Family holidays in Mauritius may not necessarily be your first choice; a lot of people have the misconception that Mauritius is for couples and honeymooners but that is far from true. Mauritius is the perfect place to take your whole family. It’s not just a beach holiday, there are so many things to do there for adults and children alike that it would be a great holiday for you and your children, no matter what age they are!
The majority of hotels in Mauritius are incredibly child friendly, most having large rooms and staff that are great with the kids! The excellent restaurants are used to catering for children, so you can all eat well and not be worried about anything. School holidays, no matter what time of the year, can be filled with a trip to Mauritius as the weather there is almost perfect for holidays, the only short wet season they have is January to March, but even then the weather is still excellent.
From the UK Mauritius is 12 hours away and there are regular flights. BA fly from Heathrow to Mauritius three times a week and Air Mauritius have five flights a week.
Some of the world’s finest hotels can be found in Mauritius and facilities for both children and adults are generally terrific.
Mauritian food is a fantastic mix of French, Chinese and Indian cuisine, so there’s bound to be something for all the children.
Casela Nature and Leisure Park is an unmissable family day out. From activities like rock climbing and mountain biking or quad biking to safari photo shoots and nature walks spotting Java deer, wild boar and giant fruit bats, there’s mini golf for kids, aviaries containing 1,500 birds plus a wonderful hill top restaurant with unbeatable views of the west coast, Casela has it all and will keep everyone amused all day!
L’Aventure du Sucre is a former working sugar factory is now a fascinating museum. It is the only place in Mauritius where you can learn about every aspect of the history of sugar and its impact on the economic and social development of the nation. If you want to education and fun then put aside at least half a day and finish off with tastings of speciality sugars in the adjacent Village Boutik which is also a lovely place to visit.
Coloured Earths – Until recently this monument to the volcanic origins of the island was disappointing, due to unregulated access and the trampling of tourists. However now timber viewing platforms and walkways encircle this geological wonder of multicoloured rolling landscape. The colours, best seen in the morning, never fade and some scientists say it is due to the uneven cooling of volcanic lava it’s a wonderful sight that can be fun and educating at the same time!
Honeymooners, empty nesters and families with kids all enjoy the tropical ambience of Ile aux Cerfs for water sports and boating. Tour operators can arrange trips from here to Mauritius’ longest river, Grand River South East and its impressive waterfalls. Whatever you choose to do, you now know that family holidays in Mauritius are very much possible and great fun for all!