Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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( 631 9559; adult/child with tasting Rs 175/125, without tasting Rs 140/100; 9am-3pm Mon-Fri) In 1870
the Rault family started producing manioc biscuits at their little biscuit factory on the
northern outskirts of Mahébourg. It has changed hardly a jot since. The crispy, square
cookies are made almost entirely by hand using a secret recipe passed down from genera-
tion to generation and baked on hotplates over stoves fuelled with dried sugar-cane leaves.
The 15- to 20-minute guided tour ends with a chance to sample the end result - with a
nice cup of tea, of course. The factory is on the far side of the Cavendish Bridge; when
you cross the bridge turn left at the brown-and-white factory sign and then follow the fur-
ther signs. Packets of the biscuits (we recommend butter flavour and reaching this de-
cision involved pleasurable research...) are on sale for Rs 65.
Activities
The most popular activity in the area is an excursion by boat to the offshore islands nearby
(Île aux Aigrettes, Île de la Passe, Île aux Vacoas and Île au Phare), or the uberpopular Île
aux Cerfs further on. Most of the trips involve snorkelling and include lunch. Scores of
boatswains park along the shores of Mahébourg and Blue Bay awaiting customers and of-
fering relatively similar experiences.
Jean-Claude Farla
( 423 1322, 631 7090) Our operator of choice is Jean-Claude Farla, a local fisherman and
six-time national swimming champion who went on to compete in the Indian Ocean
games. Not only is he somewhat of a local legend, he is the only person to offer sailing
outings on a traditional 22ft pirogue (others have souped-up boats with motors). Figure on
€20 for a half-day trip in the pirogue gliding through the blue and stopping periodically to
snorkel and free dive. It's €50 for a full-day excursion to Île aux Cerfs with a stop at Île de
Flamant and a BBQ lunch on Île aux Mangénie. It's best to call at least two days ahead to
ensure that he's available (there's a six-person minimum).
BOAT TRIPS
Active Tours Mauritius
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DIVING, KAYAKING
(Case Nautiques; 631 5613; www.activetoursmauritius.com ; 1 Shivananda Rd; boat excursion to île aux Cerfs from
Rs 5000, kayak hire per hr Rs 350, boat & snorkelling trips from Rs 1700) Good for trips to Île aux Cerfs,
island-hopping-and-snorkelling trips and kayak rental.
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