Map Rodrigues

Weather Rodrigues

08.09.2010
partly cloudy
24°C
Sunrise 05:49:00
Sunset 17:39:00

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Rodrigues

Rodrigues, a delightful, remote little holiday island 650km east of Mauritius, is the perfect getaway from the glitz and glamour of Mauritius. Just 18km long and 8km at its widest point, Rodrigues is surrounded entirely by coral reefs offering world-class diving and snorkelling.

Conjure up images of Mauritius 100 years ago, and you have Rodrigues, where you see people walking their pet pigs! Life is slow on this rural island, but this only adds to the ambience of this charming place.

The Rodriguans are predominantly Creole and pride themselves on their warm hospitality. All the hotels, guest houses and restaurants offer delectable Creole, Chinese and French dishes.

Port Mathurin is the capital and has a small market on Saturdays. Nightclubs are open on weekends only. Around Cascade Pigeons River in the verdant interior, you can see the endangered Rodrigues warbler, Rodrigues Fody, as well as the Rodrigues fruit bat.

The ‘anti stress’ island is perfect for both honeymooners and families wanting to relax. For first-time visitors to the Mascarenes islands, a combination holiday with Mauritius is ideal. 

Rodrigues Top Attractions

  • Ilot Cocos: This idyllic, uninhabited island has a sun-drenched beach and a huge seabird colony. This is the most popular and worthwhile day excursion available. A picnic lunch and a stop for snorkelling are included.
  • Caverne Patate: Exploring this 795m coral cave is regarded as part and parcel of the Rodrigues experience. There are four departures daily.
  • See the critically endangered indigenous flora and fauna around Solitude and Citronelle: Take a picnic lunch and visit the woods around the lovely cascades between Solitude and Citronelle, in the hilly interior. You have an excellent chance of seeing two rare birds, the Rodrigues Fody and Rodrigues warbler, as well as the endangered Rodrigues golden bats. 
  • Trou d’Argent (Silver hole): This must be the most beautiful beach area on Rodrigues. It is one of the island’s postcard images. To get there, it’s a short bus trip from Pointe Cotton to St Francois (great for swimming) and Fumier (also good swimming), and then a walk along a trail to Trou d’Argent viewpoint.
  • Mont Limon: This mountain is 393m, the highest peak. It’s in the direction of Pointe Cotton, indicated with road signs. Traverse along a forest path, and then a short walk will take you to the top. Lots of lychees are grown here.

Rodrigues Travel Tips

  • Getting there: Daily flights from Mauritius to Rodrigues with Air Mauritius.
  • Visas: Not required by South Africans, American and European citizens. All other nationalities must check prior to departure.
  • Travel documents: Your passport should have a minimum of two blank visa pages (but we recommend three if you are visiting more than one country on your journey). Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your intended departure date. South African citizens who hold more than one passport must depart and re-enter South Africa on their South African passport.
  • Duty free: 200 cigarettes, one litre of spirits, two litres of wine or beer/ale, 250ml of eau de toilette and perfume not exceeding 10cl are allowed for travellers over the age of 16.
  • Luggage allowance: 20kg and one item of hand luggage. Airlines will not accept any item of luggage exceeding 32kg and these dimensions: 900mm x 720mm x 450mm. Plastic wrap your luggage prior to departure, especially if departing from OR Tambo International Airport.
  • Currency: The local currency is the Mauritian Rupee. There are a number of banks in Mauritius that will exchange your travellers’ cheques. Most banks are open from Monday to Friday 9:30am to 2:30pm, and Saturday from 9am to 11:30am. Banks at the airport are open for all incoming and outgoing flights. Most hotels accept major credit cards.
  • Language: English, French, Creole and Indian dialects are all spoken in Mauritius.
  • Time zone: GMT + 4 hours. Daylight saving will be in effect from October to March, during which local time will be GMT + 5 hours instead of GMT + 4 hours.
  • Climate and what to pack: Temperatures vary between 14ºC and 22ºC in winter and average about 30ºC in summer. The islands are prone to tropical cyclones from December to February. April to June and September to November are usually the most pleasant months. Take light, comfortable clothing and protective wear for the tropical sun and rain. Pack insecticides, personal medication and toiletries. 
  • Power supply: 220v. The most common plug is the UK 3-pin.
  • Car hire: An international driver’s licence is required when hiring a car.

Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions will apply to your holiday and the arrangements which you make. Please read them carefully as you will be bound by them.

By making a booking, the client confirms that all of the people named in the booking made by him/her have read these conditions, and have agreed to be bound by them and all the other terms of the contract, and that he/she has the authority to accept these terms and conditions on their behalf.

1.    Regardless of the place of execution, performance or domicile of the parties, this contract, together with all modifications and amendments, shall be governed by, construed under and in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

2.    All packages and tours are sold subject to our standard terms and conditions. Reservations must be signed on a booking form. If the services of a courier are employed during this process, the costs shall be borne by the client.

3.    A 20% deposit is payable on confirmation, unless otherwise stated on the booking form. The balance must be paid 6 weeks prior to your departure. No contract is made between the client and Unusual Destinations until the deposit or, where required, the full price has been paid, whether or not a booking confirmation has been issued by Unusual Destinations or one of its agents. Failure by the client to pay any sum by due date shall entitle Unusual Destinations to cancel the booking, and to charge a cancellation fee as set out below (see point 17 below).

4.    Quotations are based on the exchange rates valid at the time that they are sent to the client. Unusual Destinations reserves the right to increase any prices where currency fluctuations occur, until such time as they have been paid in full. It is the client’s responsibility to check on possible price increases prior to full payment. Airfares are subject to prices quoted by airlines, and Unusual Destinations can therefore not accept responsibility for unexpected fare increases.

5.    It is the clients’ responsibility to obtain travel documents including a valid passport and air tickets. It is also the clients’ responsibility to contact the airlines at least 72 hours prior to departure to reconfirm all flights. All clients who, at the time of departure, are under the age of 18 years, must be accompanied by a client aged 21 or over who will at all times during the tour or trip be responsible for their welfare, conduct and behaviour. Clients are expected at all times to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner with due regard to the health, safety, comfort, enjoyment and general well- being of all the other people who may be on the tour or trip, or other people who may be staying in the relevant hotels. If it appears that the client’s conduct or behaviour is such as to be a breach of this requirement, or is likely to endanger the client’s own health or safety, or that of others, or where their actions or conduct impedes the operation of the trip, then Unusual Destinations reserves the right to refuse the further participation of any such client. No refund will be considered in respect of any client whose participation in the trip is terminated for these reasons. Further, where the client is repatriated pursuant to this clause at Unusual Destinations’ expense, or where Unusual Destinations is put to any additional expense as a result of the client’s conduct, then Unusual Destinations shall have the right to recover such costs upon demand. Under no circumstances, at any time, shall Unusual Destinations have any liability for the denial of boarding or expulsion from an aeroplane by any airline contracted in terms of this contract, such denial being at the sole discretion of the airline concerned.

6.    While Unusual Destinations will do its best not to cancel or make any material alteration to the itinerary after a booking confirmation has been issued, it shall nonetheless be entitled at any time prior to departure to cancel the contract between the parties, or to change and/or curtail the scheduled itinerary where this becomes reasonably necessary on operational, commercial or other grounds. Unusual Destinations will however inform the client of any such cancellation or change of itinerary as soon as possible. Where such a change of itinerary amounts to a material alteration, the client shall be entitled to cancel the booking within 3 days of being advised of the itinerary change without any cancellation fee being applicable.

7.    Although Unusual Destinations attempts to make all itineraries as accurate as possible at the time of printing, they are to be considered an approximate indication of the schedule and scope of the tour rather than an inflexible chronicle of events. The itinerary may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond the control of Unusual Destinations, whether as a result of weather, government restrictions, transportation problems, road conditions, acts of God, terrorist threats, natural disasters, fires or other circumstances. Unusual Destinations however undertakes to do its best to maintain the itinerary, and will not unreasonably change it. However any such changes shall not constitute a material alteration of the contract, and Unusual Destinations shall in consequence have no liability to the client in respect thereof.

8.    Unusual Destinations will not be responsible for any additional costs occasioned by changes in the itinerary or flight schedules, such as additional flights, hotel nights or meals not included in the scheduled itinerary. Payment for such additional services will be required at the time when the amended itinerary is provided to the client. Further, any expenses incurred owing to unexpected extensions to packages, trips or tours caused by flight delays, bad weather, strikes or any other reason beyond Unusual Destinations’ control will be paid by the client upon demand.

9.    Where the client is making a booking with a tour, the rates quoted are based upon group participation, and no partial refunds will be given for unused trip arrangements or sightseeing tours for any reason whatsoever.

10.    Unusual Destinations, in order to provide the tour as set out in the brochure, group/individual tour or individual package, quotation and/or booking, is obliged to make arrangements with local operators who may themselves engage the services of local suppliers. Unusual Destinations endeavours at all times to appoint reputable and competent local operators to comply with the requirements and standards expected by the client. However, although these local operators are appointed by Unusual Destinations, they are acting as an agent on behalf of the client directly, and a direct contract is therefore entered into between the client and the local operator or service provider, and the terms and conditions of the local operator, whether or not contained in this brochure, will apply to arrangements made by them. Unusual Destinations makes the travel arrangements on behalf of the client on the express condition that it is not liable for any inconvenience, irregularity or expense occasioned by the failure of the local operator to comply with the itinerary provided, whether in relation to travel arrangements, airline scheduling, airline changes, cancelled flights, missed flight connections or any other factor not directly under Unusual Destinations’ control. In the event however that Unusual Destinations is, in spite of the provisions of this clause, found to be liable to the client, then its liability will be limited to the sum paid by the client in respect of the travel arrangement(s) in question.

11.    As Unusual Destinations acts only as an agent for local operators, it accepts no liability for any loss or damages which clients may suffer as a result of the failure by such local operators to fulfil their obligations whether in relation to travel flights, land arrangements, accommodation or otherwise. These local operators are independent suppliers who are not affiliated with Unusual Destinations in any way. Further, Unusual Destinations shall not be liable for any loss, damage, delay, accident or inconvenience caused to any person, their property or luggage under any circumstances.

12.    Unusual Destinations will not be liable for bodily injury to, or death of any client, or damage to their property occasioned through the conduct or default of any company or local operator or individual engaged in providing these services or for any reason, including, but not limited to, acts of God, quarantine, strikes, industrial action, medical emergencies, civil disturbances, theft, detention, annoyance, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, closure of ports, changes in government regulations, terrorism, war, medical emergencies or failure of the conveyance to depart or arrive as scheduled.

13.    Unusual Destinations does not provide medical services during the trip or tour. However, wherever possible, Unusual Destinations will offer general assistance to any client who suffers illness, personal injury or death, whether or not arising from an activity forming part of the trip or tour, and whether or not the result of fault by any party.

14.    Clients should bring with an ample supply of any prescription medicines required, and a first aid kit.

15.    Any cost or expense which is reasonably incurred by Unusual Destinations for or on behalf of the client in respect of any form of medical, dental or similar treatment, hotel, transportation, repatriation, or any other expenses of whatever nature, shall be repayable by the client to Unusual Destinations on demand, whether or not such sum is covered by the client’s travel insurance.

16.    Travel insurance (medical and personal accident) is compulsory. However, clients are strongly recommended to take out insurance to cover the loss of their luggage, and the deposit or part of the tour fee through cancellation.

17.    Any changes and/or cancellations will incur penalties; in many cases air tickets are totally non-refundable. All cancellations have to be in writing. Unless otherwise stipulated, the following fees shall be charged by Unusual Destinations if a client cancels a reservation:

More than 6 weeks prior to departure:
10% of price

4 – 6 weeks prior to departure:
50% of price

2 – 4 weeks prior to departure:

75% of price

Less than 2 weeks prior to departure:

100% of price

18.    These terms and conditions, together with any other clauses set out on the application form, defines the responsibility of Unusual Destinations with respect to all of the trips/tours/arrangements made by them. Further, Unusual Destinations shall not be liable for the failure of performance or improper performance which is wholly attributable to any or all of the following:
    
a)    The fault of the client;

b)    The unforeseeable or unavoidable act of a third party unconnected with the provision of any services to be provided under this contract;

c)    Unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of Unusual Destinations, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care was exercised;

d)    Any event which Unusual Destinations could not even with all due care have foreseen or avoided, including (but not limited to) an event or force major. Unusual Destinations further confirms that the carriage of passengers and their luggage by air is governed by various international conventions and the client shall be bound by the rules, regulations and conditions of contract laid down by any carrier upon which he / she may travel as a result of the reservations made, and Unusual Destinations shall be free from any liability in consequence thereof.

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