The very name Mauritius conjures up white sand beaches, palm trees, the still blue waters of a lagoon and exotic fruity cocktails in the sun. While the island has these in abundance, there are many other places of interest to visit, from the extinct volcano to the world heritage sight of Le Morne Brabant, from tours of the salt pans to interacting with animals at Casela Nature Park.
Trou aux Cerfs, the 80 meter deep volcano crater situated near Curepipe on the central plateau is a magnificent place to visit for any age group. The deeply sloping sides are lushly forested in deciduous trees and verdant shrubs, while the lake in the astonishingly green center reflects the colors of the sky.
In the south of the island is the well known Blue Bay, a paradise for snorkelers. The clear waters of the lagoon boast many different types of coral, the majority of which are still alive, as well as countless brightly colored tropical fish and other creatures of the sea.
The Black River Gorges National Park in the west makes the proud claim to being the first National Park in Mauritius. With nearly 70 km2 of humid upland and drier lowland forest, marshy heathland and picnic areas and about 60 kilometers of hiking trails, Black River Gorges is a perfect place to reconnect with nature.
The south-west of the island is also the location of the recently named world heritage sight; the imposing square-shaped mountain of Le Morne Brabant. The mountain is associated with the Annual Commemoration of the Abolition of Slavery as it was this lump of basalt that was used as a hiding place for runaway slaves. Tragically, the runaway slaves misunderstood the expedition to tell them of the abolition and they all jumped to their deaths. In spite of its gruesome history, the majestic summit of this small peninsula is a beautiful and peaceful spot to visit.
In fairly close proximity to the Black River Gorges and Le Morne is the famous natural phenomenon of the Seven-Coloured Earth. La terre de sept couleurs is, unsurprisingly, a chance to see in a fairly small area, a natural mound of earth of many different colors. It is best to go when the earth is fairly dry as the difference in colors then is more pronounced, although even when it has been raining the distinct colors are obvious to the naked eye.
No visit to Mauritius would really be complete without a trip to the Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens to the north of the island. The tranquil surroundings, the countless varieties of trees and plants, the deer and the much-photographed giant lilies make it a worthwhile and relaxing place to visit.
Sarah Townshend
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