The sanitary and epidemiological situation in Mauritius is calm. The water can also be drunk from the tap, it goes through a fairly thorough cleaning, but bottled drinks are still recommended. Products can also be bought in the markets – most often they are quite safe (except for the abundance of spices in local dishes), but it is still recommended to have gastric products with you, since even the mineral composition of water and food is quite different from the usual European stomach. There are no poisonous animals and insects on the island, but the bites of many representatives of the local fauna are painful and can cause allergic reactions. Care must be taken at sea – although large predators are practically not found, the thorns and spines of many marine life leave very painful wounds. There are quite strong currents behind the outer contours of the reefs, so diving outside the lagoons should be carried out only with local instructors. In the open sea, only fishing for large fish from specially equipped boats is allowed. Spearfishing and lifting objects from the bottom of the sea is prohibited or only carried out with special permission from local authorities. Collecting and breaking off corals is severely punished. The same applies to buying them from local merchants. Mauritians are very welcoming and friendly towards tourists. The island is often called the “Japan of the Indian Ocean” for the reluctance of local residents to say “no” even to the most trifling issue. Therefore, in order not to put the Mauritian in an uncomfortable position, questions should be asked clearly and unambiguously in order to avoid “wrong” response. Before visiting mosques and Hindu temples, dress modestly and be sure to take off your shoes before entering the temple. You should not talk loudly or laugh near places of worship. It is not officially forbidden to take pictures of temples, but it is still better to ask permission from the clergy before shooting. You should also be careful about photographing local residents – not all of them will take such an attempt calmly. In the country, they dine quite early – already at 11:00 most offices close for a break until 12:15. In Mauritius, a special narcotic herb grows and is sold almost uncontrollably on the beaches (allegedly by shell sellers). It is a serious violation of the law to use and carry it with you, for which the police can impose a heavy fine or even expel you from the country, regardless of whether it concerns a foreigner or a local resident. There are a lot of police on the streets and the crime rate is very low. Pickpocketing and petty theft are found almost exclusively in large tourist areas, and most often – because of the apparent carelessness of the “victim”. The island produces fairly cheap and high-quality jewelry and clothes, as well as many original national-style souvenirs, which are considered excellent souvenirs. Luxurious models of ships produced by local craftsmen at the highest level are also considered a “purely Mauritian” souvenir. Bargaining in most places is not only possible, but necessary. Mauritius does not apply the five-star hotel classification system. The categories of hotels are determined conditionally, in accordance with the standards of the Swiss Hotel Association, but meet the highest demands. Even in bungalows and small inexpensive studios, living conditions are very comfortable. Public and hotel beaches are cleaned daily not only from debris, but also from fragments of coral and algae, and in some places the sand is even sifted daily. Mains voltage 220 V., 50 Hz. Electric sockets are three-pin. Payment for services is usually included in the total price or indicated separately, but usually the amount of the tip depends only on the wishes of the client. Collecting and breaking off corals is punished quite harshly, as well as buying them from local merchants.
Attractions in Mauritius
According to diseaseslearning, Mauritius is not only magnificent beaches, warm sea, sun and exciting fishing. In the capital of the island, Port Louis, you can see the Government Palace – built in the colonial style, the Historical Natural Museum, which exhibits the DODO bird – the symbol of the island, and on weekends visit the races on the Champ de Mars. In the Domaine de Paille estate, located in the mountains, you can ride a mini railway, drive jeeps through the mountains, taste the rum produced on the estate and dine in one of the restaurants. The Botanical Garden is famous for its centennial plants, palm trees, huge water lilies and other wonders. In the central part of the island there is a magnificent colonial estate – Evreka. In the east is the wonderful village of Maeberg, next to which the Dutch landed in 1598, nearby is the Domaine du Chasse, a magnificent nature reserve for hunting with a variety of animals, including deer, monkeys, wild boars and many birds. More than 2,000 birds of 150 varieties inhabit the Kazela Bird Park in the west. In the southern part of the island, dominated by mountains, there is the lake Grand Bassin, sacred to the Hindus, and pilgrims from all over the island gather here in February to celebrate Maha Shavaratri. The place of Chamarel is a kind of geological landmark – multi-colored soils. The south coast, not protected by a reef and open to unrelenting winds, is a complete contrast to the calm northern beaches. Tourists are attracted here by the majestic Gris Gris cliffs and Rochester waterfalls. Mauritius is a decent place for scuba diving: clear water, beautiful underwater world, coral islands and natural aquariums. Quiet lagoons and sandy bays are protected from the open ocean by the third largest barrier reef in the world, almost surrounding the island. Near the coral reefs of Mauritius, there are almost all types of tropical fish of the Indian Ocean, including black and blue marlin, bonites, barracuda and sea bream. In the west of the island on the reefs of Albion, during night dives, you can see a lot of lobsters. Off the east coast near the capital, Port Louis, the 19th-century wrecks of the British frigate Sirius and the French transport Saint Geran lie at the bottom. All expensive hotels have a dedicated team of professional scuba divers, as well as a full range of equipment that can be rented. Visibility under water from 20 to 30 meters. The term big fishing can be applied to the island of Mauritius. Big fishing is catching large marine fish: tuna, sharks, barracudas, etc. The best season lasts from November to April, but you can fish at any time of the year. Fishing clubs have fast and well-equipped boats 12-14 meters long. The boat is served by a crew of 2 people, who will help in word and deed. They catch big fish outside the coral reefs a few miles from the coast. Boats can be chartered for a day or half a day.
