There are a few things to do on Mauritius and most involve the sea. If you’re into diving or deep sea fishing, then off you go. But most come to sunbathe. We flew into the airport near Mahebourg and drove an hour or so to the north west coast at Grand Baie to stay at a great small hotel called 20 Degrees Sud.

 

Apart from generally dossing around, the highlight was chartering a boat to sail down the west coast in search of dolphins. We saw whales on the way, and flying fish. Past Port Louis the capital, and down to Tamarin. Here spinner dolphins in a huge pod of fifty or so were playing around at 8am. This is when they come in to rest, play and socialise after feeding in deeper water at night. We got right amongst them, and if you get your angles right you can swim right alongside them. Tiny babies nuzzle with their mothers, and then they disappear deep to reappear somewhere else a few minutes later. A brilliant experience.