Travel Feature: Mauritius

Written by Brendah Nyakudya
Monday, 19 December 2011 11:58

When Portuguese sailor Don Pedro Mascarenhas and his band of merry men happened upon uninhabited land that would later become known as Mauritius, it was with an amazing lack of foresight that they left soon after due to a lack of interest.

What to them looked like a vast amount of nothingness has since established its place as one of the world’s top holiday resorts, a dream destination sought after by holidaymakers worldwide.

For those who have never had the opportunity to experience the gem that is Mauritius, here is some background information. Officially discovered in 1507, Mauritius (named after Dutch Prince Maurits van Nassau) is off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometres to the east of Madagascar. Dutch occupation under Admiral Wybrand van Warwyck ended in 1710, when sugar-cane production and animal breeding on the island failed to turn a profit. A few years later France took control, with governor Mahé de La Bourdonnais and his troops arriving in Port Louis in 1715. It was under de La Bourdonnais that a government was established. And while they may have lost the island to the British during the Napoleonic wars, the French influence can still very much be seen on the island.

Courtesy of World Leisure Holidays and Air Mauritius we were flown on to this island paradise in September, and we visited the idyllic sister resorts of La Pirogue and Sugar Beach located in Flic en Flac on the west coast of Mauritius.

LA PIROGUE

Our first stop was La Pirogue, a charming venue that pays tribute to the island’s fishing heritage. Named after and inspired by traditional Mauritian fishing canoes (pirogues) made from hollowed oak trees, it is set on 1 000 square metres of lush gardens (tended to by a South African company) filled with more than 1 000 coconut trees.

After a 45-minute drive to the venue from the airport, we arrived late in the evening and were warmly welcomed by staff who had patiently awaited our flight and transfer to the resort. Delicious cocktails were handed out, and dinner was served. The friendliness of the staff was commendable with nothing but professional warmth being shown toward visitors.

All exhaustion was forgotten as the beautiful women of Mauritius came out and treated us to the traditional dance, the sega! Dressed in colourful flowing skirts and matching tops, the lithe dancers twirled and fascinated us with their movements. The vibe was festive and entertaining – and diners were even treated to a dancing lesson.

After supper we were escorted to our rooms. As soon as we entered the rooms, we felt right at home. La Pirogue boasts luxurious yet comfortably simple rooms. These are bathed in warm light and filled with the scent of frangipani. Carved out of volcanic rock (the island has a number of extinct volcanoes) and wood, the thatched rooms offer a gorgeous view of the ocean, with hammocks dotted here and there beckoning weary travellers to completely relax. There is much attention to detail – chocolates and a goody bag filled with treats in our rooms did not escape our attention or appreciation. Falling asleep was easy.

The break of dawn brings about light that shows off the venue at its best. We woke up to gorgeous morning light beaming in through palm trees and hitting the water. As the manager gave us a tour around the venue, we spotted other content visitors lazing around swimming pools and playing areas – there was even a slightly nervous bride having her make-up professionally done on her patio in the Mauritian sun. La Pirogue is a popular venue for wedding parties, and the venue has tailor-made packages to suit any bridal party.

In terms of food, the venue has something for everyone. From the main venue, Thatches, to the more intimate Paul & Virginie restaurant, La Pirogue has plenty dining options for visitors to choose from.

SUGAR BEACH

We moved on to La Pirogue’s sister hotel resort, Sugar Beach. Though the two resorts share grounds and several features, including the Aura Spa, Sugar Beach has a totally different feel to La Pirogue.

As the name suggests, the resort’s architecture is reminiscent of the island’s original sugar plantation homesteads – there’s even a manor house at Sugar Beach! With the buildings painted in fresh greens and indulgent creams, it’s plantation-elegance-cum-contemporary-chic.

We arrived in the romantic light of the early afternoon, but it is in the evening that the beauty of the resort can be fully appreciated as many, many warm golden lights artistically illuminate the trees and buildings to present the splendour of the venue.

On arrival we were greeted by manager Andrew Slome, who served us some of the most sensational flavoured teas we’ve ever tasted – think vanilla and ginger – and handed us similarly fragranced towels to freshen up. An exquisite touch! As at La Pirogue, the accommodation at Sugar Beach is luxurious, but it is more modern and contemporary. The resort was recently renovated and re-modelled, with costs estimated at an incredible US$22.5 million. Guests can really expect a five-star experience.

The sprawling lawns are immaculately manicured and rooms are cool and spacious with cosy daybeds on the patio facing the pool. These daybeds are the perfect spot from which to watch the sunset as you sip on rum-laced cocktails after a swim on a balmy night. With his extensive experience in the hotel business, Andrew was able to add many a special personal touch including individually labelled bottles of rum and thoughtful gifts such as gorgeous white sarongs.

The tennis court, gym and spa ensure guests staying at Sugar Beach get a proper sense of wellness. The beach is a stone’s throw away, and the resort has no fewer than four large pools, so relaxing is easy.

Tides, a bar on the beachfront, caters for guests wanting to enjoy a night of music and fun. Our last evening on the island was made extra-special when we were invited to a special dinner at Tides hosted by Andrew. The menu and company at the dinner were awesome – it is a memory we will fondly treasure for some time to come.

HOLIDAY OPTIONS

Most Africans are yet to fully appreciate and take full advantage of all that Africa offers. The concept of holidaying is foreign to the extent that the only options people feel are available and affordable to them are Durban and Cape Town or moseying down to the rural areas to visit the folks. Venues such as Mauritius are still covered in the misconception of being too pricey and not having the amenities that will ensure fun for the whole family. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The sister resorts of La Pirogue and Sugar Beach have been created with the family in mind, and there are some amazing options available. A fully equipped kids’ clubs (Fun Kids Club and Teen Club at La Pirogue and Sun Kids Club at Sugar Beach) will certainly entertain the young ones while mom retreats to the Aura Spa, which delivers the most relaxing and delicious treatments, and dad works his way around Tamarina, one of the exclusive golf estates just 15 minutes away!

Over and above that there are a plethora of national sites of interest that will appeal to the whole family. Topping the list is the Pamplemousses Gardens, formally known as the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens. With amazing plant life and magnificent trees these botanical gardens are a treat. Of note is the bleeding tree, one of the most baffling yet gorgeous tree specimens. This tree oozes red sap, which eerily looks like blood, through its bark. This sap then turns black when it dries. The gardens also have lake filled with giant multi-coloured lilies. In-between the giant full-grown lilies are ones that are still growing but in the shape of hearts. Nature at its most breathtaking!

History buffs can make a turn at the landmark Chateau de Labourdonnais, a historical property that ended up in the hands of Christian Wiehe in 1854. A prominent figure in Mauritian history, Wiehe was a member of the island’s legislative council and its chamber of agriculture. A tour through the house reveals exquisitely restored neo-classical architecture and tells the story of a family from days gone by. On the grounds are gorgeous gardens and orchards and the ever-popular rum-tasting bar and restaurant.

Our time in Mauritius was packed with activities. We visited the markets and walked the streets and made sure to relax but also have fun and learn some in the process. For those who haven’t been, Mauritius is one holiday destination to consider – most definitely. Thinking of gorgeous sea and sky? Think Mauritius! It’s close enough to be affordable, even for large families, and far enough away to be considered a real exotic destination.