Ile aux Cerfs is a small island off the coast of the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. It is a popular destination for visitors thanks to its pristine sandy beaches. It is also home to a luxury hotel and golf course and hosts numerous water-sport activities.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Visitors can reach the island of Ile aux Cerfs by taking a short boat trip from the village of Trou dâEau Douce.
The climate is tropical, with a hot, humid and very wet summer from December to April and a comparatively cooler, drier winter between May and November. Temperatures are moderated by trade winds which serve to cool the air somewhat and prevent the heat and humidity from becoming unbearable.
Summer lasts from December to April and is hotter and wetter than the winter months (although temperatures and rainfall are high year-round). Following a brief dry period, December sees rainfall rocket to a whopping 290mm. Tropical storms bring huge volumes of rain which falls heavily and relentlessly. Cyclones bring stormy weather throughout the summer, but these rarely hit the island directly. Ile aux Cerfsâ position on the eastern side of the island means that it receives a great deal more rain than locations on the western side. January, February and March are even wetter, averaging between 347mm (March) and 370mm (January).
Despite this, the island receives plenty of sunshine during the summer, each month seeing an average of seven hours daily. Considering the fact that stormy weather drags this average down, many days will see constant glorious sunshine. Temperatures are hotter during the summer, averaging around 29°C throughout the season, and regularly reaching the mid-thirties. It can feel extremely humid, but sea breezes can serve to reduce this effect. When the sun is shining, visitors will want to relax on the beautiful sandy beaches and cool off in the clear waters off the island: sea temperatures hover around a luxurious 28°C throughout the season.
Winter (May to November) is the more popular season for visitors, and Ile aux Cerfs is popular for water sports during this time. The weather is much more comfortable, with less oppressive humidity and slightly cooler temperatures. Crucially, rainfall is much lower between May and November. Mid-May sees summer rainfall drop away to an average of 233mm. Again, Ile aux Cerfs is somewhat wetter than the western side of the island. Mayâs average temperature is 26°C.
June, July and August average 24°C, and rainfall averages between 180mm and 160mm. Visitors can expect plenty of sunny weather, but heavy showers can punctuate the idyllic conditions.
September, October and November make up the driest period of the year, with rainfall dropping to 114mm in September, reaching a low of 109mm in October and climbing again slightly to 135mm in November. These months also experience plenty of sunshine, with averages of seven and eight hours in October and November respectively. In fact, November has the highest levels of sunshine found all year. Average temperatures remain at 24°C, regularly climbing closer to 30°C.
Sea temperatures are at their lowest during the winter months, but that is not a problem as they never fall below a respectable 23°C.