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Cars 4 Rental Information on Mauritius

General

Area: 2040 sq km (788 sq miles).

Population: 1,122,811 (official estimate 2003).

Population Density: 599.4 per sq km.

Capital: Port Louis. Population: 144,303 (2000).

GEOGRAPHY: Mauritius, a volcanic and mountainous island in the Indian Ocean, lies 2000km (1240 miles) off the southeastern coast of Africa, due east of Madagascar. The island state stands on what was once a land bridge between Asia and Africa called the Mascarene Archipelago. From the coast, the land rises to form a broad fertile plain on which sugar cane flourishes. Some 500km (310 miles) east is Rodrigues Island, while northeast are the Cargados Carajos Shoals and 900km (560 miles) to the north is Agalega.

Government: Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1968. Head of State: President Anerood Jugnauth since 2003. Head of Government: Prime Minister Paul Brenger since 2003.

Language: English is the official language. The most widely spoken languages are French, Creole (36 per cent), Hindi and Bhojpuri (32 per cent). Urdu and Chinese are also among the languages spoken.

Religion: 51 per cent Hindu, 30 per cent Christian, 17 per cent Muslim.

Time: GMT + 4.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. UK-type three-pin plugs are commonly used in hotels.

Telephone

IDD is available. Country code: 230. There are no area codes. Outgoing international code: 00. There are a limited number of public telephone booths, mainly at the airport and in major hotels.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900 networks, with coverage extending over the whole island. Network operators include Cellplus Mobile Comms (website: www.gocellplus.com) and Emtel (website: www.emtel-ltd.com). Handsets and SIM cards can be hired.

Fax

Most hotels have facilities, as well as Mauritius Telecom offices in Port Louis and Cassis.

Internet

There are a number of ISPs in Mauritius; they include MauriNet, Mauritius Network (MNS), Mauritius Telecom (website: http://mt.intnet.mu) and Telecom Plus (website: www.servihoo.com). There are Internet cafes in Phoenix, Vaoas and other main towns. Most hotels offer internet facilities.

Telegram

Messages can be sent from the Mauritius Telecommunications Service offices in Cassis and Port Louis. There are also facilities at Overseas Telecoms Services Ltd, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis.

Post

Airmail to Western Europe usually takes five days; by sea, mail takes four to six weeks. Post office hours: Generally Mon-Fri 0815-1115 and 1200-1600, Sat 0800-1145.

Press

Of the 10 daily newspapers, two are published in Chinese and the remainder in French and English. L’Express, Le Mauricien and Le Quotidien have the highest circulation.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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Money

Currency: Mauritian Rupee (MRs) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of MRs2000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 25. Coins are in denominations of MRs10, 5 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, and 5 cents.

Currency exchange: Available in banks and at bureaux de change. A better rate of exchange can be obtained on travellers cheques than on cash.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. Check with your credit, or debit, card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: May be exchanged at banks, hotels and authorised dealers.

Currency restrictions: There are no limits on the import or export of local or foreign currency.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Mauritian Rupee against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04 Aug ’04
£1.00= 48.44 46.50 49.03 52.21
$1.00= 28.55 25.55 27.45 28.34

Banking hours: Mon-Thurs 0915-1515, Fri 0915-1530, Sat 0915-1115 (except for Bank of Mauritius). Some banks may open Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No 1
Cholera No No
Typhoid and Polio 2 N/A
Malaria 3 N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required of travellers over one year of age arriving from infected areas. The Mauritius government considers those countries and areas classified as yellow fever endemic to be infected.

2: Immunisation against typhoid and poliomyelitis is sometimes advised.

3: Malaria risk, exclusively in the benign vivax form, exists throughout the year in northern rural areas, except on Rodrigues Island.

Food & drink: Water used for drinking should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Bottled water is readily available. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Diarrhoeal diseases, giardiasis, dysentery and typhoid fever are common. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Hepatitis A, B and E occur.

Health care: Public medical facilities are numerous and of a high standard and there are several private clinics. All treatment at state-run hospitals is free for Mauritians, but foreign visitors have to pay. There is no reciprocal health agreement with the UK; health insurance is advised.

Note: For travellers applying for a working visa or permanent residence, an HIV test will be required.

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Climate

Warm coastal climate (particularly January to April), with relatively little seasonal variation in temperatures, although they are generally slightly lower inland, with more rain on the plateau around Curepipe. Cyclones may occur between November and February. Sea breezes blow all year, especially on the east coast.

Required clothing: Tropical lightweights, with warmer wear for evenings and winter months (July to September). Rainwear advisable all year round. In the summer months, sun-care products and a hat are advisable.

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Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes No Yes
Australian Yes No Yes
Canadian Yes No Yes
USA Yes No Yes
OtherEU Yes No Yes
Japanese Yes No Yes

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 6 months from date of entry required by all. Passports issued by the government of Taiwan are not recognised. The holders of such documents can apply for an entry permit to the Passport and Immigration Officer (see address below).

Note: All visitors must hold valid tickets and documents for their onward or return journey and adequate funds for their intended length of stay.

VISAS: Required by all except the following:
(a) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above for stays up to 3 months;
(b) nationals of Commonwealth countries (except nationals of Bangladesh, Cameroon, Fiji, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Swaziland, who do require a visa) for stays of up to 3 months;
(c) nationals of Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Oman, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vatican City and Zimbabwe for stays of up to 3 months;
(d) transit passengers continuing their journey to a third country within 72 hours provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport;
(e) holders of a re-entry permit issued by the Passport and Immigration Office in Mauritius.

Types of visa and cost: Tourist, Business and Social, each available as single- or multiple-entry. Visas are issued free of charge.

Validity: Tourist/Business visas: up to 3 months. Applications for extensions should be made to the relevant authority (see below).

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section for details.

Note: (a) Nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China (Rep) (providing holding Hong Kong (SAR) of China’s People’s Republic passports) and Paraguay can obtain a visa on arrival for stays of up to 3 months. (b) Nationals of Albania, Bulgaria, CIS, Comoro Islands, Czech Republic, Estonia, Fiji, Hungary, Korea (Rep), Latvia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic can obtain a visa on arrival for stays of up to 15 days. Extensions are possible.
These visas can be issued from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport or the Passport and Immigration Office in Port Louis (see Contact Addresses section).

Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Passport-size photo including photocopy of passport page with date of birth. (c) Proof of sufficient funds (at least US$50 per day or equivalent). (d) Proof of accommodation such as hotel booking or letter of invitation. (e) Self-addressed stamped envelope. (f) Appropriate documents for the next destination, including return or onward tickets.

Working days required: Varies according to nationality of applicant. Most can be issued within 7 days but can take up to 1 month.

Temporary residence: Residence permits are issued by the Passport and Immigration Officer, Sterling House, Lislet Geoffrey Street, Port Louis (tel: 210 9312-9; fax: 210 9322). Work permits are necessary for those taking up employment.

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