Let's say it upfront: Mauritius is a country where you can travel alone with peace of mind. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare, Mauritians are disarmingly hospitable, and a woman travelling solo by bus will cross the island under the benevolent advice of the entire vehicle. The real risks are more prosaic: opportunistic petty theft on beaches and championship-level sunburn.
The golden rules fit on a bus ticket. One: never leave your belongings unattended on the beach while swimming — entrust them to the kiosk or take a waterproof bag. Two: avoid the deserted streets of Port Louis after office hours (the capital empties from 6 pm) and isolated beaches after dark. Three: tuck away the phone sticking out of your back pocket at the market. Four: in the evening, keep an eye on your glass, as anywhere in the world. That's about it.
Numbers to save before you go: police 999 (or 112 from a mobile), ambulance 114, fire brigade 115. The Tourist Police, dedicated to visitors, patrols the seaside areas and answers on 213 3894 — there are posts in Grand Baie and Flic en Flac. Public hospitals treat everyone free of charge, tourists included; for more comfortable emergencies, private clinics (Darné in Floréal, Wellkin in Moka) take bank cards and travel insurance.
Travelling solo in Mauritius is above all a golden opportunity to meet people: tables d'hôtes seat you with other guests by design, family guesthouses adopt solo travellers within 24 hours, and shared outings (dolphins, catamaran, guided hikes) form ephemeral crews from early morning. Local tip: learn three words of Creole and take the bus at least once — it's the island's best social network, and it costs Rs 25.