Non Aqua Sports

Of outstanding interest for visitors is horse racing, at the Champ de Mars in Port-Louis. The season is from May to November. Among the main meetings held is the Mauritius derby, the Maiden Plate, run in mid-September.

Excellent golf courses exist in Mauritius
• Four 18-hole: Paradis Hotel, Le Morne; two at Belle Mare Plage, Belle Mare; Ile aux Cerfs
• Five 9-hole: Trou aux Biches Hotel, Trou aux Biches; Shandrani Hotel - Blue Bay; St. Geran Hotel - Poste de Flacq: Sofitel Imperial - Flic en Flac; Maritim Hotel - Balaclava.
These hotels have a club house with practice nets and a store room for guests' golf equipment. Pros attend to clients' needs and are available for private lessons. Practice balls, clubs and trolleys are on hire at the club house.

The island's reputation as a shopper's paradise is evidenced by the diversity and quality of shopping opportunities. Many Duty-free shops intended for tourists holding passport and air tickets offer very attractive products and prices. What must one bring back from Mauritius? Finely reproduced ancient ship models, built according to their original plans can make beautiful souvenirs (airfreight surcharge apply). Jewellery has been inherited from a long tradition of craftsmanship working with 18 or 22 carat gold. Mauritius is also an excellent place to buy textiles and has made a name for itself in the knitwear field. Top designers have local production units and their prices are very competitive. Shirts, trousers, men and ladies' suits, shorts or swimwear are affordable in Mauritius. Some shops offer the possibility of having suits made within 48 hours. Handicraft, basketwork, embroidery, earthenware, silk screened fabric, cut stones, blown recycled glass are also prized items. Discover glass craftsmanship at the Mauritius Glass Gallery where recycled mouth-blown glass objects and stained glass products are available. Fine cuisine fans will find colourful ranges of various chillies, candied fruits and other spices, special vegetable pickles, macerated in saffron, oil, spices and chilli. Do not forget local vanilla tea and rum.

This is one of the island's attractions and is catered for on a lavish scale by some resort hotels, which offer a variety of tables (roulette, blackjack, etc.) as well as "one-armed bandits" or fruit machines. Casinos are operated at Trou aux Biches, La Pirogue and St Geran Hotels. Other Casinos are the Casino de Maurice in Curepipe, the Casino of Domaine Les Pailles in Pailles and Le Casino du Caudan on Port Louis Waterfront. Exchange control permission is normally given for the transfer of casino winnings by a non-resident.