Watersports: Beaches, lagoons and inlets around the coast offer plenty of opportunity for safe swimming (see Resorts & Excursions), supplemented by hotel swimming pools. Grand Baie, north of Pamplemousses Gardens, is a popular beach for diving. Further good dive sites can be found around Fic-en-Flac on the west coast of Mauritius, and on Rodrigues Island. The Mauritian Scuba Diving Association can provide further information (tel: 454 0011; e-mail: MSDA@intnet.mu). There is good coastal and inland fishing around the island.

Golf: This is becoming increasingly popular on Mauritius, with an annual Golf Open held in December. Golf courses offering 18 holes are at Belle Mare Plage in the northeast and the Paradis Brabant Hotel in the southwest. Smaller rounds can be played at St Geran Hotel, Trou aux Biches, La Pirogue, Sugar Beach and Maritim which offer 9 holes.

Other: There are many opportunities for trekking in the interior of the island. Many of the best walks are in the Réserve Forrestière Macchabée and Rivière Noire National Park. Rodrigues Island also has some lovely hiking country, with coastal and mountain walks, notably to the island's highest points, Mount Limon and Mount Malartic. The Hippodrome at the Champ de Mars has meetings at the weekends between May and October where spectators can watch horseracing.