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Mauritius is one of the most beautiful places in the world. This is thanks to its lush and rugged landscape, bright blue oceans and gorgeous white sands. Its outstanding natural beauty also makes it a popular tourist destination, with the number of annual visitors rising dramatically over the last 40 years.
The problem with an increase in tourism is it leads to an increase in waste, pollution and development of natural areas. To protect Mauritius, it’s important to consider the sustainability of our visits and try to minimize our impact on the local environment.
Here are four ways to travel more sustainably in Mauritius for the ethically-conscious traveler.
1. Support nature reserves and wildlife parks
There are many nature reserves and wildlife parks in Mauritius that do important work in conserving the native fauna and flora. By visiting these natural attractions, it supports them financially so that they can continue protecting the natural landscape.
The Black River Gorges National Park is on the main island’s west coast, and is home to many marked trails for hiking and exploring. La Vanille Reserve des Mascareignes, situated in Rivière des Anguilles, is home to Aldabra tortoises and the Mauritian bat.
If you’re looking for adventure, head to Casela Nature Parks. Here you can try activities like ziplining and safari tours.
Ile aux Aigrettes, a small islet on the south-east coast, has an extensive conservation program that educates visitors on the vital work being done to protect the island’s endemic species.
2. Choose an eco-friendly resort
Eco-friendly resorts are those that prioritize sustainability by sourcing local produce, reducing their waste output, and minimizing their energy consumption.
They care about their impact on the local area as well as the environment at large. Staying in an eco-friendly resort not only helps make your visit to Mauritius more sustainable, it also supports a business that takes its environmental impact seriously.
If a dedicated eco resort doesn’t work with your travel plans, look for a resort that considers its sustainability efforts and ask yourself what you can do to cut down on your use of resources during your stay.
For example, you could:
- Avoid using the single-use toiletries provided in the hotel bathroom
- Ask that your towels aren’t laundered every day
- Keep your light and air conditioning use to a minimum in your room
3. Wear reef-safe sunscreen
Some sunscreens contain chemicals and substances that are harmful to marine environments.
When you swim in Mauritian waters wearing these sunscreens, you can contribute to damage to coral reefs which are already under threat.
The best sunscreen to use is one with physical UVA and UVB filters, namely zinc oxide and titanium oxide. These are often known as mineral sunscreens.
They work by creating a physical block on the skin to protect it from the sun’s rays, rather than absorbing UV and converting it into heat like chemical sunscreens do.
Mineral sunscreens are just as effective as chemical ones, so by making this simple switch you can help to protect the beautiful coral reef in Mauritius when you go swimming and snorkeling.
4. Travel in the low season
Low-season travel is more sustainable than high-season travel for several reasons.
- It allows for resources to be spread across fewer people over a longer period of time, which eases pressure on the local infrastructure;
- It helps to distribute waste production and pollution across a longer period of time to prevent acute damage to ecosystems and wildlife; and
- It helps to sustain local communities that rely on tourism for their living.
Tourist-dependent businesses are often forced to lay off staff or give unpaid leave during the low season, and the local economy can suffer dramatically when locals have little disposable income. When there’s a more even distribution of visitors throughout the year, businesses can provide more reliable employment and wages to their staff.
When it comes to visiting Mauritius, the low season is between May and September. Temperatures range between 22 and 26°C at this time of year, so you can still expect good weather and warm enough temperatures for swimming.
Protect Mauritius with sustainable travel
Travelling sustainably is vital if we’re to protect these beautiful destinations. By making sustainable travel choices when you visit Mauritius, you can help to conserve its landscape and wildlife for generations to come.
Want more sustainable destination choices? Check out these Top 5 Sustainable Destinations.
