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by Malcolm Chambers 
I entered Mauritius from Harare, a pleasant and spacious trip with Air Mauritius, who pride themselves in the quality of their food and in-flight entertainment, and justly so. The flight took us over Mozambique and the Mozambique Channel, across Madagascar and eventually passing over the Indian Ocean to Mauritius.  Stunning beaches everywhere The island appears as idyllic from the air as from the ground. A coral reef protects the island, giving calm, safe waters, perfect for every water sport under the sun, including the opportunity to go under water and see some of the incredible marine life. The equipment used is perfectly safe for all ages, even if you don't swim or you are handicapped you can experience this amazing glimpse of another world. Round island excursions are readily available, which can either be taken with a guide provided by MauriTours or White Sands Tours or you can hire a car and do your own thing. The tourist board publish some very helpful literature and it is well worth obtaining a guide when you arrive.
 Paradis golf course
I was staying with the Beachcomber group of hotels which has several high quality properties throughout the island. My first couple of nights was at the Trou aux Biches, which I must admit, although I found a wonderful setting and delightful accommodation, was a little quiet, but I was soon to find out Trou aux Biches specializes in honeymoon couples, so enough said. From there I went to Le Paradis Resort, which is on a promontory on the south-west of the island. The checking in desk is strategically placed, looking across a beautiful swimming-pool and out to sea, a perfect view to greet new arrivals. The resort's eighteen hole golf course provides perfect holiday golf, not strenuous, but can still a challenge off the back tees. The high rock known as the Morne looks down on the course, a major landmark on the island. Paradis holds several amateur events throughout the year well worth combining with a week or two's holiday. The high standard the management set themselves is obvious with the quality of the food and the comfortable accommodation. White sandy beaches, swaying palms and an emerald sea provide the setting for a perfect holiday, whether you intend to laze or take part in any of the activities available on land or sea at Paradis. Sports fishing is very popular and will take you out beyond the reef where the merlins are; hanging up at the resort's Merlin restaurant is the world's largest catch - a huge monster of a fish taken on line from local waters. Mauritius is undoubtedly the playground of the Indian Ocean.  The 6th at Paradis golf course Originally discovered by the Arabs, the Portuguese visited the island briefly in the 1500's. The Dutch followed in 1638, persecuted the Dodo and it laid its last egg there in 1680. Sadly nothing will make up for the extinction of the Dodo, a preposterous bird that obviously tasted good. Unfortunately there is little knowledge of it, not even a mention on an old menu of the day; the only thing that does remain is a description of the bird by early navigators who landed on the island. The French arrived in 1715 bringing sugar and African slaves. In 1810 the British Navy won possession of the island, abolished slavery in 1835 and brought in Indian field workers. A small Chinese community also arrived. Mauritius, now independent, has achieved economic stability but still remains part of the Commonwealth. It was one of the locals who said "we are the tomato of the Indian Ocean - we go with everything".
 Club house putting green with18h green in distance at Belle Mare Plage
Mauritius cuisine echoes the island's diverse population, with English roasts, exotic Indian curries, French cuisine par excellence and Creole and Chinese delicacies. The golfing facilities in this strikingly beautiful and delightful part of the world have developed considerably over the past few years. They range from the challenging championship course of Belle Mare Plage to the ideal holiday eighteen hole layout of Le Paradis, there are also several good quality nine hole courses throughout the island. All enjoy a twelve months season. My trip ended all too soon. My last breakfast at Paradis conjures up memories of brilliantly coloured birds swooping through the open dining area, warm sun sparkling on the sea and early morning risers nestling in for a day on the beach; it seemed a pity to leave. I flew back to London with British Airways, dropping down on the Seychelles Islands on the way to pick up passengers. I will never get used to leaving a perfect climate and landing in London in mid winter. Water sports, incl. deep-sea diving, are a popular attraction End. |
Mauritius 
