Geography

Towns

Four towns, namely Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes, Vacoas and Curepipe, make up the heart of the island.

Rose Hill’s busy high street is swarming with shoppers during the day and is worth a visit if you’re ready to brave the crowds and look for some great bargains. There are many shops to browse and local restaurants to choose from.

Quatre Bornes is a cosmopolitan town, where you will be able to barter for great deals at its famous market. The shops on the main road are also a good place to go bargain hunting!

The town of Vacoas is best known for the Gymkhana Golf Club, the oldest golf course in the southern hemisphere. Locals run and walk around the outdoor track for exercise and play football in the grounds.

Finally, Curepipe, where you’ll experience the coolest temperatures in Mauritius, has retained its charm and is home to two of the island’s treasures: Trou aux Cerfs, the crater of a dormant volcano, and the Botanical Garden with its rare plant species.

Trou aux Cerfs

The most famous dormant volcano in Mauritius. From there, you have a fantastic 360° view of the high plateau of the Island of Mauritius. Local joggers meet every day at 5am at Trou aux Cerfs.

Ganga Talao

Not far from Mare aux Vacoas reservoir is Grand Bassin, also known as Ganga Talao. It is one of the rare natural lakes in Mauritius, formed inside the crater of an extinct volcano and is the renowned pilgrimage place for Mauritians of Hindu faith. Every year in February, during the Maha Shivaratri week, thousands of Hindus walk miles from every corner of the island to bring their gifts for Lord Shiva at Grand Bassin.

Eureka "La Maison Créole", Moka

This historical mansion built in 1830 with no less than 109 doors will provide you with a glimpse into the lifestyle of the more affluent Mauritians during the colonial era. The Eureka House Restaurant also offers Creole meals that will delight the finest palates.

The Folk Museum of Indian Immigration

Mahatma Gandhi Institute

This museum evokes the influx of coolies who came to work as labourers after the abolition of slavery in Mauritius in 1835.

Working for a pittance, they gave a new impetus to a non-competitive sugar industry. In 1909, at the end of the Indian immigration, they were 450,000.

Today their descendants account for two-thirds of the Mauritian population. This well-documented folk museum shows in detail the daily life of Indian workers during the nineteenth century.

Curepipe Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden in Curepipe were created in 1870 and are the second largest botanical garden in Mauritius. The garden is home to some rare trees and other indigenous plants. You’ll find locals fishing in the river that runs through the gardens and there is a lake surrounded by Nandia palms.

A walkway runs through the gardens where you’ll find families and children playing and running, and couples walking hand-in-hand. The gardens are where the famous Mauritian writer and painter Malcolm de Chazal saw an azalea flower “looking at him” and so began his famous writings, which he later published in his book “Sens plastique” in 1947.

Balfour Garden

A garden and playground in the quiet suburbs of Beau Bassin, a sister town to Rose Hill, is where locals come to exercise, children play and couples and families picnic. Take a walk, through the pretty, tranquil gardens and appreciate the fresh air and quiet setting. Beautiful views of a waterfall, the Grand River North West flowing towards Port Louis, and the stunning Moka Mountain range in the background add to the charm of these gardens.

La Place D’Armes

At the historical centre of the city is the Place d’Armes surrounded by Bottle Palm trees and several statues, and is the main square connecting the seafront to Government House.

Statue of Mahe de la Bourdonnais

This statue of one of the founding fathers of Mauritius is situated at the entrance of the Place d'Armes and is a symbol and reminder of our French heritage.

The Government House

Government House, built at the time of Governor Nicolas de Maupin (1729-1735), is a splendid building and one of the oldest buildings in Port Louis. It was recently renovated and is the official address of the Parliament of Mauritius.

Port Louis Theatre

The municipal theatre of Port Louis was built in the nineteenth century and is one of the oldest in the Indian Ocean. Decorated in a classic London theatre style, it can accommodate around six hundred spectators.

Fort Adelaide

Located on a hill overlooking the city and harbour, the Citadel of Port Louis (Fort Adelaide) is a fort that was built between 1834 and 1840 to guard the city against riots during the abolition of slavery. Today local and international concerts and artistic shows are performed there and it is definitely worth a visit for the stunning views from this vantage point.

Aapravasi Ghat

Classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO, Aapravasi Ghat (Immigration Depot in Hindi), honours the thousands of indentured labourers who arrived from India after the abolition of slavery and who finally settled on the island. This is the place where the immigrants first landed.

Albion and Pointe aux Sables

Albion is more of a residential area than a tourist spot but it has a public beach worth visiting, and if you take a walk along the coast towards Club Med, you can have a lovely swim in the shade of the trees which border the shore. Albion is also known for its lighthouse.

Not far, at Pointe aux Sables, you’ll find “Montagne Zako” (Monkey Mount) where you can try a 20-metre-high cliff dive into the sea. Check the water below and the wave movement carefully before making the jump! It is definitely worth the detour. Adrenaline rush guaranteed!

Flic en Flac

If you want to relax on the beach, catch a tan and meet some friendly locals, Flic en Flac is the place to be. With its white beaches fringed with Casuarina trees, it is a popular location for weekend beach activities such as swimming and snorkelling, and also has a wide range of bungalows for rent. When you’re done soaking up the sun there are a number of restaurants to choose from, and a lively nightlife.

When the moon is full, the starry sky is clear and the rain ‘walks’ over the ocean far on the horizon, you can see a tiny white moon-rainbow over the sea. Rub your eyes, blink hard and look again… Yes, it’s true!

Tamarin and Black River

Tamarin and Black River were once simple villages inhabited by locals and fishermen, but today they are quite different. Although it has been transformed by many luxury villas, shopping centres and restaurants, Tamarin Bay remains a popular surfing spot, with a long left-hand reef break and 10-foot swells.

Part of the cultural landscape, the salt pans of Tamarin are a unique place to visit. Due to the dry conditions of the area, Tamarin is the ideal place for salt making. Simply stop your car on the side of the road and take a look!

The bay of Black River is teaming with deep-sea fishing boats, skippered by professional fishermen who have given their lives to the sea. Try your hand at fishing and see if you’re lucky enough to catch some marlin or tuna.

Martello Tower at La Preneuse

The Martello Tower at La Preneuse was built by the British between 1810 and 1846 to protect them against their sworn enemy, the French navy. Since being restored in 1999, the tower is now accessible for guided tours.

If you have some time to spare, take a dip in the sea at La Preneuse. The scenery is dominated by the beautiful Black River mountain range and the unmistakeable shape of the Le Morne mountain that towers over the transparent lagoon below. Be careful of the strong current!

Black River Gorges National Park

One of the main “green” attractions is the Black River Gorges National Park which extends over 16,680 acres and provides a haven to highly endangered native plants and animals. It plays home to around 311 species of native and endemic flowering plants and nine species of birds that can only be found in Mauritius.

You can walk along a number of dedicated trails inside the gorges itself and can even hike up to the plateau. Make sure you wear the right shoes and clothing if you want to attempt a hike, and take your own food and drinks and other supplies along with you, as there are no shops or medical support within the park.

Mahebourg

One of the main fishing villages on the island, Mahebourg is built along the shore of the immense bay of Grand Port. Founded in 1804 by the French Governor Charles Decaen, Mahebourg witnessed the only Napoleonic naval victory over the English in 1810. This victory is also listed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. A major centre of economic life under French administration, Mahebourg was also known for its slave market.

Full of emotions, it is one of the rare places on the island that has kept this particular period of our history engraved in stone.

Pointe Canon

Pointe Canon in Mahebourg is an excellent place to photograph Lion Mountain and the Grand Port mountain range to the left of it. Ilôt Mouchoir Rouge with Ile aux Aigrettes to the right are also worthy of a place in the photo album. Pointe Canon is a popular concert venue and is known for its annual memorial ceremonies celebrating the abolition of slavery on the 1^st of February. It also announces the departure of regattas where colourful pirogues are steered with speed and skill by their proud teams, who come from all over the island to compete in this friendly competition within the beautiful lagoon.

National History Museum

There are so many places to visit in Mahebourg, but a must-see is the fascinating National Naval and Historical Museum. Located at the entrance of the town, the Château de Robillard, a French colonial building from the eighteenth century, houses the National History Museum. Old maps, engravings, crockery, pirates' swords and even fragments of shipwrecks, recount the rich maritime history of the island. The crown jewel of this fascinating museum is the bell recovered from the wreck of the St Géran.

Cavendish Bridge

Constructed in 1856 for sugar cane transportation, Cavendish Bridge, commonly known as the “Pont de la Ville Noire”, literally “the black town bridge”, was originally constructed from wood while all other bridges in Mauritius were made from steel. Between 1908 and 1911 it was transformed into a reinforced concrete bridge, an innovation at that time. At 155 metres it is said to be the longest bridge on the island. The water flows under the bridge towards the river mouth and it has a great view of Lion Mountain and the Grand Port Range – a stunning backdrop!

The inhabitants of Mahebourg like to tell the story of a tourist who, in the late 70s, stopped on the bridge, looked over, and saw a sandy islet below. An old man standing beside him said to the tourist that he was the owner of the islet. The tourist asked the old man if he would sell him the property, at which the old man hesitated, and then agreed. He requested a deposit, which the tourist promptly paid, and they arranged to meet on the bridge the next day to go together to the notary and sign the deed. When the tourist arrived the following day, neither the old man nor the islet was there. The sea level had risen, covering the islet, and the old man had disappeared... So legend has it!

Battery of Devil's Point

Under the French occupation, 27 defence guns controlled access to the island. The fearsomely effective battery of the Devil's Point for a long time prevented the English from approaching Grand Port.

Ile aux Aigrettes, Nature reserve

Since 1985, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation has weeded, replanted and restored 90% of this coral island by reintroducing native plants, birds and reptiles. Thus, MWF recreated the ideal sanctuary for a flora and fauna that cannot be found anywhere else.

This small 27-hectare island, located 800m off the south-east coast near Mahebourg, is home to the last remnants of dry coastal forest, once found around most of Mauritius. Over time, Ile aux Aigrettes was affected by tree cutting and land clearance, and the introduction of exotic animals and plants almost destroyed the native fauna and flora.

Today this lost paradise is open to the public. A professional will guide you amongst the giant tortoises and the pink pigeons that have been rescued and freed after a 30-year conservation effort. The 10 bronze sculptures exposed on the island by artist Nick Bibby will take you back in time.