Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, is known for its beaches, lagoons and reefs. The mountainous interior includes Black River Gorges National Park, with rain forests, waterfalls, hiking trails.
Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, is known for its beaches, lagoons and reefs. The mountainous interior includes Black River Gorges National Park, with rainforests, waterfalls, hiking trails and wildlife like the flying fox. Capital Port Louis has sites such as the Champs de Mars horse track, Eureka plantation house and 18th-century Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens. The northern village of Grand Baie is known for cosmopolitan beach resorts, snorkeling and game fishing. Tamarin Bay is a surf spot, while the nearby town of Flic-en-Flac has luxury hotels and coral diving caves. In the southeast are ruins of Dutch fortifications at Vieux Grand Port. Mahébourg has a popular market with stands serving the island’s distinctive food, with Creole, Chinese, Indian and European influences. Île aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve is home of the rare pink pigeon. In the east is Île aux Cerfs, a private island with a championship golf course.
9:00am-10:00am : Flic En Flac
11:00am-11:30am : Village Walk Shopping Centre
12:00pm-1:30pm : Chamarel Waterfall
Admire an impressive natural water feature at Chamarel Waterfall. Plunging 83 m (272 ft) in a single drop, the waterfall spills over a sheer cliff face surrounded by thick vegetation, creating an iconic sight. View the fall from the observation deck located at its top, and descend to the pool at its base to enjoy some swimming in the shallow waters. Prebook to experience rappelling down the waterfall's length, taking in the scenery and the power of the ancient gush of water from a dramatic perspective.
2:00pm-4:00pm : Chamarel’s Seven Coloured Earth Geopark
Witness an impressive geological formation at Chamarel’s Seven Coloured Earth Geopark. The attractive area of dunes features sand of seven distinct colors: red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple, and yellow settle in separate layers, forming colorful stripes. The decomposition of volcanic rock cooling at different temperatures causes the separation, which, taken as a whole, appears otherworldly. Remember to bring your camera to catch this strange natural sight from behind the fences of the observation deck, and consider taking home a small tube of the sands from one of the many sellers by the entrance.
4:00pm-5:30pm : Ebony Forest Reserve
Imagine one of the last remaining places on Mauritius where majestic black ebony trees stand tall and paradise flycatchers and Mauritius Black Bulbul chase each other through the trees. Once home to the Dodo, Ebony Forest, remains a refuge for threatened native flora and fauna. Visitors will be treated to open-air safari jeep rides, breathtaking views from Sublime Point, mid-canopy walkways that leave you feeling as if you are floating amongst the trees. Then there’s the Ebony Experience, where you will witness 8 million years of history, from the volcanic eruptions that created the island and the unique animals and plants that once lived here, to the destruction brought about by man’s actions.. Visit us and see our efforts to preserve and restore the forest and its inhabitants. We have planted over 110,000 native trees and weeded 13 hectares of forest over the last 10 years. With less than 2% of native forest remaining in Mauritius, come to Ebony Forest and join our Guardians of the Forest by planting a tree or sowing a seed. Remember, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. You can also purchase your endemic plants from our native plant nursery and do your bit for the island’s natural heritage. Besides our ecotourism activities, we have an Ecology Centre designed to foster a sense of interest and responsibility in students from Primary through to College, for this formidable nature around us, in order to generate new Guardians of the Forest. If you are hungry, you can visit Le Takamaka restaurant and if you want to grab a souvenir, then our boutique has a selection of local artisanal products.
10:00am-4:00pm : Casela Nature Parks
Set across 14 hectares (35 acres) of both cultivated and wild landscape, Casela Nature Parks offers a range of family-friendly activities. The nature park includes a zoo and a safari experience, where you'll spot lions, zebras, and cheetahs in large, grassy enclosures. Younger kids can work out some energy on the abundance of playgrounds, rope bridges, and ziplines throughout. Note that although the park has become famous for allowing "interactions" with big cats (entering into an enclosure with a lion or tiger), these experiences are not recommended. Despite the precautions the park has put in place, these are wild animals and should not be approached by anyone without proper, formal training.
4:30pm-5:30pm : Flic en Flac Beach
Flic en Flac Beach offers plenty of room for sunbathing and swimming, all framed by the clear, calm lagoon and casurina trees. A coral reef protects the area from wilder waves, so taking a dip here is thoroughly relaxing. If you want more activity, though, you have your pick from a range of water sports. In spite of its popularity among locals and tourists, the length of the beach means you should have no problem finding a secluded spot if you feel like getting away from it all.
10:30am-5:30pm : Black River Gorges National Park
Explore the range of Mauritian plant and animal life at Black River Gorges National Park, a protected area that includes the last of the nation's rainforest. Encompassing around two percent of the country's total space, the area is formally protected from further deforestation after being proclaimed a national park in 1994. Spot rusa deer and wild pigs, along with endemic species like the Mauritian flying fox, Mauritius kestrel, and the pink pigeon. The variety in the wildlife comes with the area's diversity of climate and habitat, with humid upland forest, dry lowland forest, and heathland all here.
10:00am-11:30am : Mont Choisy Beach
With white sand, ample shade, and picnic areas, Mont Choisy Beach makes a great choice for families. The long, narrow public beach offers natural shade under its trees, and the clear, blue water is perfect for snorkeling. Water sport facilities are on site for the more actively inclined. When you get hungry, head to the little mobile restaurant for freshly prepared food and cocktails. The beach can become pretty busy on weekends, but it's long enough that you'll find a tranquil spot after a little walk up the coast.
12:00pm-2:30pm : Scuba & Snorkeling
3:00pm-5:30pm : Mont Choisy Le Golf
10:30am-11:00am : Siva Soopramaniar Kovile Bel-Air Riviere Seche
11:30am-3:30pm : Ile aux Cerfs
An uninhabited island in the largest lagoon in the country, Ile aux Cerfs offers relaxation and activity in equal measure. The 87 hectare (214 acre) island boasts shining white sand beaches and thick, lush plant life, with wilder areas ripe for exploration. More manicured parts balance things out with golf courses and beach resort entertainment, including bars and restaurants. The island gets its name from the stags brought here to be hunted for sport. None remain on the island today, but the wide sandy beaches offer sport of a different variety, with multiple companies renting out equipment and providing lessons for snorkeling, diving, parasailing, sailing, and more. Note that crowds of both locals and tourists arrive by midday.
4:00pm-4:30pm : Grand River South East Waterfalls
10:00am-11:30am : Spas
12:00pm-2:30pm : Blue Penny Museum Blue Penny Museum
Indulge your inner philatelist at Blue Penny Museum, a museum housing two of the rarest stamps in existence. The main attraction for many remains the incredibly rare red one-penny and blue two-penny stamps issued by the British Post Office in 1847. In fact, they're considered the most valuable objects on the entire island. Those without a great love of all things stamp-related will still find plenty here that appeals, including a fair portion of Mauritian history, from discovery to colonization and beyond, with a range of maps, photographs, and documents.
3:30pm-6:00pm : Notre Dame Auxiliatrice
Admire the bright red roof and unique interior of Notre Dame Auxiliatrice, a French colonial-era chapel. Situated right by the coast, the deep blue of the ocean, the green of the manicured lawns, and the unmissable sloping roof create a memorable scene, so be sure to bring your camera. Take a look inside to view the interior's intricate woodwork and a font made from a giant clamshell, seamlessly balancing European and local inspirations. A stroll around the picturesque grounds completes your visit.
10:00am-10:30am : Le Rendez-Vous
Showcasing more than 30 talented local artisans and artists, Le Rendez-Vous offers a wide assortment of products including clothing, accessories, jewelry, and furniture. In addition to a great variety of unique gifts, souvenirs, and plush toys, the store also keeps a selection of books, authentic art pieces, and music.
11:00am-1:00pm : L'Aventure du Sucre
Visit L'Aventure du Sucre, a museum housed in the former Beau Plan sugar factory. A range of informative and interactive exhibits introduce you to the story of sugar in the country, providing insight into the general history of Mauritius, slavery in the country, and the rum industry. After some 200 years of production, the factory closed its doors in 1999. Much of the machinery remains in place, however, and locals who once worked here now run tours of the facility, offering a first-hand account of agricultural life in the country.
1:30pm-3:00pm : SSR Botanic Garden
Stroll across the 37 hectares (91 acres) of SSR Botanic Garden and explore the preserved plant life of the Southern Hemisphere's oldest botanical garden. Admire the neatly maintained gardens and their luxuriant vegetation, including the giant water lilies of the park's main pond, abundance of sugar canes, and over 85 varieties of palm tree. Named after the attractive grapefruit tree that grows in the region (thought to have been introduced by the Dutch), the garden boasts decorative plants as well as fruit trees, all giving an excellent introduction to the agricultural and culinary heritage of the island nation.
3:30pm-6:00pm : Food Tours
.jpg)
Scroll
