Is Mauritius a Family Friendly Destination?

I have to admit that I have always thought of Mauritius as somewhere you would visit for a romantic holiday as a couple, however it is now the go to place for an affordable luxury family holiday.

Mauritius is located in the South West part of the Indian Ocean, north of the Tropic of Capricorn and lies 855 kilometers east of Madagascar and is actually part of the Africa continent.

Mauritius is protected by the world’s longest unbroken coral reef and the island boasts warm turquoise waters and glittering crystal lagoons that are a dream to explore and perfect for a relaxing family holiday. The island is very friendly and welcomes children with open arms and caters for all ages from tots to teens.

Much as I love the beach, we are not the type of family that like to laze around, topping up our tan or paddling in the water. We love to explore what our destination has to offer and I have been busy seeing what there is to do for families with all ages to entertain.

The Crocodile & Giant Tortoises Park, is home to various species of animals, reptiles and plants is set in a beautiful rain forested valley with natural freshwater springs, full of prawns and fish and the thing that really stood out for me is that during your stay in the park you can experience a first-hand unique encounter with the giant tortoises, and get a rare chance to feed, pet and play with them.

There is also the chance to get up close and personal with giraffes and lions by doing a safari on the tropical island.

If you want to discover the wonders of the water around Mauritius but without donning your Scuba gear, Mauritius Aquarium, located in a small relaxing village in the North West of the island, has a unique walk on the ocean floor where you can observe the many types of aquatic animals that Mauritius ocean eco-system has to offer.

For more adventurous types the Kids Adventure Park offers inflatable bouncers, trampolines, a treetops course, pedal go-karts, aquatic jets, car racing, pony rides and for teenagers quad biking and horse riding.

For daredevils like us, I was excited to learn that Mauritius has the longest zip lines in the Indian Ocean which will really please Hubby and the teens.

If you want to explore the islands hidden gems, the mountainous interior encompasses Black River Gorges National Park, with rainforests, waterfalls, hiking trails and native fauna like the flying fox, wild boar, macaque monkeys and deer who wander through the vast swaths of old-growth ebony, and sightings are not uncommon.

From my research, Mauritus is an island for exploring, with Indian temples, colonial houses, botanical gardens, and opportunities to spot rare birds among soaring ebony trees, walk with lions or swim with dolphins. It is a year-round destination although the island’s peak season extends from October to April, which is hot, humid and rainy, with a slight risk of cyclones January to March. The island’s winter, from May to September, is warm and dry, with fewer mosquitoes

I would love to take the kids to visit although with a flight time of around 12 hours from London it would be one I would undertake with slightly older children, rather than toddlers.

Disclaimer: Written in collaboration with Mauritius365