Mauritius, known officially as the Republic of Mauritius, is a densely populated island nation located off the southeast coast of the African continent in the Indian Ocean, having population of about 1.2 million people. It is a volcanic island of lagoons and palm-fringed beaches with coral reefs surrounding most of the coastline.
The island is situated approximately 2400 kilometers off the South East Coast of Africa.
Mauritius is known as a plural society where all the ethnic groups are present: Hindus, Muslims, Creoles, Chinese and Europeans live in peace and where all the ancestral cultures have been preserved. These features make the island a unique place in the world, and the Mauritians known for their tolerance and kindness towards all people.
Most Mauritians are bilingual being equally fluent in French and English. English is the official language, but French and Creole are widely spoken. Oriental languages also form part of the linguistic mosaic.
Mauritius has preserved its image as one of Africa’s few social and economic success stories, being a sugar and clothing exporter and a center for upmarket tourism.
Mauritius has earned the reputation of a top holiday destination, but only few of the island visitors know that Mauritius is one of the leading destinations in the world while referring to the large variety of the activities it offers in comparison to its size.
When visiting Mauritius you are sure to benefit from an amazing selection of almost 200 activities, attractions and places of interested all waiting to discovered.
From more traditional museums, parks and reserves, to extreme activities, sea cruises, island trips and many more, you will find it all!
AAPRAVASI GHAT
This historical site is a symbol of Mauritian identity since the ancestors of more than 70% of today’s local population arrived on the island through this immigration depot. The depot was created to receive indentured laborers coming to work in the sugar plantations during the early post-slavery years of 1834-1920.
The Indentureship involved a mass migration of workers from India, China, Africa and South East Asia to work in colonies. Mauritius was the first country which had successfully recoursed indentured labour. Other British, French and Dutch colonies then adopted the system. Consequently, there was a massive worldwide migration of more than 2 million indentured labourers, of which Mauritius received almost half a million. Other colonies such as Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, Cuba, Peru and Reunion Island proceeded with indentureship.
In April 1987, the Aapravasi Ghat was declared a national monument by the Government of Mauritius and in 2006, the Aapravasi Ghat became the first indenture site in the world to be inscribed on UNESCO’s famous list of World Heritage Sites.
