Mauritius is a small jewel of an island adrift in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, a little over 1,200 miles to the southeast of the African continent.

It remains one of the world's most popular beach holiday destinations.

Mauritius is only 40 miles long and 28 miles wide, yet it is home to 1.2 million residents. Despite the relatively high population, Mauritius remains an ecological oasis where development is strictly limited.