Exploring Mauritius: Walking with Lions, Skydiving and Jungle Adventures

Mauritius is a small island in the Indian Ocean, to the east of Madagascar, near South Africa. Discovered in early 1500 by Portuguese explorers, later ruled by the French, and finally by the British, it became independent in 1968.

Mauritius model

The island was formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago and you can still see traces of volcanic ash all over the island.

Port Louis gate

The capital of the island is Port Louis and it is one of the richest cities in Africa.

City Center of Port Louis

The island is considered to be one of the most luxurious islands in the world, along with the Maldives, Seychelles and Hawaiian Islands. More than 1,500 couples come here every year to celebrate their union and have an exotic wedding on the beach.

Colorful umbrellas Mauritius

Port Louis waterfront

The city itself is quite small. It has a waterfront, which operates as a port and business hub. 

Sugarcane on Mauritius

It's a nice place to have a walk..

Drinking sugarcane juice on Mauritius

..and enjoy a refreshing sugar cane juice, for example.

Making sugarcane juice

Process of making sugarcane juice.

Dodo stamp in passport

Mauritius has its own national symbol - the Dodo - an extinct species of flightless bird. They were found only on this island and nowhere else in the world. The bird is so popular that they even have it on passport stamps.

Enjoying nightlife on Mauritius

Nightlife on Mauritius.

Driving on Mauritius

Since the British were the last to rule Mauritius, you can still see evidence of this today - like driving on the left side of the road - but you get used to this pretty quickly.

Huge sugarcane fields Mauritius

The first thing you notice about the island is the amount of sugar cane. It’s literally everywhere. Sugar cane fields occupy almost 80% of the island.

Volcanic rock on Mauritius

Thanks to the ocean climate, the average life expectancy on Mauritius is 73 years old, which is considered to be among the highest in developing countries.

Mauritius island coastline

The coral reef around the island helps to keep the ocean water temperature lower than in the open seas and protects humans from shark attacks.

Mauritius from above

View from above.

Casela park entrance

The island has several national parks with many different hiking trails. But one of the most popular places to visit is the safari park Casela.

Casela safari ride ostrich

Casela safari

You can look at different attractions, see the wildlife, try a jeep safari, quad bikes or even walk with lions.

Walk with lions

The feeling was pretty much extreme and safe all at the same time. The lions are used to having people around and don’t see them as targets. Nevertheless, it’s still quite alarming to be so close to one of these creatures.

Walk with lions on Mauritius

A lot of people have asked me about the stick. The lions are taught from an early age that the person with the stick is the master and they have to obey him. So you have to carry the stick during the entire walk.

Mauritius paradise island

Another challenge for us was to find the most beautiful beaches on the island.

Crazy vacation on Mauritius island

We tried to explore as much as possible.

Mauritius romantic escape

Some beaches where absolutely standard,

Romantic escape on Mauritius

while others were a little more exotic but, on the whole,

Acro yoga

we couldn’t find a single beach you’d call “paradise”. I mean, they do look good but are still nothing compared to the beaches on the Maldives or Seychelles. 

Getting tanned on Mauritius

Nevertheless you still get a feeling you’re in paradise. 

Mauritius sunrise

So we’d call this more of a hiking, nature island than a beach resort.

Buying coconuts on Mauritius

Mauritius is, without doubt, a place worth visiting. Just don’t expect it to be golden beaches lined with palm trees.

Beautiful sunrise on Mauritius island

The island is a challenge for explorers and adventure lovers. If you fancy a safari, a skydive or hiking through the jungle to the very peak of a mountain, you will definitely fall in love with it.

The coral reef around the island helps to keep the ocean water temperature lower than in the open seas and protects humans from shark attacks.

Just make sure to stock up on enough sunscreen and other supplies through an online supermarket Mauritius residents themselves patronise. This way, you won't have to worry about sunburns even after a long day at the beach.

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Written by

I’ve been travelling ever since a was a child but my first large trip was at the age of 13 when I was sent to live for a couple months to London. This trip has changed me and ever since I just want to see more and more of our beautiful world. Every trip gives me new emotions, charge and strength to keep going further.

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