Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean, 1000km East of Madagascar. This tropical paradise has been inhabited and colonised by various nations since the middle ages, each leaving behind evidence and their customs for the next generation. What remains is a beautiful combination of East meets west and adds in an African flavour for extra spice. The climate of Mauritius is temperate with cool trade winds blowing in from the sea and a healthy amount of rainfall. The island supports about 1.3 million people and speaks mainly French.