Destination: Mauritius

The spectacular island of Mauritius can be found lying just off the eastern coast of Madagascar, and with its tropical climate and stunning scenery you’d be forgiven for thinking it was reserved for the glossy pages of your favourite travel magazine. In reality, Mauritius is just short of a very manageable 12 hours flying time from London and is an ideal family destination with plenty of child friendly activities including water parks and catamaran trips to keep the whole family entertained. Plan your visit from July to September and you’ll be there during the official Mauritian winter, which means that the heat of the day will be far more tolerable for younger kids.

Things to do in Mauritius with kids

To get your children appreciating the beauty of this tropical island, pay a visit to La Vanille Reserve des Mascareigne, an interactive nature reserve which is sure to delight kids young and old. They can get up close and personal with crocodiles at feeding time and experience the unusual thrill of sitting on the back of a giant tortoise. And if your kids aren’t the squeamish type, then why not treat them to a taste of crocodile steak in the reserve’s own restaurant! More details...

Children who are excited by the natural environment of Mauritius will love the opportunity to explore it further by Quad Bike. Tours leave on a daily basis and take in part of the main tourist side of the island before heading to the west coast to see the Yemen Reserve. The whole family will love the chance to spot some lions before trying to catch a Tilapia, a local fish, for lunch. The quad bikes are easy to handle, and it’s a fantastic way to get younger children a little bit of extra freedom. (Min age 8 years).

Animal lovers of all age groups will love the Mauritius Aquarium which can be found in the northwest of the island. This family friendly attraction is located in a small village but still houses over 200 different species of marine life, and from sharks to sponges there will be unusual creatures for everyone to gaze at. And just to keep the kids content, there’s a hands on petting area where handling the creatures is absolutely allowed. More details...

For a great escape for the whole family, head out to the Black River Gorges National Park and enjoy a day spent wandering through these scenic pine forests. The area is particularly well known for hiking and picnics, and with the natural beauty of the gorges and mountains even the kids will be inspired to spend some time in the fresh air exploring and running wild.

Children will love the chance to swim with dolphins, and on the island of Mauritius it’s actually possible to swim with wild dolphins. It’s so common in fact, that tours are run specifically for that purpose. Head out on one of the Catamaran Tours and they’ll take you to Tamarin Bay where you’ll spend the afternoon snorkeling in the sea and examining the colourful fish passing you by. It’s a regular occurrence for dolphins to show up and join in the fun as well.

Recommended family friendly hotels in Mauritius

La Pirogue is an informal resort set on a spectacular mile-long sand beach, offering plenty of activities when you want it . . . and undisturbed serenity when you don’t. This child friendly hotel is set in lush 35 acre grounds, and boasts fitness centre, spa, an excellent children's club (4-11 years), playground, internet café, teen club and nightly entertainment including live bands. The ground floor accommodations are especially suited to families with very young children. More details...

Sugar Beach is surrounded by 20-acres of magnificent tropical park, and offers accommodation in the Manor House and in beachfront Villas – all stylishly furnished and extremely comfortable. There are also land sports galore and a kids club offering daily fun programmes including tennis, windsurfing and swimming. Teens have organised activities just for them such as football, scuba-diving, climbing and dolphin spotting excursions! Check out Virgins Special offers for Sugar Beach here

Recommended Eco friendly family holiday to Mauritius

Not your average holiday – take your teens on a 14 day tour to give you all the full experience of the island and its vast array of cultural people and scenic landscapes – but be prepared to be challenged with the various conservation work entailed, whilst still having the opportunity to enjoy the islands most beautiful places. More details...