I was so excited when I discovered I was to go to Mauritius. I had heard so much about the island, about the incredible five star resorts, stunning beaches, crystal clear waters, top spas and golfing resorts, not to mention the incredible five star dining and the legendary hospitality of the Mauritian people. I have to say, nothing could have prepared me for week that followed.
Arriving in Mauritius was a totally seamless experience. After such a long flight, it was a relief that the queues through the airport moved quickly. We were greeted with a very warm welcome from our transfer company and then we were off! The first thing that struck me was the sheer dramatic beauty of the island. Rugged mountains gave way to powdery sand coastlines and the drive to our accommodation was littered with tiny little towns, each unique and picturesque with their own characteristics. Sugar cane fields and tropical forests allow the island a spectacular beauty. It was so different from anywhere I had been before.
I was lucky enough during my week long stay to experience a different property every night. Our first night was spent at Belle Mare Plage on the east coast of the island. We were greeted with a cold drink and swiftly shown to our rooms. I was blown away by the standard of the rooms at this 5* hotel. We stayed in a beachfront junior suite which was generously sized, and had the most spectacular views of the Indian Ocean. The night we had here was amazing. We dined with the hotel manager and several other guests in a private setting in one of the beachfront pool villas. Wow, the villas are incredible! Each comes with its own butler and villa master to look after your every whim. The meal was simply incredible. We started with champagne and canapés in the spacious garden before being shown to the beautiful dining room. Each dish of our seven course sumptuous feast was served with wine from our very knowledgeable sommelier. The food was outstanding, and the company even better. This was more than I could have imagined for my first night on this wonderful island, and set the scene for the days to follow.
Each day we were gifted with a spa treatment from our hoteliers, which was bliss! At Belle Mare Plage I had an anti-jetlag massage, at Anahita Resort a fabulous all over body scrub, a Swedish massage at Tamarina Hotel and at Trou Aux Biches, the most intense deep tissue massage I have ever had. I have never been so relaxed or so well looked after!
One of the highlights of the trip was staying at Tamarina Resort and the trip that they organised for us at the nearby Casela Nature Park. The park has more than 140 bird species and wildlife including lions, cheetahs and tigers. We did the “walking with lions” experience which involved a 45 minute interaction with these magnificent cats. Two lions, Bowser and Jumanji, joined us for our leisurely stroll, and after my initial fear (its hard to remain totally cool when two lions come bounding down a path towards you), I settled well into the walk. You realise very quickly that there is nothing to be frightened of, the handlers have such excellent control that you forget very quickly that you are within a foot of these potentially dangerous creatures. We got to touch the lions and had several photo opportunities as well. This was an unforgettable experience for me.
There are so many highlights from my trip it is hard to point out just one. Overall, my lasting impressions are of the incredible hotels, the amazing hospitality, stunning beaches, impressive landscapes, delectable food and the indescribable friendliness of the Mauritian people. I cant recommend the island more highly to not only honeymooners, but golfers and families as well. I cannot wait to go back!


