The island of Mauritius with its natural beauty is picture book paradise. Think lush tropical island, white sandy beaches, waterfalls, coral reefs and palm trees and you are conjuring images of Mauritius.

True, not many people could place it on a map, but if you work your way down Africa’s east coast and turn right when you reach Madagascar, you will find Mauritius basking in the equatorial heat of the Indian Ocean.

When you do find it, chances are you won’t want to leave, but at present the longest you can stay was three months. However that is about to change because legislation has been passed to allow foreigners to buy property on the island for the very first time - until recently only those native to Mauritius were entitled to own real estate.

Foreigners will be restricted to owning property in purpose built villages known as Integrated Resort Schemes so that they do not price Mauritians out of the property market elsewhere on the island. Ownership of property on the island entitles you and your family to reside in Mauritius for as long as you own the property. And with further tax incentives available and the fact that Mauritius is to become a duty free island before the end of the decade, a villa in such a resort will certainly have its attractions.

One of the first resorts to be developed is Anahita, a 214 hectare site situated on the east coast of the island. When completed in 2011, it will be home to 215 luxury villas, 40 golf lodges and 70 marine apartments and boast four miles of coastline, exclusive dining, shopping, entertainment and sports and leisure facilities including an 18 hole championship golf course.

Such luxury won’t come cheap. Apartments start at around the £500,000 mark. A villa could set you back as much as two million pounds. That said, there isn’t likely to be a shortage of buyers. The first phase of 70 luxurious waterfront residences at L’Adamante sold out within six hours at the invitation-only sales launch in Port Louis, Mauritius last week.