Capital City

Port Louis

Language

English (official), French, Bhojpuri,

Morisyen

Currency 

Mauritius Rupee

Visited Points

Chamarel, Curepipe, Flic en Flac, Grand

Bai, Tamarin, Quatre Bornes

Background

Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in 1505; it was subsequently held by the Dutch, French, and British before independence was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather and declining sugar prices have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests over standards of living in the Creole community.