the first strike

Mauritius is a great place to play golf. It has eight 18-hole golf courses and five nine-hole golf courses, most of which are built around exotic palm trees, bougainvillea, and lakes. From Le Tousseok to the sprawling grounds of the Beachcombers Le Paradis Hotel and Golf Club in the shadow of the towering Morne Mountains, there are plenty of options. Since Mauritius is a tropical island, the rain tends to last an hour or so and then stops, so you can still play golf pretty much any day. In the center of the island, there is the Gymkhana club with an 18-hole golf course, it is the oldest in the southern hemisphere.

Get a bird’s eye view of the island.

Fort Adelaide or La Citadelle, in the capital of Port Louis, was built by the British and sits atop a hill overlooking the harbour. To counter a likely invasion by the French and to control local settlers who opposed the abolition of slavery, the British built this massive black basalt structure. Today, it is a great place to enjoy panoramic views of the capital, the Sierra de Moka, the historic Champs de Mar racecourse and the port. The former barracks are now chic boutiques where you can spend an afternoon shopping.

Enjoy gastronomic delights

The cultural diversity of Mauritius is reflected in its food. Try the typical local street food dholl puri, a chapatti stuffed with beans and chilli, as well as drinks like alouda, made from milk and jam. Chinese dim sum and fried noodles, as well as the local version of spring rolls called hakien, are also staples along with Creole specialties like cari, rougaille, eggplant fritters, and a chili paste called mazavaroo. For dessert, try a coconut cake or sweet potato fritters.

Visit a miniature shipbuilding factory.

Building intricate ship models based on actual plans with attention to the smallest details is an island tradition brought back by sailors visiting the islands. Visit Le Port Ship Factory in the Zone Industrielle to see scale reproductions of historic ships made from actual plans, which are made from teak using the traditional plank-on-frame method. Artisans meticulously forge small metal and wood fixtures, and cotton fabrics are dyed with tea to make authentic candle cloth. In the final stages it is painted and polished. You can also see models of local fishing boats called pirogues, as well as the classic ship in a bottle. Models of great historic ships like the Astrolabe and the Cutty Sark also come with a printed history.

Tour to Creole house

Maison Eureka in the southwest of the island is a restored Creole mansion dating to 1860 with 109 doors, turrets, and a wraparound balcony. The family has restored it and turned it into a museum with each room following a theme, furnished with exquisitely carved furniture shipped from around the world by the East India Company. Check out the rooms with blue ceramic dishes, an antique shower, cinnamon wood cabinetry, and Limoges china. Walk through the extensive gardens with their mango and palm trees. The kitchen still has a functional wood stove and the house serves delicious Creole food.