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Last Update: 26 Aug 2011

Riding Holidays | Mauritius

The paradise island of Mauritius is located in the Indian Ocean, off the South-East coast of the continent of Africa. The island has a luscious countryside of impressive mountains and green forests and a breath-taking coastline surrounded almost entirely by coral reefs. Mauritius has a tropical climate, with high heat and sunshine all year round. To avoid the high humidity of the summer and the rainy cyclones of the spring, the best time to visit the island is from May to early December.

Horse racing first began in Mauritius in 1812, and is still hugely popular with locals, who flock each season to the Champ de Mars racecourse in the island’s capital, Port Louis. There are a surprising amount of centres offering horse riding in Mauritius – many of them are attached to hotel complexes and so have limited space and numbers, but others such as La Vielle Cheminee and Haras du Morne offer exciting excursions in the fantastic mountainous landscape with panoramic views of the island and also idyllic beach rides for gallops, walking through the waves and even swimming with your horse.

Mauritius is a popular destination for holiday makers of all persuasions, with a wealth of opportunities for playing golf, deep-sea fishing, hiking, and most commonly it is visited by beach-lovers who like to enjoy the beautiful golden sand and crystal blue waters of this stunning island. The official language of Mauritius is English, although most are bilingual in French, and many speak a Mauritian Creole.