Family Safari Holidays in Mauritius

Mauritius is a dream destination for a family holiday. It offers powder-soft white sands, clear turquoise waters, tropical palm trees, balmy climes, and well-maintained roads that make driving a breeze. Family-friendly resorts ensure that all ages are catered for, and a wide range of activities keeps the kids busy and entertained!

Mauritius has some of the best family-friendly resorts in the world, with endless provisions for those travelling with children. Kids and teens clubs keep young guests happily busy, babysitting services are widely available, and there are lots of diverse activities to enjoy, such as glass-bottom boat rides, deep-sea fishing, sailing, diving, waterskiing, and kitesurfing. Tennis, table tennis, cycling, fitness classes, and golf are also popular with guests.

Mauritius is a fabulously accessible island with direct, overnight flights from London – this means minimal disruption to the kids' night-time schedule. Non-stop flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Nairobi also make Mauritius the ideal pairing for a Southern or East Africa safari-and-beach combo.

For such a small island, Mauritius certainly packs a punch with its breadth of family-friendly activities. White sandy beaches are an obvious draw, but there’s plenty else to unpack, including gorgeous tropical rainforests with cycling and walking trails, stunning coral reefs for snorkelling, and plenty of watersports, including kitesurfing, waterskiing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, and sailing.

Mauritius is known for its endless pristine beaches with soft, powdery sand and turquoise waters. Spectacular coral reefs protect the lagoon-like waters ideal for snorkelling and swimming, while other more adventurous settings provide older kids with opportunities for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Between rugged coastlines with crashing waves and tranquil, shallow waters where little ones can paddle, there’s something for everyone.

Travellers to Mauritius benefit from its excellent infrastructure, such as the well-maintained roads that make car travel a breeze. The island is compact and manageable, with many family-friendly resorts within an hour’s drive of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. Mauritius is also a great island for family day trips, as you’ll never need to spend too long in the car!

The north coast boasts a number of Mauritius’ most gorgeous sandy beaches, some ideal for snorkelling in clear blue Indian Ocean waters. Water-based activities are top notch here, including deep-sea fishing, sailing, windsurfing, and waterskiing. Some excellent luxury resorts in this region welcome children of all ages.

The wild, windswept east coast, with its pristine lagoons, isolated beaches, and untrodden landscapes, is ideal for nature lovers. It’s also the least-developed part of Mauritius, retaining an island-life authenticity with its charming villages and less touristy feel.

Mauritius’ rugged south coast is arguably the most scenically beautiful part of the island, featuring dramatic cliffs, crashing waves, and scenic walking trails. While it’s not possible to swim in the ocean here, some beautiful beaches exist, including Bel Ombre, Gris Gris, and St Felix.

Mauritius’ west coast also has its fair share of stunning beaches, including Tamarin and Flic en Flac, where many of the island's top resorts are located. You’ll find some of the best conditions for windsurfing and kitesurfing in the world here, as well as the wildly beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site Le Morne Brabant, a peninsula that juts out into the Indian Ocean.

Mauritius has two distinct seasons – a hot, humid summer from November to April and a cooler, drier winter from May through October. We recommend that holidaymakers avoid the west of the island from January to March, as the area receives extremely high winds and even cyclones during this time. April and September–December are generally the best period to visit.

Mauritius has plenty of reef-protected lagoons and all the right weather conditions for the full spectrum of watersports, including waterskiing, windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), sailing, kitesurfing, wakeboarding, kayaking, and snorkelling. Whether you’re seeking an adrenalin rush, a sailing class, or a gentle ride on a pedalo boat, all watersport bases are covered.

Mauritius’ family-friendly beach resorts often have fabulous kids and teens clubs, ensuring children of all ages have action-packed schedules! Activities include arts and crafts, picnics, cinema on the beach, cooking classes, games, stargazing, and even pizza nights! One of our preferred hotels even has a baby club overseen by trained nurses, giving parents complete peace of mind that their little ones are in the best possible hands.

Golf enthusiasts have plenty of choice in Mauritius, with some superb courses on the island. Those starting out might select one of the simple 9-hole courses, but there are also some amazing championship golf courses designed by renowned golfers, including Bernard Langer’s 19-hole Ile Aux Cerfs Golf Club and an 18-hole golf course by Ernie Els at the Anahita Golf Club.

Mauritius is surrounded by pristine coral reef kingdoms full of brightly coloured tropical fish and more than a hundred dive sites to explore. Divers can choose from a range of experiences, including shipwreck and cave dives. You might come across reef sharks, rays, turtles, giant trevally, and barracuda, to name a few. It’s safe to say that Mauritius is one of the best places in the world for diving, and its underwater landscape is exquisite.

Set off into the deep waters of the Indian Ocean on a private boat charter for a morning or afternoon spent deep-sea fishing. The summer months between October and April are best for catching big game, including black marlin, yellowfin tuna, and sailfish. Keep in mind that the recommended age for deep-sea fishing is usually 8 years, and an adult must accompany guests below 16. 

Those wanting a break from ocean activities can head out to one of Mauritius’ beautiful inland locations for a guided quad biking tour. Mauritius is a stunning island with swathes of lush greenery, cascading waterfalls, and dramatic mountain landscapes. An invigorating quad bike ride introduces you to the island’s diverse natural settings while keeping things fun and lighthearted.

Mauritius is a remote volcanic island in the Indian Ocean. It is ideal for birdwatching, snorkelling around the reef, responsible whale-watching, and dolphin spotting off the island’s west coast. Sperm whales can be observed year-round, and humpback whales are generally seen between July and October. Avid birdwatchers might also spot tropicbirds and wedge-tailed shearwaters that soar between the sea and the cliffs. The island is also home to the pink pigeon, Mauritius kestrel, and echo parakeet.

Mauritius has some excellent family-friendly resort properties with a fantastic range of activities. Beachfront locations and protected lagoons mean that all sorts of watersports are possible, from windsurfing, snorkelling, and waterskiing to deep-sea fishing and catamaran cruises. You’ll find some of the best golf courses in the world on Mauritius, and many resorts have impressive fitness centres, exercise classes, floodlit tennis courts, and table tennis. Kids and teens clubs deliver a wide range of activities for children of all ages, including arts and crafts, open-air cinema, child-friendly water activities, cooking, barbecue nights, and stargazing. Some resorts even have a special nursery for babies, ensuring parents can relax and take a break when needed!

With a variety of suites and villas, multiple dining options, babysitting services, and a fantastic kids club offering themed days, outdoor play, arts and crafts, and endless creative play activities, Constance Belle Mare Plage is a brilliant, fun-filled option for families!

On the east coast of Mauritius, LUX* Belle Mare caters for families of all sizes and age ranges, with interconnected family suites, two-bedroom villas, healthy kids' menus, children’s spa treatments, babysitting services, a poolside ice-cream bar, and terrific kids and teens clubs.

Shangri-La Le Touessrok is a large beachfront resort with all the accommodation options and amenities required for an exceptional family-friendly stay. The T-Club caters for children with plenty of action-packed fun, and there’s a kids’ menu with all the usual favourites!

Ensuring all family members are covered, Heritage Awali offers brilliant kids and teens clubs, a children’s den, games, cooking classes, picnics, stargazing, and cinema under the sky. There’s even a baby club overseen by trained nurses, so parents can enjoy a well-deserved rest!

Located on a protected peninsula, Paradis Beachcomber welcomes families with various villa and suite options and an extensive range of activities, including floodlit tennis courts, table tennis, mountain biking, water skiing, windsurfing, sailing, snorkelling, and pedal boats.

The One & Only Le Saint Geran is perfectly located on its own private peninsula. This is a fantastic family resort with something for everyone, including a kids club, a full menu of watersports, an extensive spa, and an incredible array of restaurants. The rooms all have incredible views of the ocean or lagoon and are inspired by chic island living.

Four Seasons Anahita is a superb family resort with all the luxuries expected from the brand. Horse-riding, private barbecues, and tropical treasure hunts can be arranged, and there’s a fantastic clubhouse for older kids with ping pong, football, and home cinema.