Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
that has been carefully and lovingly refurbished over the last few decades. Romantic dark-
wood panelling, flavourful island spices and the lazy spin of frond-shaped ceiling fans eli-
cit fantasies found on the pages of a Ripling passage. Now if only the staff could be as
charming and demure as the surrounds...
Getting There & Around
Buses to and from Mahébourg run every 30 minutes. A taxi there will cost Rs 300, and it's
Rs 600 to the airport.
All of the area's guesthouses can arrange car hire. Try Henri at
JH Arnulphy
( 631 9806;
www.henri-vacances.com
)
who offers cars from Rs 1450 per day. Arnulphy can also help with
bicycle hire; rates start at Rs 150 per day.
TOP OF CHAPTER
South Coast
Mauritius' southern coast features some of the country's wildest and most attractive
scenery. Here you'll find basalt cliffs, sheltered sandy coves, hidden falls and traditional
fishing villages where fisherfolk sell their catch at roadside stalls. Beyond the shoreline lie
endless sugar-cane fields and dense forests that clothe the hillsides in a patchwork of vi-
brant greens.
The region is known as Savanne and is noticeably devoid of any prominent towns save
Rivière des Anguilles and Souillac. Both can be used as bases from which to explore the
nearby parks and preserves, though we recommend staying elsewhere and visiting the far
south during a day trip aboard a private vehicle.
LA ROUTE DU THÉ
La Route du Thé
(
www.larouteduthe.mu
) offers tourists a window into the island's plantation past by linking to-
gether three of the island's remaining colonial estates. The first stop is the Creole manse-turned-museum at the
Domaine des Aubineaux (
Click here
) near Curepipe. Then the route veers south to the vast Bois Chéri Tea Planta-
tion (
Click here
). The final stop is the stately St Aubin, with its lush gardens and rum distillery. Despite the itiner-
ary's name, the focus of the trip extends far beyond tea - each stop has a charming
table d'hôte,
a museum and
the St Aubin even offers period-style accommodation.
True architecture buffs and historians should consider doing the route backwards and tacking on the resplen-
dent Eureka (
Click here
) estate at the end of the journey.
