The austral summer (November to April) is hot, luminous… and punctuated by intense tropical showers. Nothing that should put you off renting a car — provided you adopt a few simple reflexes.
In a tropical downpour
Mauritian squalls are violent but brief: in ten minutes a dry road becomes a mirror. Slow down immediately, switch your lights on, double your following distance and beware of the first minutes of rain, when dust and oil lift and make the asphalt especially slippery. If visibility gets truly bad, pull over for five minutes: the squall passes as fast as it came.
Flood-prone spots: never push through
Some low points (river crossings, coastal roads, underpasses) can end up underwater after a big storm. The rule is absolute: never cross a flooded road if you cannot see the bottom. Thirty centimetres of water can float a car, and water damage to the engine is generally not covered by insurance. Turn around — the alternative route only costs a few minutes.
Understanding cyclone warnings
- Class 1: a cyclone poses a threat within 36–48 hours. Life as normal, stay informed.
- Class 2: the danger firms up (12h before strong winds). Avoid non-essential trips, fill the tank.
- Class 3: damaging winds imminent. Stay off the roads, park the car away from trees and signs.
- Class 4: the cyclone is striking. Nobody drives, services are suspended.
- Afterwards: wait for the official all-clear and watch for branches and power lines on the roads.
What about your rental?
During class 3 or 4 warnings, agencies reschedule pick-ups and returns free of charge — nobody drives, and the airport closes too. Just let the agency know your situation as soon as you can. A car parked through a cyclone should sit away from trees, ideally under cover.
In practice, direct hits remain rare (a few days per season at worst) and the rainy season offers the warmest lagoons and greenest landscapes of the year. With these reflexes, drive easy.