Most travellers know that Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean, and if asked to pin it on a blank map, would probably put it somewhere around the middle of the ocean, equal distance from Africa, Asia and Australia. But it’s actually much closer to continental Africa than it is to any part of continental Asia, so for that reason the answer to the question “Is Mauritius in Africa or Asia?” is that it’s considered to be part of Africa.
In a way that’s a pity because I’d love to be writing abut Mauritius for xyzAsia. I’ve only been to Mauritius once. That was on the way back from a trip to Madagascar. Unlike Madagascar, Mauritius feels much more like Asia than it does Africa. A former British colony, and a French colony before that (hence the French names of many of its towns), both English and French are widely spoken, as well as a number of Creole dialects.
The rugged mountains in the interior of Mauritius island. Image: © David Astley
The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, and is often described as a melting pot of Africans, Indians, Chinese and Europeans. It has a tropical climate and the production of sugar from sugar cane is one of its major industries. Offshore financial services is another, as well as tourism, despite the long air distances from Africa, Asia or the Middle East.
Mauritius makes an ideal stopover for those planning a trip from Asia to Africa, or vice-versa, as there are direct flights from Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Dubai and Istanbul.
African destinations that can be reached by direct flights from Mauritius include Cape Town, Johannesburg, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, as well as Madagascar.
Mauritius has long been regarded as one of the safest and most peaceful countries in the world, and those factors together with its unpolluted beaches and crystal clear waters have made Mauritius a popular destination for older travellers who have “been there, done that” in other parts of Asia.
Downtown Port Louis - the laidback capital of Mauritius. Image: © David Astley
The quality of accommodation is good on Mauritius and prices are on a par with Thailand or Malaysia (i.e. generally cheaper than the Maldives) and many travellers go to Mauritius just for the food. Imagine creole cuisine with French, African, Chinese and Indian influences, and you’ll have a feeling of what to expect.
The seafood is as fresh as it could be and Mauritian curries are in a world of their own. Their dholl puri (a split pea pancake filled with a spicy bean curry), chicken or seafood boulet (zesty dim sum better than even the Chinese can make) and salade palmiste (smoked marlin or fresh prawn salad with avocado and crispy palm hearts) are some of the dishes that will have your mouth watering before your flight has even touched down.
Mauritius is one of those places that I’ve had on my “must go back again” list for many years.