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From the South to the East of Mauritius

Between the charming fishing village of Trou d’Eau Douce, the historic town of Mahébourg, the famous ‘Tea Adventure’ linking Curepipe to Souillac, and the magnificent region of Bel Ombre, discover the wild and authentic southeast of Mauritius.

The road to untamed beauty

From the Centre to the East, tell us about Mauritius

Passing through the region of Floréal, do not hesitate to stop over at Trou aux Cerfs, the dormant volcano, which witnessed the volcanic activity of Mauritius millions of years ago. This site also offers an excellent viewpoint of the entire surrounding area. To discover the history of the country in an original way, a tea trail (La Route du Thé) is a gastronomic and cultural tour in three stages. The “journey” begins in the highlands of the island by the discovery of the Domaine des Aubineaux, colonial mansion built in the 19th century. The steps for manufacturing tea are then revealed in the factory of Bois Chéri before enjoying a wonderful meal with local flavours in the south of the island, at St Aubin.

On the other side of the island, a mythical ride along the east coast awaits you. In the village of Trou d’Eau Douce, it is easy to find a boat to go to Ile aux Cerfs. This little corner of paradise, which has retained all its charm, is home to, amongst others, an internationally renowned golf course.

The South, bay of serenity

Despite its little unpretentious air, the village of Mahébourg has witnessed a historic naval battle. “The Battle of Old Grand Port” has seen the defeat of the British facing the French, who so fiercely defended their Isle de France. Those wishing to soak up the history of this battle will relive it through a path dotted with memorial plaques placed along the Mahebourg Waterfront, before a mandatory visit to the Naval Museum of Mahébourg. An old colonial mansion converted into a museum, the place houses various objects, each representing a small piece of the naval and maritime history of the island. Models of ancient ships, various weapons, including those of Surcouf, paintings of the 18th century, maritime maps of those times, antique furniture and some of the East India Company furniture take you back several centuries in the past. Located off the coast of the town of Mahébourg, only one kilometre away, is the nature reserve of Ile aux Aigrettes. This exceptional place, protected by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, is home to the island’s endemic fauna and flora; excursions of about 1.5 hours are organised every day.

In the Southeast, just minutes away from the airport and the small place called “Falaise Rouge”, the Valley of Ferney is a nature reserve whose purpose is the preservation of the endemic flora of Mauritius spread over the 300 acres valley. This beautiful place can be discovered through an ecotourism circuit with a guide who will share with you his passion for the flora of Mauritius. Nearby, you will be dazzled by the beauty of the Blue Bay Marine Park. 72 species of fish and 38 varieties of coral in several colourful shades, are visible in just five meters of water. To watch this nature show, just take a glass bottom boat moored opposite the public beach. This will give you the choice of either staying comfortably seated in the boat and not miss anything magical, or else visit the curious fish that will quickly encircle the snorkelers!

The wild South

The South Coastal Road, also known as “The road to untamed beauty”, is home to breathtaking scenery and fishing villages with symbolic names: Rivière des Galets, Rivière des Anguilles, Gris Gris, La Roche qui pleure, Le Souffleur. In this region, the landscape reinvents itself with steep cliffs, the intense blue of the waves crashing on the dark volcanic rocks while the beautiful scenery is nestled between the force of the ocean and the evolving nature.

At Rivière des Anguilles, the Vanilla Nature Park invites you to discover in luxurious surroundings, crocodiles, giant turtles and a formidable insectarium with more than 23,000 species of insects and butterflies collected over the five continents.

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The Northeast coast

The Northeast coast

Along the north-eastern sandy coast The coastal road from Mont-Choisy to Poste Lafayette enables one to discover the many small villages of the North and the East of the island. […]