Expat interviews from Mauritius
Work
A tech entrepreneur for more than twenty years and based in Mauritius for the past five, Breno Le Gal has built a career that bridges digital innovation, craftsmanship and local entrepreneurship. After founding Ewa's Kitchen, an artisanal business born from a deeply personal journey, he went on to create Crafty, an AI-powered management solution designed to support artisans and independent creators. In this interview, Breno shares his entrepreneurial journey, his perspective on the challenges facing Mauritian artisans, and his vision for a more accessible digital future for small businesses.
Everyday life
Moving abroad often starts with a feeling, a vague desire for change that gradually takes shape. For Anaïs Honorez, the plan came together step by step, through travels across Asia and the discovery of Mauritius, where she settled in 2018. Since then, she has turned her personal experience into genuine expertise, helping dozens of expats each year navigate their move to the island. In this interview, she looks back on her journey, shares the realities of life in Mauritius beyond the postcard clichés, and offers practical advice for a successful relocation, from preparation through those first months on the ground.
Everyday life
Caity De Chasteigner Dumée-Duval's move from South Africa to Mauritius marked a turning point in both her personal and professional life. After years in the fast-paced world of corporate advertising, she chose to embrace a different rhythm, one that places family, creativity and balance at the centre. Now based in Tamarin and founder of Eighty Twenty, a creative agency, she reflects on the leap that brought her to the island, the challenges of starting a business as a newcomer, and the philosophy that now guides the way she works and lives.
Everyday life
The breathtaking lagoons surrounding Mauritius hide a far more fragile reality: a coral reef barrier that is weakening, partly due to plastic pollution. To take action on the ground and raise awareness without shaming anyone, Stéphane Doré, a French resident who has lived on the island since 2018, created Protez Moris. In this interview, he explains the initiative's goals and shares practical steps everyone can take to help protect Mauritius's natural treasure.
Everyday life
When Adam and Tara Short from Sheffield visited Mauritius last November, they didn't expect it to change their lives. But one afternoon on the beach in Grand Baie, they realized this was where they wanted to raise their family. Adam, who runs a car and fishing business, and Tara, who owns a hospitality supply company, wanted a simpler, safer, and more outdoor life for their two sons, Spencer (9) and Xander (4). Just months later, they turned that dream into reality. In this interview, the Short family shares what it's really like to swap the busy streets of Sheffield for island life, from choosing schools and settling in, to discovering their favourite local foods and making Mauritius home.
Everyday life
Rwandan software developer Pascal Gihozo came to Mauritius in 2021 on a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship and has since built a life that blends tech, health innovation, and outdoor adventure. Now an eHealth Implementation Assistant at UNDP Mauritius & Seychelles and co-founder of Alonix Solutions, Pascal balances his professional path with a passion for endurance challenges—most recently cycling 216 km around the island. In this interview, he shares his expat journey, lessons learned, and advice for young professionals in Africa.
Everyday life
When Sophie Luminara moved from London to Mauritius in 2015 with her husband and two young children, she had never visited the island and knew no one there. Drawn by the chance to raise her children in a bilingual environment and to embrace a different pace of life, she quickly discovered the warmth of Mauritian culture, the safety of the island, and the joy of outdoor living. Now navigating life as a solo mum, Sophie reflects on the support networks she has built, the contrasts between parenting in the UK and Mauritius, and the ways island life has shaped her family's daily rhythm. In this interview, she shares candid insights into raising children abroad, building community from scratch, and finding balance between personal and professional life under the Mauritian sun.
Everyday life
For Taryn Aveley, moving to Mauritius wasn't just about changing countries—it was about starting fresh. Three years ago, she and her family left South Africa in search of space to grow and create, and the island quickly became home. Blending her love for food with her new surroundings, Taryn has found inspiration in both her South African roots and Mauritian flavors, turning her kitchen into a place of connection and creativity. In this interview, she shares her journey of settling in, finding community, and discovering what it means to truly thrive abroad.
Everyday life
Jérôme Valin has lived in Mauritius since the 1980s, experiencing first-hand the significant shifts in audiovisual production while immersing himself in the island's culture. Through his channel Lespri Pozitif, he highlights community-driven, cultural, and sustainable initiatives that bring Mauritius to life. He aims to share a perspective that is optimistic, engaged, and deeply human.
Everyday life
Lucy Leheilleix, a South African expat, is a filmmaker and outdoor enthusiast who has made Mauritius her creative playground. With a background in TV and documentaries, she now crafts vibrant video content that captures the island's natural beauty, local culture, and environmental causes. Passionate about water sports and visual storytelling, Lucy blends adventure with purpose, inspiring others to see Mauritius through a fresh, authentic lens.
Everyday life
When Sierra left Washington, D.C. for Mauritius, she wasn't just relocating—she was on a mission to explore, document, and share. A creative storyteller and digital nomad, Sierra first learned about Mauritius through a random online article and later turned that spark into a full-fledged move in 2023 under the Premium Visa. Since then, she's built a life that blends work, passion, and purpose—running her blog and YouTube channel Expat Sierra, freelancing, and diving into local culture. In this interview, Sierra opens up about her visa journey, life as an expat, connecting with communities, and her hopes for a more inclusive, millennial-friendly Mauritius.
Schools & studies
Daniella Bee, a French expat, moved to Mauritius two years ago. Once a globe-trotting digital nomad, she traded freedom and movement for something more grounded: purpose. Captivated by the island's natural beauty—and undeterred by its challenges—she chose to stay. Guided by compassion and curiosity, Daniella founded Grains d'Étoile, an educational initiative rooted in humanity, inclusion, and ecology. Her story is one of vision, commitment, and bold transformation. Meet the woman turning dreams into action.
Everyday life
Originally from Annecy, Lionel discusses his evolution from an early career in sales to his current role as an expert in optimizing online processes for French SMEs. Currently based in Mauritius, he explains how he merges technological innovation with personal connections to transform business strategies and why he chose this tropical paradise as his new home.
Work
Join us for an in-depth discussion with Myriam Blin, Head of the Charles Telfair Centre, a key institution in the Western Indian Ocean dedicated to addressing regional challenges and enhancing collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. She leads training initiatives focused on gender transformation leadership to meet the growing need for inclusive leadership. In this interview, she emphasizes the vital importance of diversity and inclusion in the current professional landscape and explores the distinctive challenges encountered in Mauritius.
Everyday life
It was a delight to chat with Thibault Cabanettes, a dynamic young man from Marseille who embarked on a heartfelt journey to Mauritius in the name of love. With a diverse academic and professional background in France, Thibault took a life-changing leap, moving to Mauritius to be with Divya, his significant other. In this Interview, Thibault shares the hurdles and highlights of his new life in Mauritius, offering an intimate look into what it means to chase love across the globe.
Ready for a 9th edition, MAMA JAZ has evolved from a mere idea shared among friends to a thriving month-long festival celebrating Mauritius' musical talent. In this interview with Gavin Poonoosamy, the founder of MAMA JAZ, we find out about the evolution of the festival and what makes it a must-attend event.
Stéphanie Bouloc's journey from France to the picturesque island of Mauritius six years ago is not just about seeking paradise; it's about a deep commitment to the principles of the circular economy. As we commemorate Women's Rights Day, let's delve into the story of this resilient and innovative woman.
Everyday life
In this interview, we speak to María Cánovas, a dynamic individual hailing from Spain whose passion for travel and new cultural experiences led her to the enchanting island of Mauritius. Armed with a background in Tourism and Economics, María's journey unfolds as she takes us through her transformative six-month marketing internship at a prestigious hotel and the subsequent decision to return for a longer stay.
Other Types
Everyday life
The recent filmed assault of an Italian tourist at Grand Bassin sent shockwaves across the country. It exposes long-hidden fractures beneath the island's idyllic reputation and has reignited the debate around safety for foreigners in Mauritius. In fact, questions about security have been multiplying on social media for some time now. But should expats and those planning to move to Mauritius in the near future be worried?
Health system
Mauritius is looking to accelerate the development of medical tourism and attract more international patients. According to official figures, over 4,000 international patients travel to the island each year for medical care or wellness stays. This number has been steadily rising since 2015, yet it remains modest compared with major regional hubs.
Sponsored
Mauritius Telecom
In a context where energy efficiency and mobility are essential, Work From Home has become a necessity. To support this shift, Mauritius Telecom is proposing exceptional offers designed to transform every Mauritian home into a high-performance workspace and study hub.
Everyday life
Raising children abroad takes adaptation, a healthy dose of improvisation… and a great deal of cultural open-mindedness. In Mauritius, an island of a thousand identities, the experience takes on a truly unique flavor. Between schooling in English or French, friendships with local Mauritian children, languages that blend together, and traditions that intersect, kids quickly become genuine cultural chameleons.
Everyday life
Within just a few days, a wide stretch of sand vanished along the west coast of Mauritius. A stark episode that lays bare a truth backed by data, even as authorities moved quickly to try to restore the situation: the island is among the most vulnerable in the world to rising sea levels and coastal erosion.
The dream of moving to Mauritius is often painted in golden colours. Beaches, adventure, freedom… But sometimes, a vague feeling creeps in. A kind of emptiness. A homesickness that's hard to put into words. That's what's known as the expat blues.
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