Mauritius：A Tourists’ Gem in the Indian Ocean

Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of the African continent is truly a precious destination for holiday seekers. It is the third-ranked leading tourist destination of the continent and the holder of the World’s Leading Island Destination award. The white sandy beaches fused with seafood, rainforests, and diverse wildlife are on every traveler’s wish list, and Mauritius offers all that. There are tons of things to do in Mauritius, but in this article, we have explored ten of the best sightseeing places for you.

1. Le Morne Beach (Le Morne Brabant)

Le Morne is one of the most spectacular beaches in Mauritius. It is on the peninsula of the west coast of Mauritius, overlooking Mount Morne Brabant. The mountain is classified as a World Heritage site as it holds a lot of history about Mauritius. It was the place that slaves used as an escape route from their masters. The beach has miles of dazzling white sand and crystal clear waters. Mauritius is an almost all-year destination but October to April period has the best weather for a beach holiday. The beach is also popular with windsurfers and kite surfers as the weather is almost always perfect for surfing.

2. Black River Gorges National Park (Chamarel)

The Black River Gorges National Park is one of its own in Mauritius. It is the largest protected forest reserve in Mauritius, covering about 6574 hectares of land with over 50km of walking trails. It is a dense forest that is a home to over 300 plant species and the Pink Pigeon, a bird native to Mauritius. You can take a quiet and peaceful walk through the woods as you enjoy the real beauty of the gorges or take a rest at any of the picnic spots. The best time for sightseeing is between September and January when the trails are dry, and the flowers are blooming.

3. Pamplemousse Botanical Garden (Pamplemousses)

Pamplemousse Botanical Garden, popularly known as Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden is not only the oldest botanical garden in Mauritius but also in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the most popular sightseeing attraction in the northwestern part of Mauritius. The garden is more than 300 years old with a collection of over 75 different palm species, giant waterlilies, sugarcanes, ebonies, and plant spices. The garden is accessible every day throughout the year including on public holidays. You can go on a self-guided tour, but with a tour guide, you will understand the garden and its collection better.

4. Blue Penny Museum (Port Louis)

Blue Penny Museum shows the historical and cultural biodiversity of Mauritius. It is in Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius. It has a prestigious collection spread out to five rooms. The age of discovery room is the first room and it has exhibits relevant to the world of navigation. The second room is the Mauritius Island builders space that shows a comprehensive history of the colonial times in Mauritius. The third room has ancient images and maps of the Port Louis, dating back to the 18th and 19th century. The room of adventure is the fourth one that offers an outline of the history of postal services in Mauritius. The last room is the Paul & Virginie, which is dedicated to a French author, Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre as his book is associated with Mauritius. The museum is open throughout the year except during public holidays.

5. La Vanille Nature Park (Savanne)

La Vanille Nature Park in Savanne district of Mauritius offers an enchanting encounter with Aldabra giant tortoises, iguanas, Mauritian bats, crocodiles alligators, cainamas, and peacocks, among many other animals. The park is set in in the southern part of Mauritius in a lush green surrounding with bamboo and palm trees that provide a conducive environment for all these animals. The park offers remarkable sightseeing opportunities other than those related to nature. It has a museum with fossils with fossils and an old train on display. On your sightseeing tour at the park, you can take photos with baby crocodiles and participate in feeding them if you go as from 11 am.

6. Saint Gabriel Church (St Gabriel)

Saint Gabriel Church is said to be the largest and oldest church in Mauritius and the extensive Indian Ocean region. It is striking in size, height, design, and in the finishing. The church is not restricted to Christians, so there is no reason why you should miss this grand piece of religious architecture. The church is still an active holy place and serves as the seat of the bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Rodrigues. Therefore, visitors are encouraged to accord respect to the place and dress appropriately. The church is accessible on weekdays, and on Sundays, there are services if you would like to attend mass.

7. Seven Coloured Earths of Chamarel (Noire)

The Seven Colored Earths are a prominent sightseeing attraction in the Chamarel plain of River Noire in Mauritius. A photo at the plain will most probably be the best that you will capture in Mauritius. It is an area of geological formation of sand dunes that have seven distinct colors that have settled in different layers. The color shades of red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple, and yellow form a pattern that you have not seen anywhere else on this planet. The dunes are protected by a fence, and you can only enjoy the scenery and take photos from a distance, at the designated sightseeing spots.

8. Château de Labourdonnais (Mapou)

Château de Labourdonnais was once a family property of the Wiehe family for more than a century. In 2006 it was handed over and refurbished. Today, it is a national flagship of Mauritius national heritage. The mansion will let you in the culture and art of the 19th century in Mauritius. You can go through the house rooms as you indulge in the furniture and way of life of the family that lived in here as you marvel at the cultural exhibits on the walls. The gardens of the house are equally impressive with well-maintained historic orchards of over 50 varieties of mango trees, spice plants, and several other exotic fruit trees. After your sightseeing tour, you can enjoy local Mauritius delicacies at the restaurant side and also buy souvenirs at the gift shop.

9. Grand Bassin (Savanne)

The Grande Bassin is popularly known as Ganga by the locals of Mauritius. It is a sacred serene lake area in a mountainous area surrounded by colorful temples and gods. For this reason, it is considered as the holiest Hindu place in Mauritius. Temples, statues, and shrines to look out for include the Mangal Mahadev statue of Shiva (the third highest statue globally), temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman, Goddess Ganga and Lord Ganesh. Since it is a holy place for Hindus, photos are restricted, you are required to remove shoes before entering any temple, and your dressing should be modest. The area can be a bit cold during winter. So, you can opt for sightseeing during the warmer period of May-December.

10. Champ de Mars (Port Louis)

Port Louis, the ever-bustling capital of Mauritius, is home to the second oldest racecourse worldwide. It is of both sports and national significance as it is the region where the flag-raising ceremony to mark the independence of Mauritius was held. You can visit when there are races and also if there are none. When there are no races, you get an opportunity to sightsee all the parts including the statue of King Edward VII and an obelisk known as the Malartic Tomb. Racing season from April to November time is also a perfect time to enjoy Mauritius’ most popular sport.

◎Closing

Mauritius will leave you totally enthralled at the end of your sightseeing tour. It is captivating- from the sparkling Indian ocean waters, the colorful dunes and to the fascinating natural daintiness of the inland. Whether you are an enthusiast of history, nature, or adventure, Mauritius will effortlessly meet your needs. It may be a small country but you will be stunned by the kind of sightseeing experience you will get.