Mauritius Family Holidays

Overview

Seen by many as the ultimate Indian Ocean destination for families, this volcanic island combines long, uncrowded white-sand beaches, warm seas, rare wildlife, a thrilling landscape of mountains, waterfalls, sugar-cane fields, lagoons, reefs and islets, and a fascinating colonial history – it has been Dutch, French and English and has an incredible ethnic mix including large populations from India, Madagascar, continental Africa and China. Mauritius also offers some incredibly child-friendly hotels with fantastic service (including concierges who can arrange excursions) and great facilities, and English is the official language. The weather in Mauritius is glorious year-round, with little variation between winter and summer (the short wet season lasts from January to March). Low season falls in our summertime, while Christmas and Easter are busiest and thus most expensive.

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Things to do with kids in Mauritius

• Snorkel, sail or take a catamaran out to see dolphins. Full-day outings to nearby islets include the Ile aux Cerfs off the east coast, for swimming, snorkelling, water-skiing, pedaloing and a fish BBQ beneath the coconut palms.

• Try the Solar Sea Walk Undersea Walk in Grande Baie, wearing a special diving helmet to see fish and corals at a depth of 3m in a tropical lagoon.

• Travel in a Blue Safari submarine to a depth of about 30m off the north coast, piloted by marine-biologist guides. Alternatively, try one of their 'sub-scooters' (ages 8+).

• Explore Anse Jonchée nature park with its nature trails, spice plants, and stags, Javan deer, wild boar, monkeys, hares and windhover kestrels.

• Discover the Black River Gorges National Park, with endemic plants and animals including the Mauritian flying fox, parakeet and cuckoo-shrike, 60km of trails and picnic areas.

• Take an eco-tour of the Ile aux Aigrettes nature reserve in the coastal ebony forest that once housed the famously extinct dodo, now home to endangered species including kestrels, pink pigeons, day geckos, giant Aldabra tortoises and rare orchids.

• Head to the rim of Trou-aux-Cerfs, an extinct volcanic crater now filled with woods, for full-on island views.

• Venture to the sacred Hindu lake of Ganga Talao in another crater in the mountains, with temples to Lord Shiva and giant eels to feed.

• Visit La Vanille Nature Park in a tropical forest in a former vanilla-growing area, with Nile crocs, giant tortoises, large Madagascan lizards, bats, wild pigs and an insectarium.

• Spend an afternoon at Casela Nature Parks with its via ferrata, zip-lines, luge, safari quad biking, birds and other wildlife, mini-golf, 4D cinema and more.

• Find out about the island’s sugar production at L'Aventure du Sucre, a child-friendly museum in a former sugar factory.

• Visit a local market for a glimpse of local life – Flacq has the island’s largest and most colourful market.

• Spend time getting to know the island capital, Port-Louis, with markets, temples and a Chinatown.

• Learn about tropical spices and exotic plants at the botanical Jardin de Pamplemousses, including giant water lilies.

• Ask your hotel concierge about quad-biking, windsurfing, trekking, mountain-biking, horse-riding, canyoning, rock-climbing, sea-kayaking, para-sailing and helicopter flights.

• Try the local food: cuisines range from French to Chinese and Indian. Local favourites include curries, rougaille (a local version of French ragout with tomato, onion and corned beef or salted snoek fish) and Indian sweets. If you like spice, don't miss street food such as gâteaux piments (‘chili cakes’), samosas and octopus curry in bread. Parents should sample the local cane rum with coke or coconut water and lime, or island Phoenix or Black Eagle beers.