Mauritius offers more than just beautiful white sandy beaches – it’s a nature gem with breathtaking hiking spots and a rich cultural heritage. Here are six family-approved must-try activities for an unforgettable adventure in Mauritius. Get ready for an incredible family experience!
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The Seven Coloured Earth in Chamarel
Located in the southwest of the island, between Rivière Noire and Pointe du Morne, Chamarel is a typical small village renowned for its Seven Coloured Earth, its waterfall, its adventure park, and its rum distillery.
Nestled in the heart of lush vegetation over more than 8.5 hectares, the Seven Coloured Earth geopark is a hotspot for Mauritian tourism. I have to admit that admiring these rainbow-colored dunes really is magical …
Shortly after entering the park, on the left side of the road, a viewpoint allows you to admire the Chamarel waterfall, which is the highest waterfall (100m) on the island. Fed by two rivers, the waterfall springs from the top of a basalt cliff and flows into an oval basin before flowing through a 6 km canyon to Baie-du-Cap. The two lava flows that shape the landscape bears witness to millions of years of volcanic activity in Mauritius.
A little further on, the phenomenon of the Seven Coloured Earth is a rare geological curiosity, which also attests to the volcanic activity of the island several million years ago. The gradual erosion of basalt rocks due to the hot and humid climate has left a porous and chemically altered rock on the surface. In doing so, deposits of iron and aluminum oxides were left behind, giving the sand shades ranging from red to brown, and blue to purplish blue. And because the iron and aluminum particles repel each other, the colors’ separation remains clearly visible. Even if we mix them, they will be distinct again a few hours later.
Next to the park, there is a café, a shop, and a turtle park which allows you to approach some giant turtles.
Good to know
- The Seven Colored Earth Park is open all year round from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm in summer and 5 pm in winter.
Visiting the park takes an average of 2 hours. - Admission tickets can be purchased onsite or through the park’s website.
- The ticket price includes access to the geopark, the turtle park, and the two viewpoints on the Cascade of Chamarel (prohibition of descending alone to the waterfall).
- Rates for non-residents: Rs 500/adult (+/- €10) and Rs 250/child from 5 to 12 years old (+/- €5) – Free for children under 5 years old
➜ If you have time, book a table at Le Chamarel restaurant. Its wooden terrace overlooks the lagoon, with a panoramic view that stretches from the Morne peninsula to Tamarin. On your plate, you will enjoy a “Creole table” consisting of an assortment of dishes inspired by the culinary heritage of the country. Delicious!
The ascent of the Morne Brabant
It is often not recommended to dare to climb the Morne Brabant with children. The ascent of Le Morne Brabant is nevertheless a completely accessible hike (up to a certain point at least), which offers an exceptional panorama of the surroundings.
With its luxury hotels along the beach, the Le Morne peninsula is a place much appreciated by tourists. It is also heavily frequented by sailing enthusiasts who come there to windsurf and kitesurf. In the background, Le Morne Brabant culminates at 555 meters above sea level.
In 1835, this mountain in the shape of a sugar loaf served as a refuge for maroons (runaway slaves) who preferred to jump from the summit rather than be captured. They will never know that people had actually come to announce the end of slavery to them … This tragedy earned Le Morne being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, as a symbol of the slaves’ struggle for freedom.
With its steep sides, Le Morne is one of the most spectacular peaks in Mauritius. It is best to tackle it in 2 steps. From the car park, located 1.5 km from the main road (drive gently on the bad track), follow the path that climbs in laces on half of the mountain. Several points of view make it possible to see sight the lagoon during the ascent. It is not particularly difficult, but the exercise can be intense in hot weather, especially for the youngest.
Halfway through, a clearer viewpoint offers an exceptional view of the turquoise waters of the lagoon and the mountains of Chamarel. A sign sets the tone: from here, climbing becomes dangerous. It sure does … Closer to bare-handed climbing than hiking, this part requires good physical condition, suitable footwear, and favorable weather conditions. For victims of vertigo, it is better to abstain!
➜ If you walk with children, it will be a 3-hour hike. It is recommended to start early in the morning, to avoid the hot weather. The first part of the trail is not particularly difficult but the heat can quickly complicate things with younger children 🙂
Good to know
- Coming from Flic-en-Flac, you reach Le Morne Brabant by heading towards the Le Morne Peninsula. Leave the crossing towards the hotels on the right and stay on the B9. After 2km, a track heads off to the right, along the sea. A car park at the foot of the mountain indicates the start of the hike.
- It is not mandatory to use the service of a guide (not anymore anyway), but caution is still required, especially for the second part of the hike. If necessary, several sites offer this service, with or without transportation.
- From the car park, the ascent is about 3.5km to the top, with an elevation gain of 500 meters. The first part of the hike, accessible to all, is a one-hour walk on an inclined plane. It is possible to stop at 255 meters above sea level and then go back by the same path.
La Vanille Nature Park
Created in 1985, the La Vanille Nature Park is a 3.5-hectare zoological park located in the south of the island, near Rivière-des-Anguilles. Through giant bamboo, palm trees, and banana trees, the park takes visitors on a discovery of the endemic fauna and flora of the three Mascarene Islands: Mauritius, Reunion, and Rodrigues.
The reserve is home to the largest colony of turtles in captivity in the world (nearly 1000 turtles, on whose backs the youngest children can sit for a photo 🙂 ) as well as 2000 Nile crocodiles that can be observed at different stages of their development.
Among the other animals present on the site are caimans, iguanas, cane toads, Round Island geckos, Rodrigue fruit bats, mongooses, deer, wild boar, etc.
The park is also known for its insectarium where a collection of 23,000 species of insects and butterflies is stored, as well as for its space devoted to extinct animals, such as the dodo and the Madagascar elephant bird.
Good to know
- The Vanilla Natural Park is open every day from 8:30 am to 5 pm.
Visiting the park takes an average of 2 hours. - Entrance tickets can be purchased on-site or through the park’s website.
Rates for non-residents: Rs 500/adult (+/- 10€) and Rs 150/child from 3 to 12 years old (+/- 3€). - For those hungry and/or curious, the restaurant “Le Crocodile Affamé” offers dishes based on crocodile meat.
The Black River Gorges National Park
Declared as such in 1994, the Black River Gorges Natural Park is located in the mountainous part of the southwest of the island. With more than 6,500 hectares of unspoiled nature, home to many endemic species, including giant bats, this park is the green lung of Mauritius.
With more than 60 kilometers of trails of varying lengths (from 3 to 10 kilometers) and levels of difficulty, the park is for all hikers. The most popular trails are those that lead to the summit of Mauritius, the Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire, culminating at 828 meters above sea level. There are many promontories that provide beautiful unobstructed views.
➜ During the weekend, the park is very popular for picnics and walks with family or friends. Better to avoid it these days if you want to walk quietly.
Good to know
- The Black River Gorges Natural Park is open every weekday from 7 am to 5 pm, and on weekends from 9 am to 5 pm.
- The park is accessible from above via Pétrin or from below via Trois Bras (Grande Rivière Noire).
- Several signs indicate the lengths and levels of difficulty of each trail. You can also get a map at the park entrance office.
- From the Pétrin office, guides from the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation organize ornithological hikes of 4 to 5 hours.
Casela Park
3 kilometers from Flic-en-Flac, on the west of the island, Casela Park is nestled at the foot of the Rempart Mountain. Created in 1979, this park combines the discovery of fauna and flora and fun activities. Spending a day in Casela Park means having the opportunity to go ziplining, quad biking, on a 4×4 safari, and walk with the lions, all in one place!
Casela, a must do during a family stay in Mauritius!
➜ During the holidays, the park is a victim of its own success. It is essential to buy your tickets in advance and despite this, you will still have to endure several waiting lines. Better to arrive early!
After 30 minutes in line, we finally enter the park! If some visitors seem to be heading straight for the most popular attractions, we decide to follow the path. After a stop in the aviaries and in the monkey kingdom, we pass in front of the slide, which was, unfortunately, closed at this time. Surprise hitch brushing against a spider on its web… OMG, these little beasts also exist outside 😱
As the children decide they are too old for the mini-farm and the playground, we quickly greet the hippos. The waiting line at the Tulawaka Gold Coaster discourages us to go. Let’s see the Predator Kingdom first! Walk with the Lions, and Meet the Cheetahs are paid activities reserved for those over 15 years old. Too bad… We observe them from afar, in their cages. Not as exceptional as it could be but looking at the white lions is still very impressive.
After a quick bite, we head to the starting point of the safari (activity included in the entrance price). Barely through the doors of the reserve, they are all there: rhinos, impalas, oryx, waterbucks, zebras… The illusion is total, we really believe it!
Stop in the middle of the zebras to observe them closer. Big funny ostriches rush on our bus trying to grab the bars. The children are freaking out!…
After this scary episode, we go feed the giraffes. For a few rupees, the children receive seeds that they can give them from a platform high enough to observe them. Very nice moment 🙂
The day is coming to an end. But we still have to try the famous Tulawaka roller coaster (1 ticket included in the entrance price)! The waiting line is still on, we manage the wait as best we can. Some visitors however decide to leave the line and offer their tickets to the children. Yay, more for us!
Our turn finally comes. We embark alone (or parent + young child) on a summer sled, towed by cable to the top of the hill. From there, it’s a vertiginous descent on 760 meters of track that never stop turning. So much fun!
This time it’s really the end …
Good to know
- Casela Park is open to the public from 9 am to 5 pm daily from May to September, and from 9 am to 6 pm from October to April. It is closed on December 25 and January 1.
- It is recommended to buy your entrance tickets in advance via the park’s website.
Rates for non-residents: Rs 1,100/adult (+/- 22€) and Rs 880/child from 3 to 12 years old (+/- 18€).
The entrance ticket includes 1 safari bus tour and 1 ticket for Tulawaka. The walk with the lions is extra: Rs 3,750/adult (+/- 75€) - For snacks, a restaurant and several fast-food options are available on-site.
Spend the day in Mahebourg
In the southeast of Mauritius, on the edge of the Grand Port Bay, Mahebourg is the former capital of the country. Founded in 1804 by the French governor Charles Decaen, its name comes from the famous Count Mahé de Labourdonnais. More than any other city on the island, Mahebourg is imbued with a charm that bears witness to the various colonizations that have taken place on the island.
Located not far from the Waterfront, the Mahebourg market is one of the most popular markets on the island. With items ranging from clothing to fresh locally grown vegetables, the market offers a real immersion in traditional Mauritian culture. It is the perfect place to taste dal puri (pancakes made from split peas) or chili cakes.
In the heart of the village, at the end of a long alley of pines, is the National History Museum. The original colonial building was built in 1772 for the Robillard family, who used it as their residence. After the bloody battle of Grand Port in 1810, Jean de Robillard transformed the house into a military hospital to treat both French and English wounded. The house was bought in 1947 by the English government, which transformed it into a museum. Renovated in 2000, the museum is now classified as a national heritage of Mauritius.
Good to know
- The National History Museum is located on Royal Road, Mahebourg.
- The museum is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm, Wednesday from 11 am to 4 pm, and Sunday from 9 am to 12 pm.
- Free entry.
North of Mahebourg is the Henri Rault biscuit factory, the only cassava biscuit factory in the world. Founded 145 years ago, it has been listed as a national heritage of Mauritius in 2011. The entire production process is accessible to the public, from the weighing of ingredients to the baking in huge ovens powered by burning sugarcane leaves.
Last stop at Pointe d’Esny before heading back to the west of the island… From afar, you can admire Île aux Aigrettes and the Preskil Island Resort.
Let us turn your dreams into a tailored journey. From itineraries to accommodations, we handle everything for an unforgettable experience that fits your expectations and budget.
Reach out to us today at hello@nanoo.travel for your personalised quote.
