6 Simple Reasons to Move your Family to Mauritius

Written by Candice Thompson
As most parents know, having children and starting a family requires a large re-evaluation of one’s priorities. What may have been important to you as a single or couple before now seems to be of much less significance when you have a family to think of and provide for.
It is for this reason that so many young families have made the exciting decision to move to Mauritius. Although uprooting one’s children from friends and schools they are familiar with might seem quite the daunting task, for a lot of parents, it’s a change worth making.
When it comes to Mauritius, one needs only to look at the myriad of Facebook group comments to see how many parents have made the move and never looked back. Mauritius has some of the best quality of life for children worldwide and being able to raise one’s youngsters largely outdoors and away from screens is just a bonus.
We have put together a list of our top 6 simplest reasons why Mauritius is an excellent home for young families. Although this list is by no means exhaustive, and there are hundreds of other reasons why to consider Mauritius, these are probably some of the main ones.
All visitors to the island will be able to attest to the fact that the Mauritian people are incredibly welcoming and friendly. Many of them will go out of their way to chat to newcomers and find out where you are from. In addition, children are well-loved on the island and it’s not difficult to find a good child-minder or nanny who will treat your children like family.
Although French and Creole are the most widely spoken languages in Mauritius, most people speak English, and you should find it relatively easy to converse with those you meet. And on the plus side, picking up some French yourself is beneficial.
Mauritius has many excellent private schools and tertiary institutions and is quickly becoming a popular location for students to study abroad. For many people looking at relocating, first finding the right school for their children is part of the challenge. However, you can rest assured that there are many different schooling options to suit your child’s education needs and preferences. Some schools focus more on inclusivity and all-round learning, while others are very structured and academic. Ensuring that you liaise with several schools (and other parents if you can), will mean that you can make the best possible choice for your child.
1. The Climate
Those living in Mauritius will be able to tell you that the year-round balmy and warm climate is a huge positive. Although it can get quite hot and humid in the summer months, spending late afternoons after school on the beach and enjoying forest walks under the cool shade of the trees is most enjoyable.
Furthermore, the slightly cooler winter months, which are by no means cold, still allow for water sports like sailing, scuba diving, swimming, and surfing, amongst other things. Areas popular with expats like the west and north coast of the island are largely spared from the winter cold and the annual trade winds that the high-lying areas and east coast tend to endure.
see our "Mauritius Climate" page
2. The Location
If you’ve looked at a map, you’ll notice that Mauritius is ideally located between Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe. For South Africans and Europeans, this makes it the perfect spot to relocate to with one’s family, while still not being too far from extended family members. Being on the same time zone as Dubai (GMT+4) and only two hours ahead of both South Africa and most of Europe allows for easy video chats with granny and grandad.
The island also boasts an award-winning airport and is positioning itself as an Indian Ocean travel hub. There are already several daily flights between Johannesburg and Mauritius and are soon to be two daily flights to Dubai. This has made it very easy to travel to and from the island, especially since it’s only a 4-hour flight to Johannesburg and a 6-hour flight to Dubai. As most parents can confirm, travelling with young children is no easy feat, so knowing that it’s only a short trip to visit family is a bonus.
And last, but definitely not least, is the safety aspect of the island. Being voted as the safest place in Africa, and 23rd safest nation worldwide, has made Mauritius stand out as a secure and family friendly location, and an ideal place to raise one’s children. In fact, Mauritius outranks countries like Italy (31), the United Kingdom (42) and France (66) on the Global Peace Index of 2022.
3. The People
All visitors to the island will be able to attest to the fact that the Mauritian people are incredibly welcoming and friendly. Many of them will go out of their way to chat to newcomers and find out where you are from. In addition, children are well-loved on the island and it’s not difficult to find a good child-minder or nanny who will treat your children like family.
Although French and Creole are the most widely spoken languages in Mauritius, most people speak English, and you should find it relatively easy to converse with those you meet. And on the plus side, picking up some French yourself is beneficial.
see our "Mauritius People" page
4. The Schools
It also bears mentioning that only looking at the schools in the immediate vicinity of where you plan on staying may limit your options. There are quite a few excellent schools centrally located on the island that are often dismissed by newcomers because they aren’t in the more popular “expat areas”. However, these schools should definitely be considered when looking at schooling options as they offer a high level of education, even if they do come with a bus ride.
see our "Mauritius Schools" page
5. The Outdoors
When one thinks of the island, it’s often a mental picture of sunny blue skies and waving palm trees that comes to mind. And that is exactly what makes Mauritius such an ideal location for young families to relocate to. With its temperate climate and miles of beaches and natural forests, Mauritius is full of outdoor activities for parents and children to do together, many only a short car ride from home.
Whether it’s spending time on the beach, in the warm Indian Ocean water, or hiking up one of the incredible mountain peaks, every moment spent outdoors is sure to be enjoyed. Furthermore, not having to worry about coming across a poisonous snake while hiking is an extra bonus.
see all activities, sports, beaches and more in our "Topics Page"
6. The Safety
And last, but not least, is the safety aspect of the island. Being voted as the safest place in Africa, and 23rd safest nation worldwide, has made Mauritius stand out as a secure and family friendly location, and an ideal place to raise one’s children. In fact, Mauritius actually outranks countries like Italy (31), the United Kingdom (42) and France (66) on the Global Peace Index of 2022.
With a very low crime rate overall, what little crime does occur tends to be non-violent and is dealt with quickly and completely. Police officers are generally friendly and polite and go about their duties with a sense of pride.
In conclusion, if you are after a safe and friendly destination to raise your children, with proximity to South Africa and Europe and an excellent quality of life, then you need look no further than Mauritius. As many people who have gone before you can attest, it may be the best (and last) move you’ll ever make.
For more information on a lifestyle change and relocation to Mauritius or to schedule a free call to discuss your options, please get in touch with us at
relocations@btg-consultingafrica.com. We would love to help.

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