How Family-Friendly Is Mauritius? 6 Activities with Kids

Mauritius is often considered a destination for couples. Hands up! I went there on my honeymoon. Yes, the island in the Indian Ocean is perfect for a couple’s holiday but there is more to the country than its long sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Mauritius is also a child-friendly destination with plenty of activities to keep younger travellers occupied, from infants to teenagers. If you are thinking of taking a holiday to Mauritius – or have booked a trip – here’s a selection of things to do Mauritius with kids.

Seven Coloured Earths, Chamarel

You may have heard about the island’s white sandy beaches but did you know it’s famous for its rainbow sand dunes? The natural swirls of red, brown, green and purple can be seen at their best at the Coloured Earths in Chamarel.

Close to these beautiful coloured sands – which will quickly fill up your Instagram feed – are the Chamarel Falls. You can view Mauritius’ highest waterfalls in the Black River National Park from both a lower and upper viewpoint.

Sugar Museum (L’adventure du Sucre)

You can’t fail to see the acres of sugar cane growing in Mauritius as you drive through the country. In the 19th century the island had over 300 factories. Now there are just four but it remains the country’s main source of income after tourism.

At L’adventure du Sucre (Sugar adventures) you can learn more about the history of the island and its sugar production at one of its old factories. The interactive tour in this Willy Wonka-style space educates in a fun, engaging way – for the whole family. There are sweet treats along the way too. You’ll certainly leave with a greater appreciation of the plants as you drive past them waving in the fields.

L’adventure du Sucre is close to the Botanical Gardens in Pamplemousse.

Enjoy the Marine Life

Mauritius is famous for its crystal blue sea. Underneath lives another world of sea life. Go snorkelling as you enjoy the white sands of Mauritius. If you have older children, there’s the option to take a catamaran tour and go whale and dolphin watching. For younger children, you could take a submarine or a semi-submarine tour where you can admire the underwater world in comfort.

The Blue Safari Submarine company runs trips suitable for ages 3 to 85.

Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens are one of the island’s most popular attractions. At 300 years old, it is also one of the oldest in the southern Hemisphere. Understand more about Mauritius’ native plants at the gardens. You can also check out the 85 different varieties of palm trees from all over the world. The centrepiece of the gardens is a pond filled with water lilies native to South America. Hire a guide to get a better understanding of the gardens and its plants.

Mauritius’ Botanical Gardens are located in the north of the island in the district of Pamplemousse.

La Vanille Nature Park

The main attraction at La Vanille Nature Park are its 2,000 nile crocodiles which are bred there. Children can learn about the prehistoric animals and, for those brave enough, hold a baby croc. The reptiiles’ jaws are held together with a rubber band so there’s no danger of getting snapped. It has a daily crocodile feeding show at 11.30am. The park also has Aldabra giant tortoises which you can see being fed twice daily.

Casela World of Adventures

More animal fun awaits at Casela World of Adventures. Zebras, ostriches, white rhinos and  impalas are some of the animals to be seen. In the petting farm children can try tilapia fishing, animal feeding and take a pony ride. Older children (8-14) can try their hand at being a  zookeeper for the day.

Where to stay? Villas in Mauritius

For families, often the most relaxing way to enjoy another country is by staying in a villa. It offers the space and freedom to enjoy family time – and couple time in the evening.

Villa rental agency, Villa Finder, specialises in helping families find their perfect holiday villa. Its properties are thoroughly inspected (and re-inspected) for their quality and they offer a selection of mid to high-range properties across Mauritius.

When booking, each client has a thorough consultation with one of its agents to find the right villa and destination for their family.

Family travel can be stressful so Villa Finder helps out by organising everything you need upon arrival such as transfers and car seats. At each villa, you have your own housekeeper while meals, chefs, high chairs and even in-house spa treatments can be arranged. They can book all of the activities listed above – and more – while a local contact is available to help with anything you require when you get there. They have everything covered!

The Singapore-based company was established in 2012 and has over one thousand villas in Bali, Sri Lanka, Phuket, Koh Samui and Mauritius. For every booking made through them, they plant a tree in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Take a look at Villa Finders website to see their selection of villas in Mauritius.

*Written in collaboration with Villa Finder

**Pictures courtesy of Pixabay and Villa Finder

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