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It’s a happy day when you chance upon a destination you would like to return to again and again. For me, this destination is Mauritius. It’s a recent discovery, made after a trip with a group of friends to the island nation.
There were 33 of us and many were eager to visit this spot of land in the Indian Ocean for a kiteboarding and windsurfing holiday.
With a tropical scenery that includes soft white beaches, clear waters and swaying palms — all very inviting and seductive — it’s easy to see why Mauritius is a popular spot for honeymooners.
But, if our experiences were anything to go by, Mauritius is not only a destination for the newly-hitched but also for wind-seeking sports enthusiasts. In fact, the winds in Mauritius from July to September were similar to those in Maui, Hawaii — another site famous for its water sports. The difference is that Mauritius is a seven-hour flight from Singapore compared to Maui’s 14. You can fly to Mauritius without worrying about jetlag.
A note to Asian visitors though: Although the island is a developing nation, it can be expensive for those who don’t get paid in euros. Because the bulk of the island’s tourists are Europeans, hotels rates are in euros, which currently trades at 1.92 to the Singapore dollar. To economise, you can opt for an all-inclusive full board (which includes all meals) or half board when you book your hotel room.
Our group checked into the Indian Resort Hotel in Le Morne, a mountainous area in the south-western tip of the island that is now a Unesco World Heritage Site. The resort has facilities for surfers of varying expertise — from beginners to advanced. In addition, the wind there blows side-shore, or at a 45-degree angle, which helps surfers return to land.
For beginners, the Mauritius Le Morne lagoon, a stone’s throw from the resort, is a good place to pick up kiteboarding or windsurfing. There, the waters are shallow for a good distance and with consistent winds, beginners will learn to manoeuvre their equipment in good time.
A six-hour session at the resort’s Club Mistral costs 185 euros (S$355). However, as English is the official language in Mauritius, the instructions will be clear. This is important because, while kiteboarding is fast becoming a popular activity all over the world, it is considered an extreme sport. It is crucial to learn it from a qualified instructor.
Once mastered, however, the sport is incredibly thrilling as you fly with the wind, and off the waves. You will be more than pleased with yourself once you pass the beginner’s stage.
We certainly had an unforgettable time on the Mauritian waters. Consistent winds of about 20 to 25 knots — or about 46kmh — for most of our stay meant that we traversed the water almost as fast as the speed limit in Singapore, all without an engine to propel us.
The more experienced kiteboarders and windsurfers headed to the reefs, which easily brought on swells more than two storeys high. Of course, the higher you go, the deeper you plunge back to the water. It’s like being in a theme park ride, except these last more than 30 seconds.
When we flew in from the sea, the view of the 500m high Le Morne Brabant mountain looming over the resort was awesome. With the buzzing of the wind in our ear and the sunny and cool transparent waters of blue and green, this was indeed as close to heaven as we could hope for.
The island also offers other sea sports such as diving and snorkelling. Non-divers can take a glass bottom boat to the reef to see the marine life there. Among the denizens of Mauritian waters are eagle rays measuring up to 2m, bull sharks and moray eels. Divers can swim with turtles and the lucky among us caught glimpses of a whale and its baby.
If staying on land is more your cup of tea, Mauritius is equally exciting for its nature walks. Lush vegetation and trails can be found in the vast Black River Gorges National Park, which covers about of 3.5 per cent of the island. This is where you will find the signature of Air Mauritius, the Palle en queue white tropic bird with its unique straw tail.
For some shopping, a visit to Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, is a must for the bargains to be found there. Local wares include straw bags for as little as S$2. Buy the local vanilla tea or sugar produce, which is the main export of Mauritius.
Most of us took in a little sightseeing at Chamarel, about an hour’s drive away from the hotel. The area is known for the its seven-coloured earth — a natural phenomenon due to the decomposition of basalt guilles, which gives the rock a bruised, bluish, purple look.
Close by, the 100m-high Chamarel waterfall is just as breathtaking. As we drove back, a sunset view of the entire south coast made for some great picture taking.
While it’s back to reality for me now, I am already saving up for my trip to Mauritius next year, kite and board in tow. TODAYrose
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