Mauritius is Now Open For Travel – Good News For South Africans!

Mauritius is Now Open For Travel – Good News For South Africans!

The long wait is over. South Africans’ favourite island destination is now open for travel. Mauritius has opened its borders and welcomes fully vaccinated South African travellers for a most well deserved holiday. Amazing Holidays has lined up some of the most exciting deals at all your favourite resorts. Flights from OR Tambo International Airport take around 3 hours and 50 minutes, which means you will be touching down in paradise in less than four hours.

Why You Should Consider A Trip To Mauritius

There’s a good reason why Mauritius is top of the pops. Manageable short-haul flights, all-inclusive packages, temperate weather conditions and a favorable exchange rate makes it ideal for South African travellers. This island packs a punch when it comes to activities and entertainment – you can choose between almost 200 activities and attractions, and that excludes poolside cocktails at your hotel. In the mood for culture? Visit the Natural History Museum, located on the ground floor of the Mauritius Institute Building, right in front of the Jardin de la Compagnie, in the heart of Port Louis. Nature lovers will be spoilt for choice; from a hike on the Le Morne Peninsula, ocean safaris in glass-bottom boats to snorkelling the reef, you may have to extend your holiday!

3 Must-See Tourist Attractions

• Mauritius Botanical Gardens is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the Southern Region, and a popular tourist attraction, located a stone’s throw from Port Louis.
• Île Aux Cerfs Island is also called Deer Island. It is famous for white sandy beaches and pristine lagoons. Spend your day on the beach, swimming and snorkeling in the lagoon to your heart’s content.
• Port Louis is the main port and capital city of Mauritius and offers a mecca of tourist attractions like Chinatown, Caudan Waterfront, old Port Louis theatre, Port Louis Bazaar, Blue Penny Museum, to mention a few.

Flexible Travel With Amazing Holidays

Give yourself peace of mind and book your upcoming trip to Mauritius with confidence.

Land Arrangements:
If the travel ban should be reinstated which prevents South Africans from traveling, any land arrangements that were booked between the 01st of August and 30th of September, can be rebooked with no extra cost to you. If you do not want to change your dates, your land arrangement for bookings is 100% refundable, with the exception of a small service fee.

Flights:
Airline tickets that are issued between the 05th of August 2021 to the 30th of September 2021 with Air Mauritius are valid for two years. You will not be charged extra for rebooking your tickets if you had no choice but to postpone your travel arrangement due to the airline cancelling the flight. It is important to note that specific conditions must apply (for example, voluntary cancellation on the traveller’s part does not qualify). For full details, please contact our friendly team.

The nitty gritty

Before traveling to Mauritius, it is a requirement that you must be fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine that is accepted by the Mauritian authorities. This must be done at least 28 days before embarking on your trip. You must also have a negative PCR test. Passengers that are under eighteen years are presently exempted from vaccination, but they must have a PCR test done.

These vaccines were approved by the Mauritian authorities:

• AstraZeneca: Covishield
• AstraZeneca: Vaxzevria
• Johnson & Johnson
• Covexin
• Moderna
• Sinopharm
• Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine
• Sputnik
• Sinovac-CoronaVac

Airport Protocol for Traveling to Mauritius

• Bear in mind that checking-in and boarding might take a little longer than usual because of all the health precautions and safety measures that are currently in place. Try to be at the airport at least three to four hours prior to your flight.
• Don’t forget to wear a surgical mask and be sure to pack enough masks to wear while at the airport and when traveling. Make provision for at least one mask for every four hours.
• Your temperature reading will be taken at the airport.

About Mauritius – Know before you go

• Language – Most locals speak English and French fluently, however, Creole and French are broadly spoken. You will also hear a few oriental languages thrown into the mix.
• What to Wear – All you need is some casual and beach wear. However if you are planning to visit any religious sites, more modest clothing may be required.
• Currency – Mauritian Rupee.
• Shopping – There are fun shopping opportunities for those of us that cannot resist bustling markets in foreign cities. There are many markets in Mauritius, but six of the biggest ones are Port Louis Central Market, Quatre Bornes Market, Flacq Market, Mahebourg Market, Grand Baie Market and Le Craft Market. If a mall is more your vibe, then Bagatelle Mall, Grand Baie La Croisette, Le Caudan Waterfront and Phoenix Mall are brimming with bargains, so remember to leave some room in your suitcase.
• Public Transport – There are buses every 15-30 minutes, it all depends on where you need to go. The bus drivers are super friendly and helpful if you need assistance with directions. Public transport is a lot cheaper than taking a taxi.
• Safety – Mauritius is considered a safe destination with low crime rates and attacks on tourists are uncommon. However, it’s never a bad idea to be vigilant while traveling and practice caution by staying away from isolated beaches or dimly lit areas.

Conclusion

If, like us, you’re busy dusting off your swim trunks, keep an eye for our upcoming Mauritius offers. Family holidays? Ideal! Did we mention kiddies clubs? Romantic honeymoons? Yes! Two words – couple’s massages. And best of all, booking an all-inclusive holiday means you are more likely to stay within your budget. Contact our specialist Mauritius consultants, they’ll take care of everything…except perhaps applying your sunscreen; we’ll leave that to your golden-tanned travel companion.