Le Fangourin restaurant and salon de the, which is nestled in breathtaking views of the mountain. You may also want to visit the L’adventure du Sucre which is right next to the restaurant. This is the sugar museum – learn the different types of sugar and how they are made. At the end of the tour, you can even concoct your very own rum to taste!
3. Visit Grand Baie’s sparklingly calm turquoise waters of the north. Surely there is one spot perfect for lunch and if you can’t settle on which one – take a catamaran ride out to Ilot Gabriel and have lunch there. You may even fancy a dive.
4. Just driving through towns you wouldn’t help but stop at interesting temple architecture – that is part of interesting Mauritian heritage. The drive back to your resort would not be complete without the tea plantation landscape – perhaps a visit to the biggest tea producer in the country – The Bois Cheri is in order. If South Africa has their Garden Route, Mauritius has their Tea Route!
5. A trip to Port Louis should not be missed – make your way to the town market and haggle away. Local souvenirs are aplenty, don’t forget to get tea samples! After a couple of hours a stroll down the waterfront is a must – variety of Mauritian dining options here. See old fashioned sugar estates by visiting Domaines Les Pailles