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Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean, located 2,400 kilometers (1,491 miles) off the southeast coast of Africa. Situated at 20 degrees South and 57,5 degrees East in the south-eastern Indian Ocean, 230 km from neighbouring island La Reunion and 860 km from Madagascar, the surface of Mauritius covers about 1865 square kilometers of tropical forest, sugar cane, white sand, and exciting cities as well as dreamy little villages. The 330km coastline encompass rugged black basalt cliffs, golden sands and palm studded beaches; all fringed and protected by a huge coral reef.
Mauritius North - The sunny North with Islands and Gardens
The main thing to say about the North is that it offers a warm and stable climate all year round; as easterly winds tend to come in further south. The beaches in this area are thus spectacular; with formidable white sand; those in the North West offering colourful sunset views. In the far north, sheltered coves interspersed with black lava rock formations; provide spectacular scenery for sunbathing and swimming, most of them with stunning views over the northern islands.The main city of this area is definitely Grand Bay, once a small and forgotten little harbour with sugar cane growing all around it, today the island’s tourist centre with restaurants, bars and shops; as well as myriad of sports activities and boat excursions to the outer isles. The road linking Grand Bay with Port Louis is a rather comfortable two lane affair, leading by the Sugar Museum “l’Aventure du Sucre” which beckons with a wealth of information and great rum tasting. Not to be missed are the splendid botanical gardens of Pamplemousses. Once surrounding the home of governor Mahe de Labourdonnais and master piece of famous botanist Pierre Poivre, they indeed offer a delightful atmosphere to pass a leisurely day.Most places in the north are mere villages, but in the Grand Bay area, there is a more or less solid band of houses along the road for several kilometres, linking Grand Bay, Pereybere, Bain Boeuf and Cap Malheureux into one large village. Those eager to cool off a bit may take a trip to La Nicoliere, the hilly region behind Pamplemousses, where temperatures drop considerably and a fresh breeze blows most of the time.
List of Location in North Region
- Port Louis
- Tombeau Bay
- Balaclava
- Pointe Aux Piments
- Pamplemousses
- Triolet
- Pointe aux Biches
- Trou aux Biches
- Mont Choisy
- Pointe aux Canonniers
- Grand Bay
- Round Island
- Flat Island
- Gabriel Island
- Gunners Coin
- Pereybère
- Bain Boeuf
- Cap Malheureux
- Goodlands
- Grand Gaube
- Calodyne
- La Nicoliere
Mauritius West - The warm, dry and colourful West
One of the best features of this area is doubtless its wonderful climate. 350 days sunshine, glorious sunsets, a long and white sandy coastline, well protected by coral reefs, with all that, this is indeed one of the favourite and most exciting places in Mauritius. Flic en Flac is doubtlessly the busiest of its coastal towns, featuring many hotels and combining great beach life; myriad water sports activities and a breezy atmosphere with a budding nightlife. Further down the beach, Tamarin is also fast developing, the Tamarina Golf Estate and Riverside sports centre adding to the lifestyle in this once surfer and hippie-colony and nowadays gone posh environment. Dolphin watching is the magic activity and so far the poor bedraggled sea mammals have been surprisingly patient about it. Of course there is also some surfing going on and when the waves are big, a crowd comes watching the braves in the pounding waves. As the vast West embraces various microclimates, it extends over the winding roads leading to charming mountainous Chamarel with pineapples, coffee fields and coloured earth, the dry, African savannah-like stretch between fishermen villages Case Noyale and La Gaulette, deep sea fishing paradise Black River, around towering La Tourelle Mountain, right to the Martello Tower in La Preneuse, the salt pans at Tamarin, the hotel-studded beaches of Wolmar and Flic en Flac, up the coast to Albion, where a red and white striped lighthouse warns seafarers from towering cliffs. With all its great features, the West seems to be just too good to be true. This is what some developers must have said to themselves when they started to develop the area. So they built hotels, developed shopping centres and malls, spattered once pristine mountainsides with houses and villas and threatened to even dig up the salt pans. Thanks goodness, the West is really so beautiful that up until now, they were not able to cause devastating damage.
List of Location in West Region
- Port Louis
- La Gaulette
- Case Noyale
- Chamarel
- Black River
- Ile aux Benitiers
- La Preneuse
- Tamarin
- Cascavelle
- Wolmar
- Flic En Flac
- Albion
- Mare Longue
- Macchabée
Mauritius South - The wild and untamed South
After the sandy beaches of Blue Bay, Le Chaland and La Cambuse, the coast becomes more and more wild and rocky, the climate more and more breezy. There is nothing between the shores of Antarctica and Mauritius and although the harsh winds soften considerably before they hit Mauritian shores, their impact is still strong. The high plateau abruptly breaks off and its remains are criss-crossed with streams and rivulets tumbling down green slopes to be swallowed up by the Ocean: the south is the most dramatic part of Mauritius. Its green fields which are moderately flat around l’Escalier, become steeper and steeper towards Riviere des Anguilles and around the backdrop of the Savanne Mountain Range around Chemin Grenier and Chamouny. Rain is frequent in this part of the island and so are the cascading waters that travel down the picturesque landscape, deeply cutting into the soft soil and thus forming canyons where hiking, canyoning and other nature activities thrive. The coastline is dominated by black basalt rocks, providing breathtaking sceneries and great views, especially around the region of Souillac. There the most famous coastline is located at Gris Gris, and serves as inspiration for generations of artists; amongst them native poet Sir E. Hart whose house, which has been turned into a museum, is perched on top of the cliff. So steep and wild is the coast, that the road cannot follow it and meanders further inlands, thus forcing the visitor to pass by tiny villages such as Trois Boutiques, Malakoff or Benares, where time seems to be standing still. As some of the names indicate, many of the people living there are descendants of the indentured labourers once brought in from India. On one side, the high plateau is linked to the South by the road that descends through Chemin Grenier, which is the main village in this region and lies on the slopes of Mount Savanne. Souillac is certainly the southernmost point of Mauritius and located at the mouth of two small rivers. It is also the historically most interesting port in this part of the island; where big ships once anchored to take up the sugar cane from the fertile fields and noblemen and pirates lay buried in the ancient churchyard side by side. Around the bend, the coast becomes friendlier, with spots of sand turning into beaches; and 5 star hotels starting to occur. The area around Bel Ombre is especially pretty, and wonderful for pick nicks by the Ocean as its grassy slopes reach right down to the beaches. Shortly before Baie du Cap, the mountains approach the ocean again, creating dramatic sceneries such as Maconde, where the winding road seems to be glued onto the cliff by sheer magic. Once around the edge, the stunning view of the angular peninsula with Le Morne Brabant Mountain in its centre greets the astonished visitor; prelude to the western part of Mauritius. In the shade of Le Morne, picturesque Creole villages lay scattered and silhouetted against the sparkling and pristine waters of the vast lagoon.
List of Location in South Region
- L'escalier
- Rivière des Anguilles
- St Aubin
- Souillac
- St Félix
- Chemin Grenier
- Chamouny
- Bel Ombre
- Macondé
- Ilot Fourneau
- Le Morne
Mauritius South East - The authentic South East
This stretch of coastline bears some of the most interesting spots, a mixture of historical sights, lookouts and viewpoints as well as a chain of tiny islands that are located on the southern reef, offering rare views of Mauritius as it must have appeared to the first settlers: a place of rare beauty with a dramatic silhouette and green shores. The road narrows along the coast, as it is nearly pushed into the ocean by the Bambous Mountain Range. This comes to a dramatic peak at the jutting land spit Pointe au Diable, where geographic factors played an important part in the positioning of the ancient battery; its cannons aiming on the main entrances Old Grand Harbour; once main harbour of the island and fought over bitterly by French and English navy ships in the battle bearing the same name in 1810. Along this great ancient battlefield and cemetery of hundreds of faithful marines, the road leads along the narrow coastal strip, its dramatic setting enhanced by the beauty of nature. Various domains and entrepreneurs such as Ferney, Domain d’Anse Jonchee or le Barachois guest house offer nature trails and trekking tours all over the green mountain slopes and coastal mangrove forests of this pristine area. Small fishermen villages lie scattered along its way, some bearing exotic names such as Quatre Soeurs Grand and Petit Sable or Bois des Amourettes. This is one of the nicest stretches of road on the island, as the dramatic landscape, unspoilt green surroundings and unobstructed view over the bay and the chain of Southern Islands seem to take the traveller beyond time and space. Finally crossing the river over the longest bridge of Mauritius, one returns to present day Mauritius by entering the largest city of the South, Mahebourg: But this also is a most pleasant experience, as the ancient island capital has definitely retained its charms and an aura of bygone glory. The Raoult biscuit factory, Monday street market, Naval Museum and waterfront are a must to see. Mahebourg is also the place to dine, exchange money or stock up supplies. Several large shops, banks and a newly built shopping mall at Beau Vallon are conveniently located to accommodate visitors and locals alike, as the area is one of the rare ones along the coast which is independent from tourism. Along a narrow coastal road, Blue Bay can be reached from Mahebourg by bus or rental car in a mere 10 minutes. This small but budding coastal settlement features rental bungalows and beach houses by its very busy public beach which is frequented by Mauritians and tourists alike. Myriad water activities as well as boat excursions to the isles off the south east coast and glass bottom boat tours in Blue Bay Marine Park can be booked at the jetty. The coast guard maintains a small visitor’s centre by the police station opposite the beach park. The reef at La Pointe d’Esny, extends around the bend from Blue Bay and protects one of the finest beaches on the island: Pointe d’Esny beach; great for snorkelling, wind surfing and kite surfing as well as all other imaginable water activities. The beach is bordered by a cluster of elegant and classy beach villas; some of them for rent, others belonging to local families. Mauritian Wildlife Foundation-managed Aigrettes Island is the tiny spot opposite its shore and can be visited daily; offering interesting glimpses into endemic plant and animal life. Further down south, small but extremely nice and untouched La Cambuse beach is an all-time favourite of fishermen and locals who love to flock out to it especially during the weekend. La Cambuse can be reached over a small nature road only.
List of Location in South East Region
- Pointe du Diable
- Bambous Virieux
- Anse Jonchée
- Bois des Amourettes
- Vieux Grand Port
- Ferney
- Mahébourg
- Ile Aux Aigrettes
- Ile de La Passe
- Ile aux Phares
- Ile aux Vacoas
- Pointe d'Esny
- Pointe Jérome
- Blue Bay
- Plaisance - Airport
- Le Chaland
Mauritius East - The dazzling and active East
Because of its rather rough and windy climate which can be chilly on a winter evening, this part of Mauritius was not deemed fit for tourist development until relatively late, which is why there are many original and old fashioned customs and buildings still to be seen and enjoyed. Small villages where fishermen proudly bring in the catch of the day; farmers tending to their crop; chicken running freely and women washing their laundry in one of the many brooks or rivers are not a rare sight to behold in this part of the country. As the East is swept by the trade winds during rainy season and in winter, its landscape is a shiny, brilliant green almost all year round. Together with the stunning colours of the ocean, the blue of the rivers criss-crossing it and the white sandy beaches, some of them among the longest and most spectacular on the island, the East indeed is a wonderful and breezy place to be and certainly one of the best spots for wind surfing, kite surfing and sailing. Rather hilly at some places, the landscape offers nature sites such as the dramatic waterfalls of Grand South East River which can be accessed by boat and by foot alike and forms part of any boat tour to ile aux Cerfs or the waterhole at Trou d’Eau Douce with its picturesque harbour. Other areas are completely flat, like ile d’Ambre, where tremendous pirate treasures are supposed to be hidden under the sand. Brisée Verdière, quite some way inlands, features a series of deep hollows: lava tubes caused by volcanic activities and as old as the island, where remnants of extinct plump dodo birds have been found in the past. The beaches of the East range amongst the finest and are framed by star-spangled hotels and guest houses. Various water activities, predominantly anything to do with sails, can be enjoyed all year around; although in winter wet suits in the ocean and long sleeved sweatshirts or cardigans are a must. The two largest isles off the east coast could not be more different: white sandy beach frame tourist landmark Ile aux Cerfs, where Dutch settlers once kept their imported java deer, and which is literally flooded with visitors on a daily basis; especially during the high season. It even has its own golf course, several restaurants, a beach bar and various shops. Ile d’Ambre on the other hand, is very quiet and except for some day tourists and kayaking activities around its mangrove-overgrown shores, nothing disturbs its calm and serene atmosphere. The East indeed has two very different faces to show: a dazzling and active one and a calm and serene one, whichever one likes to explore first.
List of Location in East Region
- Poudre d'Or
- Riviere du Rempart
- Pointe Lascar
- Roches Noire
- Poste Lafayette
- Poste De Flacq
- Central Flacq
- Belle Mare
- Palmar
- Trou d'eau Douce
- Ile aux Cerfs
- Ile d'Ambre
- Beau Champ
Mauritius Highland - The wild, historical and cultivated Highlands
What can be termed “highlands” and is mentioned in the weather forecast as central plateau together with “rain, foggy patches or lower temperatures“, is actually the largest and most densely populated area in Mauritius. Strange actually, one is tempted to think, but then one has to understand that most of its major towns and cities are not only conveniently close to each other, but also conveniently close to everything else on the island: schools, supermarkets, cinemas and all the other amenities of the civilised world. For someone living in educated Curepipe where most of the higher schools on the island are located, places like Mahebourg, Chamarel or Goodlands are highly underdeveloped and not even worth visiting due to lack of activities. Needless to say that the highlands are criss-crossed by a net of good large and busy roads, with many bus routes providing good connections everywhere. There are, however, vast differences between the various parts of the highlands! The area between Port Louis, extending over Moka, Beau Bassin, Rose Hill and Quatre Bornes is an urban zone where one can practically walk through without seeing a green surface larger than a football field. Out of Curepipe and towards the south west though, it changes completely and becomes green, lush and rather wild; bearing many endemic plant and wildlife treasures for the visitor to behold as well as spectacular sights to see from the many viewpoints. In olden times, many colonial estates were spread on the lush green rolling hills of the interior, such as can still today be seen at Pailles, Moka and all over the Beau Bassin – Curepipe – Quatre Bornes area. Museums and exhibitions as well as shopping centres, restaurants and parks are plentiful in the interior of Mauritius, same as waterfalls, little lakes as well as lush and pristine vegetation.
List of Location in Highland
- Moka
- Pailles
- Quartier Militaire
- Réduit
- Quatre Bornes
- Phoenix
- Curepipe
- Floreal
- Le Pétrin
- Black River Gorges National Park
- Grand Bassin
- Bois Cheri
- Henrietta
- Belle Rive
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