Mahebourg, Mauritius
Description
Mahebourg named after the famous french Governor Mahe La Bourdonnais but pronounced may burg, was once a busy port. Now it is a run down commercial centre with a small fishing fleet. Mahebourg is a lot friedlier, has home character and is more relaxed than the tourist spiels would have you believe. It is also a nearest centre to the airport and visitors may find themselves spending the first or last few days there. The bay is a picturesque backdrop for the town, with the sea changing from one intense colour to another at greet speed.
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Attractions:
Assembly of God Church
This is not a significant building or religious ther group; there are probably several similar off congregations throughout the island. A visit to one when there is a service in progress adds a bit of local colour and warmth to an Aig otherwise ponderous round of 'sightseeing'. The church is near Rue des Flarnands, on Pia Rue de Maurice.
IIe aux Aigrettes
This Island was established as a nature reserve in 1985. Many of the plant species o 1 found on the island's 25 hectares are very to rare remnants of the coastal forests of lat( Mauritius). As part of a MWAF project, approximately half of the island has been Pen cleared of introduced species and native plants are being replanted. The ecosystem is also being restored with the eradication of rats and shrews, which are imported pests that cause damage to rare plant species and prevent the reintroduction of endemic reptiles, such as snakes, skinks, (Telfair's) and geckos (Gunther's). The island serves as a convenient quarantine station for pink pigeons and Mauritius kestrels sent from overseas breeding schemes II for eventual release in the wild. Guests at the nearby La Croix du Sud hotel on the main-land have become used to the sight of kestrels popping over from the island for a visit.
Beaches:
Blue Bays is the official public beach closest to Mahebourg. This attractive beach can get quite busy on weekends. Good private beaches stretch back to Mahebourg past pointe des Deux Cocos to pointe D'Esny.
Accommodation
Kahinoor royal Rd, Tel: 6318608 is a pension de famille, which has been recommended by several travelers.
Villa le Guerlande, Tel: 6319882; Fax: 6319225
La Croix du sud, Tel: 6318608; Fax: 6319603 is on the Mahebourg Blue Bay road, at pointe Jerome
Blue Lagoon Beach Hotel , some 6 km south of Mahebourg at Blue Bay,
Tel: 63199529; Fax: 6319045.
Aquarelle, Tel: 6319479, near to Pension St.Tropez.
Pension Notre Dame Tel: 6319582, located next to the church at the top of Rue du Souffleur.
Hotel Les Aigrettes, Tel/Fax: 6319094 on the Rue du Chalanda.
Places to Eat
Aquarelle has a very good restaurant, It serves french and and creole cuisine.
Blue Lagoon beach hotel Has a restaurant serving a buffet dinner each night for Rs 330 per person.
Le Vacancier, near the Aquarelle, is a tiny place with a very limited menu, It is open daily from 10.30 am to 10.30 pm.
Getting There
Bus the quickest way to get to Port Louis and continue, for example from there to Grand Baie , is to take the express service, which leaves quite regularly during the day. It coast a bit more, but takes around half the time of the standard services which can take up to two hours to rach Port Louis .
On a much less frequent basis, buses run in the other direction from Mahebourg to Centre de flacq Rs 20, via Vieux Grand Port and Grand Sable, and to Souillac Rs 12 via Riviere des Anguilles.
Taxi
A taxi from SSR international airport to Mahebourg costs around Rs 250. For tips on dealing with taxi drivers on arrival
Car and Motorcycle
JH Arnulpy car Hire is open daily from 8.30 to 11.30 am and 12.30 to 4 pm. Prices for a small car start at about Rs 940 for one day with unlimited mileage, If you hire for atleast four days. It is sometime possible to hire a moped at the Notre dame.
Bicycle
Bicycles are available for hire from JH Arnulphy Car hire, and some local pensions or hotels for around rs 75 per day. Blue Bay is a leisurely excursion by bicycle.
Entertainments
Sports and Pastimes:
The majority of travel agencies on the east coast organize day trips to Ile aux Cerfs and and other nearby islands. Boats to charter are available from local fishermen especially around Mahebourg.
Bateau Vicky Trou d' Eau Douce Tel: 419 2902 Cerfs or day trips and Barbecue.
Croisieres Turquoises:
Rich En Eau Day trips aboard a catamaran leaving Pointe d' Esny. The Boat stops at Ile aux Cerfs after having covered Mahebourg bay and Vienux Grand Port. Infromation from La Croix du Sud Hotel Tel: 631 9835.
Croisiere Oceane:
Trou d'Eau Douce Tel : 416 2767 or 423 9659 .
Gerard Etienne Group, Mahebourg Tel : 631 0434/499 5087
Scuba Diving:
The best season to go Scuba diving on the east coast is between September and May, In winter its cooler and the water are murkier. The best sites Roche Zozo, east of Pointe de Flacq, Lobster Canyon an area rich in fish and the ship wrecked Sirius in Grand Port bay.
Golf Course:
St-Geran Poste de Flacq , Belle Mare beach Tel: 415 1083.
Blue Bay
Blue Bay is the official public beach closest to Mahebourg. This attractive beach can get quite busy on weekends. Good private beaches stretch back to Mahebourg, past Pointe des Deux Cocos to PointeThe East Coast
The East Coast district of Flacq is quieter than Trou aux Biche or areas on the West Coast. Beaches are the major attraction and as usual, big hotels have picked prime stretches but there is stillDiving - Rodrigues Island
There are several good scuba-diving locations around Rodrigues, but there is no diving school or public-use compressor on the island, and you need a boat. The best dives are off Pointe Colon andBlue Lagoon Beach Hotel
The Blue Lagoon Beach Hotel is situated on the south east coast of Mauritius, and is only a short ten minutes drive from the airport. The hotel is set amongst beautiful tropical gardens. A white sun