Back to Feed
Long Read

Mauritius in the Middle of the Night: A Drummer's Offbeat Adventure

@Zara Walsh2/28/2026blog
Mauritius in the Middle of the Night: A Drummer's Offbeat Adventure

it's 2am and i'm sitting on the balcony of this tiny guesthouse in port louis, trying to remember why i thought touring the world as a drummer was a good idea. the gig was supposed to be in moka, but here i am, in the capital, because the van broke down and the promoter vanished like a ghost in a bad reggae song.

just checked and it's 25.18Ā°C right now, feels like 26.03Ā°c, and the humidity is 87%. hope you like that kind of thing. my snare drum is sweating more than i am.

"you don't want to go to grand baie after dark," a taxi driver warned me. "too many tourists, not enough rhythm."


but i did anyway, because i'm a drummer and we don't listen. the beach was lit with fire dancers and someone was playing a djembe that sounded like it had been through a war. i sat in for three songs before the police showed up. apparently, you need a permit to drum in paradise.

if you get bored, curepipe and quatre bornes are just a short drive away. i heard curepipe has a volcano you can hike, but the last guy who tried twisted his ankle and had to be carried down by a group of very amused locals.

*local tip: don't trust the weather app. it said sunny, but i got caught in a tropical downpour that turned the streets into rivers. my cymbals still haven't forgiven me.

i met a street artist near the central market who told me the best roti in town is at a place called dewa & sons*. he said it with such conviction that i went there the next day and almost cried. it was that good.

a street lined with tall buildings next to tall buildings

a sandy beach with palm trees and boats in the water

an aerial view of a building with trees in the foreground


for more on the island's hidden gems, check out Mauritius Tourism or Lonely Planet's guide. and if you're into offbeat adventures, this blog has some wild stories.

so yeah, that's port louis. it's chaotic, it's humid, and it's got a rhythm all its own. just don't forget your earplugs. and maybe a spare snare drum.

You might also be interested in:

About the author: Zara Walsh

Loves data, hates clutter.

Loading discussion...