Mauritius

Unlike most places, Mauritius had no Indigenous population when the first seafarers arrived. Arab sailors and later the Portuguese knew of the island, but it was the Dutch who landed in 1598 and named it after Prince Ma…

A raised bed in the courtyard, a community garden or simply swapping cuttings and seeds: gardening connects generations. People without a garden of their own are often happy to share a bed. Do you have plants, tools or …

Snow and ice are a real challenge for older or unwell neighbours. If you're clearing your own path anyway, you can often do a few metres more. Sharing a bag of grit between several houses saves effort too. Who in Agalég…

Moving for training or university is exciting, but it can feel a bit lonely at first. Sports groups, choirs, youth clubs or volunteering are great ways to meet people quickly. And sometimes just saying hi here is enough…

Sport doesn't have to mean pressure. Bouldering, skating, volleyball in the park or running with friends: the main thing is that you enjoy moving. Many clubs offer free taster sessions. What sport is popular in Agaléga …

Every place can become a little nicer to live in, and locals often have the best ideas. What would you improve in Agaléga: more benches, better cycle paths, a meeting place for young and old? Share your suggestions in a…

Not every day is sunny, and with kids you need good ideas when it pours. Where do you go in Agaléga when it's wet outside: the library, the swimming pool, a board-game café, or puddle jumping after all? Share your rainy…

Almost every region has a dish you won't find anywhere else, or a recipe handed down through the generations. What food simply belongs to Agaléga? Tell us your favourites and where to try them!

As with the Mascarene Islands, these islands may have been known to Arab and Malay sailors, although no written records have been found to confirm this. Agalega, or Galega, was examined by Captain Briggs of HMS Clorinde…

Agaléga (French: îles Agaléga) is a dependency of Mauritius, as defined by the Constitution of Mauritius, which consists of two outer islands located in the Indian Ocean, about 1,050 km (650 mi) north of Mauritius Islan…

Rivière Noire, or Black River, is the district on the western side of Mauritius, and it stands apart from the rest of the island because it receives noticeably less rainfall. With an area of 259 square kilometres it is …

Rivière Noire (Mauritian Creole: Rivièr Nwar, pronounced [ʁivjɛː nwɑː]) or Black River is a district on the western side of Mauritius. Rivière Noire translates to Black River. This region receives less rainfall than the…

Curepipe, known as La Ville-Lumière, lies high on the central plateau of Mauritius and is famous for its colonial architecture. The town grew especially in the second half of the nineteenth century, when many residents …

Vacoas-Phoenix, known in French as the "Villes Jumelles" or twin cities, grew from two neighbouring settlements on the cool central plateau of Mauritius, between Quatre Bornes and Curepipe. Their development accelerated…

In 1740 French maps showed the area of today's Quatre Bornes as forest slowly being cleared for settlement. The arrival of the railway in 1864 under British rule brought rapid growth to Plaines Wilhems, as people moved …

Port Louis was used as a harbour by Dutch settlers from 1606, who called it the Harbour of Tortoises. In 1736, under French rule, it became the administrative centre of the island and an important stopover for ships sai…

Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, known in French as the "Villes sœurs" or sister towns, grew from two neighbouring settlements on the central plateau of Mauritius. Like the rest of Plaines Wilhems, the area developed quickly in t…

Plaines Wilhems takes its name from Wilhem Leicknig, a settler of Prussian origin who arrived in 1721 on the island, then known as Isle de France. In the eighteenth century much of the area was still forest, but after t…

Moka District lies on the central plateau of Mauritius, among mountains, valleys and waterfalls. In the colonial era its cooler climate and fertile land attracted plantation owners, and the district is home to Eureka, a…

Rodrigues takes its name from the Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues, who came upon the then uninhabited island in 1528. Arab sailors may have known the Mascarene Islands as early as the tenth century, as early maps su…