Venue

The IST-Africa 2014 Conference takes place in Le Méridien Ile Maurice, Pointe Aux Piments, Mauritius during from 06 - 09 May 2014. Accommodation can be booked online as part of conference registration.

All conference delegates must be registered and confirmed prior to the Conference.

Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, about 2,000 kilometres off the southeast coast of the African continent. Mauritius is 45km in width and 65km in length with 300 km of coastline. Port Louis is the capital. English, French and Creole are the main languages. Mauritius has a mix of cultures and religions.

There are direct flights to Mauritius, SSR Intl Airport (MRU) from Nairobi (Kenya), Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg (South Africa), London (UK), Paris (France), Frankfurt (Germany), Zurich (Switzerland).

Vaccinations

Conference delegates travelling to Africa for the first time are recommended to have up to date Tetanus, Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccines.

Please engage with your personal physician or travel health clinic four to six weeks prior to travelling, outlining where in Mauritius you intend to visit.

Proof of Yellow Fever vaccine (Yellow Book) is required for those arriving from a yellow-fever-infected area in Africa.

Security, Health and Safety

Please wear your name badge for all IST-Africa 2014 activities, as it is your identification and allows you access to the facilities on offer. While the meeting rooms will not open to the general public, it is still necessary to take care of bags, personal computers and other personal belongings.

While the conference venue is on a closed compound, the organisers cannot accept any responsibility for losses incurred or for personal health and safety.

Delegates should ensure that they have personal health insurance. Any special needs or requirements should be notified to the Conference Secretariat in advance.

Sightseeing and Climate

While in Mauritius, delegates should visit Grand Bay, Balaclava Ruins (North) Flacq Market, Ile aux Cerfs (East), Vieux Grand Port, Ile aux Aigrettes, Mahebourg, Domaine du Chasseur (South-East) Martello Tower, Chamaret, Salt Pans, Casela (West) and Ganga Talao, Grand Bassin and Black River Gorges (Inland).

Mauritius has a moderate climate during May with average temperatures of 20 - 25 degrees Celsius during the day. Rains are possible during May and delegates should bring rain wear.

Currency

The currency is Mauritian Rupee (Rs.). The exchange rate is approximately 1 EUR = 40 Mauritian Rupee.

Crafts vendors, smaller shops, taxis and restaurants will expect to be paid in local currency. Larger shops, supermarkets and hotels can usually process credit cards.