Natural History Museum and Mauritius Institute

The main attraction for visitors to the museum is the stuffed replica of the dodo, the 'abnormal member of a group of pigeons', which became extinct between 1681 and 1693. Crowds are drawn to this exhibit in particular though there are also a group of other bird exhibits on display as well.

There is a library upstairs at the back of the building. Sometimes the Institute, formerly the offices of the French East India Company, plays host to a commercial or artistic exhibition held here.

The Institute is open on weekdays except Wednesday from 9 am to 4 pm, and on weekends from 9 am to noon. Admission is free.



Mauritius Postal Museum

If philately interests you, visit this little museum, next door to the main post office. Besides some unique old stamps, other items on display include a range of old stamps, telegraph machines and printing plates. The museum is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and also on Saturday from 9 to 11.30 am. Admission is free.



Jummah Mosque

This mosque dates back to the 1850s. It is one of the main mosques of the city and is situated in the heart of Chinatown. Plan your visit any day of the week except Thursday and Friday between 10 am and noon. You would need to dress appropriately. Men should carry a cap and woman a head scarf.



Pere Laval's Shrine

The Pere Laval shrine is open to pilgrims daily from 6 am to 6 pm. Situated at a distance from the church, the shrine is dominated by a marvellous coloured plaster effigy of Pere Laval on top of the tomb. Many pilgrims touch the effigy and, in turn, touch their children. Miracle cures are said to have taken place. The church is an interesting example of modern architecture and design, with an unusual and effective use of mosaic and stained-glass windows. You can find out more about Pere Laval at a permanent exhibition of his photographs robe, mitre and letters. There is also a shop located here. Opening hours are 8.30 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday, and 10 to 4.30 pm on Sundays. To get to the shrine take the Pere Laval bus from Labourdonnais bus terminal. For Rs 5, it goes directly to the shrine and church at Ste-Croix, via Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam St, Plaine Verte and Abercrombie.


Place d'Armes

Walk up to the statue of Mahe de La Bourdonnais which stands near the quayside end of the avenue, which leads up to the colonial Government House. The avenue is lined with half-buried cannon chained together meant to symbolise peace.


Company Gardens

Located near Chaussee St, next to the Mauritius Institute, this was once the vegetable patch of the French East India Company. The line of statues includes that of the poet Leoville L'Homme.

Fort Adelaide

Fort Adelaide offers splendid views of the city and attracts visitors throughout the day. Its close resemblance to a Moorish fortress is why the fort is also called a Citadel. This is one of four ports in and around Port Louis that were built by the British. The other three, Fort George, Fort Victoria and Fort William, are either in ruins or inaccessible. A rumoured tunnel is believed to link Fort Adelaide with Fort George, at the northern entrance to Port Louis harbour.


Signal Mount

This is another place that you can go to for some spectacular views. It was once possible to drive to the top of Signal Mount, via the Military Road but now you can only get up here by foot. The journey is worth it.


Champ de Mars Racecourse

This was once a military training ground until the Mauritian Turf Club was founded in 1812. The police and army still use it for the odd manoeuvre during the off-season. The racing season is from around May to late November. There are two monuments – a statue of King Edward VII, by the sculptor Prosperd' Epinay, and the Malartic Tomb, an obelisk to a French governor.


Chinese Pagoda

Port Louis has a distinct Chinese flavour all around it. One particularly strong place to notice the city's oriental spirit is the Chinese Pagoda on Volcy Pougent Street. You'll find several Chinese astrologers around the old centre of Port Louis. Don't be alarmed if you bump into any number of dragon hairdressers around Remy Ollier Street. These are merely beauty parlours with exotic names like Dragon Rouge, Dragon Royal and Dragon Magique.

Road
Mauritian roads range from an excellent motorway to heavily potholed highways and narrow roads. The motorway system runs from SSR airport to Port Louis and continues north. Heavy-duty trucks and buses can be nightmarish companions. Thankfully, the frequency of stops slows bus drivers down considerably. Avoid driving after dark.

Share Taxis
'Share taxis' or 'taxi trains' make quick, short-haul trips. Some taxis pick up passengers waiting at the bus stops and charge just a little more than the bus. There are advantages and disadvantages to this. Most often a share taxi will be just as cramped as a local bus. If you flag down an empty cab, you may have to pay the full fare. However the journey is not always as bad by cab as it is by bus.

Bus The express bus service is faster than the standard buses though they cost a little more. Bus services in Mauritius are generally good and can take you just about anywhere. There are five large bus companies: Corporation Nationale de Transport, Rose Hill Transport, United Bus Service, Triolet Bus Service and Mauritius Bus Transport besides many individual operators with creative names such as 'Eiffel Tower', Arizona Express', 'Angel of Paradise', 'Sacred Arrow' and even 'British Airways!'

Buses take regional routes and services. The three main regions (north, centre and south) are served from major bus terminuses in Port Louis and Curepipe. If you want to go from Mahebourg to Grand Baie, for example, you must take two buses – from Mahebourg to Port Louis, and then from Port Louis to Grand Baie. Tamarin to Mahebourg involves two changes, one at Baie du Cap and the other at Souillac. The frequency of buses in the main towns is every 10 minutes, especially during peak hours. In more remote areas you may have to wait up to half an hour or more. Buses in urban areas start running at around 5.30 am and stop between 6 and 8 pm; in rural regions buses operate between 6.30 am and 6.30 pm. The only late-night bus service operates until 11pm between Port Louis and Curepipe and runs via Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes and Vacoas.

A trip shouldn't cost more than around Mauritian Rs 20 on a standard service or Rs 22 on an express service.

If you'd like to head for Port Louis by bus, you can try any one of the main bus operators located within easy walking distance of the city centre. Buses for the southern and western routes use the Victoria Square terminus; those for the northern and eastern routes are based at Immigration Square.

Buses running the shorter routes to the north of Port Louis, including Baie du Tombeau (Rs 6) and Ste-Croix (Pere Laval's tomb) (Rs 6), use the small Labourdonnais bus terminal, just off President John Kennedy St.

Buses on the southern route to Pointe aux Sables leave from Dumas St, the short road, which runs into Victoria Square.

Cyclones are known to strike the island between November and May. The highest temperatures occur from January to April and can reach around 35°C. The coolest period is from July to September, when temperatures average 24°C. For a local update on the weather call (230) 302-6071.