With its population of just over 1,228,000(as at end 2003), Mauritius is remarkable in its ethnic diversity. Mauritian society is woven from multi-cultured threads: Indian, African, Chinese, and European. This has produced a mix of races, languages, and religions.

Mauritius is an all-year-round holiday resort saved from extreme temperatures. In the summer months, from November to April, the temperature varies from 20^oC to 28^oC on the central plateau and from 25^oC to 33^oC on the coast. From May to October, the average temperature is 19^oC in the centre of the island, rarely falling under 13^oC at night. On the coast, all temperatures are about 5^oC higher.

Passengers of 16 years of age and over are allowed the following duty free items: 250g of tobacco (cigars and cigarettes), 2 litres of wine, ale or beer, 1 litre of spirits and about 25cl of Eau de Toilette and a quantity of perfume not exceeding 10 cl. Plants and seeds, fresh fruits and flowers must be declared to Customs upon arrival and are subject to examination. An import permit must be obtained from the Minister of Agriculture prior to their introduction. The same procedures apply for animals which must also undergo a quarantine period. Firearms must be declared on arrival.

A visitor must be in possession of a valid passport and a return or onward ticket. A visitor's visa is normally granted for one month, but can be renewed for a further period upon request. Visas may be obtained from Mauritian Embassies and High Commissions. An international vaccination certificate against yellow fever is needed if arriving from an infected area. There is no risk of malaria in Mauritius. Any Application or extension of stay can be made at:

Rodrigues is the main outer island and forms integral part of the Republic of Mauritius with a surface area of 108 sq. km. It is situated at approximately 560 km to the North East of Mauritius and access to the island is by Air Mauritius flights from Mauritius. This small island of volcanic origin, curled up in a lagoon twice its size, is 18 kms long by 6.5. Its landscapes vary from hilly lands to steep volcanic hills standing up as basaltic organ pipes. Its coasts are made of wild creeks, beaches lined with filaos, sandy coral islets where seabirds nest. Rodrigues is still authentic and wild.

The island of Rodrigues charms by its calm, its authenticity and the kindness of its inhabitants. The Rodriguan population will soon reach a total of 40 000, twice as much as in 1970. As regards religion, more than 90% of Rodriguans are Roman Catholic. The rest consists of other Christians (3%) and a few Muslims and Hindus.

Talking about the rich and enchanting sceneries of Rodrigues equals to talking about what Rodrigues shares with thousands of islands disseminated through the oceans. However, talking about culture means talking about the particularities and the distinctive aspects of the rodriguan reality; it’s getting inside the art of rodriguan living in all its dimensions; it’s looking for the rodriguan soul.

The monetary unit is the Mauritian Rupee (Rs) which is divided into 100 cents (cs).

English is the official language, but almost everyone speaks and reads French. Many oriental languages are also spoken, Creole remains the lingua franca.

Power supply throughout the island is 220 volts.

Mauritius is a left-hand drive country, with priority to the right. Parking zones exist in the main towns.

The local currency is the mauritian rupee. The banks and the hotels accept main foreign currencies. It is therefore recommended to have liquidities. The exchange rate is posted in the Port Mathurin banks and at the airport. The use of credit cards is not common in Rodrigues. Hotels and some traders accept American Express, Mastercard and Visa cards. There are automatic tellers in Port Mathurin, Mont Lubin and La Ferme.

Creole is the mother tongue and is usually spoken by almost all Rodriguans. The administrative language is English. French, very much used in the media and on social occasions, is taught in school.