Mauritius Lifestyle - Expat Magazine
Moving abroad often starts with a feeling, a vague desire for change that gradually takes shape. For Anaïs Honorez, the plan came together step by step, through travels across Asia and the discovery of Mauritius, where she settled in 2018. Since then, she has turned her personal experience into genuine expertise, helping dozens of expats each year navigate their move to the island. In this interview, she looks back on her journey, shares the realities of life in Mauritius beyond the postcard clichés, and offers practical advice for a successful relocation, from preparation through those first months on the ground.
At a time when the Middle East is going through one of its most serious geopolitical crises in decades, Mauritius finds itself on the front line of the economic repercussions of a conflict beyond its control. A recent UNDP report has quantified the extent of these risks with precision. Diesel prices have already increased. Rumors of rising petrol and bread prices continue to circulate, despite government efforts to deny them. Meanwhile, the first concrete responses are beginning to emerge within businesses. Here is a full breakdown of the measures shaping daily life in Mauritius.
Caity De Chasteigner Dumée-Duval's move from South Africa to Mauritius marked a turning point in both her personal and professional life. After years in the fast-paced world of corporate advertising, she chose to embrace a different rhythm, one that places family, creativity and balance at the centre. Now based in Tamarin and founder of Eighty Twenty, a creative agency, she reflects on the leap that brought her to the island, the challenges of starting a business as a newcomer, and the philosophy that now guides the way she works and lives.
Mauritian authorities have reported no shortages or supply disruptions, whether for fuel, food, or other essential goods. Yet the impact of the war that broke out on 28 February between the United States, Israel and Iran is already being felt, even 6,000 kilometres away. For expats living in Mauritius and those planning to move here, the coming weeks will require vigilance and forward planning in several areas of daily life.
For years, when people talked about moving to Mauritius, two areas dominated the conversation: the North and the West. Grand Baie meant social life, shopping, and restaurants. Tamarin and Flic-en-Flac offered that sun, surf, and after-work lifestyle. Then, gradually, the South began attracting a new wave of expats seeking something different: more nature, more authenticity, and less congestion. From Bel Ombre to Mahébourg, including Baie du Cap, Riambel, Blue Bay, and Pointe d'Esny, the southern coastline offers unspoiled landscapes, villages that still move to a Mauritian rhythm, and the pleasant sense that time flows a little differently here. So why are so many expats now choosing to settle in the South? Here is the full picture.
Mauritius still feels like a dream destination. With pleasant weather year-round, political stability, a strong sense of safety, a welcoming culture, and a business-friendly environment, it appeals to people relocating for a new job, a fresh start as an entrepreneur, or a more peaceful retirement. But beyond the postcard image, one issue is increasingly hard to ignore: the rising cost of living. It's now a regular topic of conversation and a growing concern across expat communities.
The breathtaking lagoons surrounding Mauritius hide a far more fragile reality: a coral reef barrier that is weakening, partly due to plastic pollution. To take action on the ground and raise awareness without shaming anyone, Stéphane Doré, a French resident who has lived on the island since 2018, created Protez Moris. In this interview, he explains the initiative's goals and shares practical steps everyone can take to help protect Mauritius's natural treasure.
You've just landed at the airport, slightly undone by the humidity, suitcases packed with good intentions and mid-season clothes. You're here, ready to start your new life in Mauritius. Everything feels perfectly set for happiness. And in many ways, it is. But before you sip tamarind juice with your feet in the sand, there's a more practical journey to navigate: the reality of settling in. In Mauritius, things work. They just don't work the way they do back home. Bank accounts are opened with a signature and an electricity bill, taxis are booked on WhatsApp, and you quickly learn that “right now” can mean “later today”… or tomorrow. This article doesn't aim to tell you everything. Instead, it offers clear reference points, practical advice, and a few well-earned warnings so you don't have to learn everything the hard way.
Mauritius continues to strengthen its appeal among international retirees. According to the Global Retirement Report 2025 published by Global Citizen Solutions, the island ranks as the second-best retirement destination worldwide, just behind Portugal. This international recognition reflects a well-structured migration policy, an attractive tax framework and a stable living environment, which are key factors increasingly sought by retirees considering life abroad. Here's what you need to know if you're considering Mauritius for your overseas retirement.
Mauritius is known not only for its turquoise lagoons and volcanic landscapes but also for its deeply rooted spiritual heritage. Hinduism, Catholicism, local traditions, and alternative spiritual paths coexist on the island, shaping a unique spiritual landscape in the heart of the Indian Ocean.
Many people move to Mauritius thinking they are simply changing scenery. Sun, spices, curry, a slower pace of life. Often, the decision is driven by exhaustion: a job that has lost its meaning, a lifestyle that feels increasingly disconnected, and the sense of repeating the same patterns without moving forward. But relocation rarely stops at a change of address. Moving abroad, particularly to a place like Mauritius, often becomes a deeper turning point. Beyond the practical steps and administrative formalities, it triggers a shift in perspective. The move acts as a reset, forcing individuals to reassess their priorities, question long-held assumptions, and adapt to an entirely new environment. In that process, many begin to see more clearly what matters to them, how they want to live, and what they are no longer willing to compromise.
In Mauritius, Christmas doesn't smell of pine trees. It smells more like barbecue. One festive season in the Southern Hemisphere is enough to realize how different Christmas feels here. Think humid heat, lychees, and beaches filled with families. We spoke to expats living in Mauritius about their first Christmas in the tropics, the surprises, the adjustments, and what they wouldn't trade for anything.
Since 1 December, the Mauritius Police Force has stepped up its presence across the island with added patrols, Safe City monitoring and intensified roadside controls. The points-based driving licence system is also set to return in January 2026. With the festive season approaching, shopping centres and commercial areas are expected to draw more people. Public transport will run more frequently and for longer hours, while roads will be noticeably busier.
You've swapped sweaters for flip-flops, traded the metro for a sky-blue bus, and you're thinking the hardest part is behind you? Rookie mistake. In Mauritius, smiling doesn't guarantee everything will “click.” Fitting in here has nothing to do with forcing a Creole accent or suddenly becoming obsessed with dholl puri. Real integration happens through social habits, often subtle but meaningful. You'll need to unlearn a few classic “new expat” reflexes. Here's a list of habits to adopt (and traps to avoid) if you don't want to stay stuck in “Hi, I'm new here” mode for the next three years.
French President Emmanuel Macron's two-day visit to Mauritius has ushered in a new wave of bilateral cooperation, with fresh agreements on energy, maritime security, education, and economic partnerships. More than 32 years after the last official visit from a French head of state, the trip, held on 20 and 21 November, was unanimously described as “historic” by both governments.
When people imagine Mauritius, they see turquoise lagoons, filao-lined beaches, warm sunlight, and warm people. What the glossy brochures don't always show are the tiny co-tenants that come included with your dream villa: geckos on the walls, ants in your cupboards, mosquitoes in the bedroom, and, for the lucky few, monkeys who roam in organized little crews to steal mangos. Living in Mauritius means living inside a tropical ecosystem. The line between indoors and outdoors is thin, and nature doesn't politely wait on the doorstep. You learn to share space with it, sometimes to nudge it back a little, but mostly, to accept it.
Welcome to Mauritius! You've just landed. Your legs are swollen, your nose still burns from the plane's air-conditioning, and you're thinking: “Now I'm eating local.” Mistake number one: believing you can “try Mauritian street food” the same way you nibble a little vegan taco back home. No! Here, eating local is an art. A cultural immersion. A spiritual initiation. A rite of passage. Sometimes a test. And absolutely not a joke.
When Adam and Tara Short from Sheffield visited Mauritius last November, they didn't expect it to change their lives. But one afternoon on the beach in Grand Baie, they realized this was where they wanted to raise their family. Adam, who runs a car and fishing business, and Tara, who owns a hospitality supply company, wanted a simpler, safer, and more outdoor life for their two sons, Spencer (9) and Xander (4). Just months later, they turned that dream into reality. In this interview, the Short family shares what it's really like to swap the busy streets of Sheffield for island life, from choosing schools and settling in, to discovering their favourite local foods and making Mauritius home.
Make your relocation easier with the Mauritius expat guide
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