Mauritius flag

Mauritius

History

The Dutch landed and named the island after Maurice of Nassau.
France took the island as Isle de France and developed sugar plantations.
Britain captured the island and retained it at the 1814 treaty.
Slavery was abolished; indentured workers arrived from India in large numbers.
Independence came on 12 March; a republic followed in 1992.
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CapitalPort Louis
Population1.2M
Area2k km2
CurrencyMauritian rupee

Short facts

RegionEast Africa / Indian Ocean Africa
LanguageEnglish, French
Time zoneMUT (UTC+4)
Drives onLeft

Worth seeing

  • Le Morne Brabant: A basalt peak used as a refuge by escaped slaves, a UNESCO site.
  • Aapravasi Ghat: The Port Louis depot where indentured labourers arrived, a UNESCO site.
  • Black River Gorges: Upland forest holding the last of the island's endemic birds.

Find a city in Mauritius

Showing all cities

Port Louis thumbnailPort LouisCity

Planning questions

What is Mauritius known for?Le Morne Brabant, Aapravasi Ghat, Black River Gorges.
What is the capital?Port Louis.
Which language is useful?English, French.
When is the national day?12 March.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Use Port Louis as the first planning anchor for Mauritius, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Street food thumbnailStreet foodSignature dishCoffee thumbnailCoffeeLocal drink

Known for

Le Morne BrabantAapravasi GhatBlack River GorgesPort LouisStreet foodCoffee
Eurovision Song Contest thumbnailMusic & CultureFestivals, concerts and cultural calendars.Africa thumbnailIsland and coast routesMarine weather, beaches, reefs and island travel windows.