You can take a guided tour through Parc Francois Leguat valley filled with hundreds of giant tortoises, tropical birds and tens of thousands of native trees. You can also explore Grande Caverne where you will view the majestic limestone formations.
Giant Tortoises Rodrigues used to have the highest density of land tortoises to have ever existed on planet earth. In about 100 years both of Rodrigues’ endemic species became extinct as they were taken away on ships or killed for meat and oil between 1730 and 1770. Almost 280,000 tortoises were destroyed.
In 2006 and 2007, Francois Leguat Ltd reintroduced two species of tortoises (Aldabra and Radiated Tortoises) that are the closest living tortoise species to the extinct Rodrigues tortoises. There is now a feel of prehistory as one strolls through the Reserve and interacts with the giant tortoises.
Recently a third species, the Ploughshare Tortoise has been introduced under an agreement with the Government of Madagascar.
The Caves
The Caves
The Reserve is located in the south western part of Rodrigues, a unique landscape of limestone features including 9 impressive caves and dolines. Grande Caverne is the only electrified “Show Cave” done to international standards with the help of an Australian cave consultant.
Native Flora
Native Flora
Rodrigues’ native flora has suffered massively since the colonization of Rodrigues. Many native plants only survived in remote and inaccessible areas such as on cliff faces.
Since the 1980s, there has been a growing effort to save what is left of Rodrigues’ native flora, led mostly by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. Since 2005, Francois Leguat Ltd has established a reforestation project aiming at planting 300,000 seedlings of 40 native species in the Reserve.
Restaurant And Souvenir Shop
Restaurant And Souvenir Shop
The restaurant offers delicious cuisine, the fresh local juices and cocktails. The souvenir shop offers an array of products that will remind all the visitors of the wonderful time spent at the Reserve and Rodrigues.
The Francois Leguat Museum
The Francois Leguat Museum
The Reserve houses a museum depicting the human, faunal and geological history of Rodrigues. Hundreds of local and international school children visit the Reserve every year and the Museum is a wonderful pedagogical tool to initiate an interest and concern for the natural environment.
Ecological Action Conservation in Rodrigues
Conservation in Rodrigues
Unfortunately, the threat posed by introduced plants and animals still exists today. The reintroduction of giant tortoises strengthened the native ecosystem.
The restored native forests already present an immense contrast to the barren landscape of the majority of the island today. Francois Leguat Reserve is raising awareness of the importance of the native biodiversity and the need for such conservation initiatives, as well as providing a hugely enjoyable and educational visit in scenic surroundings for tourists and locals alike.
The Casela World of Adventures, is said to be the most visited attraction in Mauritius. The park is in the midst of sugarcane fields in the western region of the island, with the Rempart Mountain as a backdrop. Casela Nature Park is a game reserve with endemic forest and diverse species of birds & large game, including lions.
The park spans over 350 hectares and is divided into 5 zones, each with its own unique characteristic. The 5 zones are Thrill Mountain, Predator Kingdom, African Safari, Pangia Birds and Rides and World of Events.
This nature park has an incredible array of thrilling activities ranging from ziplining, quad biking trails, canyoning quad biking, mountain climbing and more, along with African safari animals including big cats, monkeys, giraffes, rhinos, impalas and zebras.
Casela World of Adventures
A 45 minutes’ drive through on rugged terrain will bring you closer to majestic lions roaming about. The E-Bike Safari allows you to explore the Casela safari park effortlessly and at your own pace. You can also take a  a Segway Trip through the 4,500 hectares of the Mauritius’ Yemen Nature Reserve Park, part of the Casela World of Adventures.
If you take a Safari Quad Biking trip you will encounter deers, zebras, ostriches, African antelopes, wild boars and many more animals. With Exclusive Safari Quad Biking you will get an accompanying guide and you can ride at your own pace with no rush or being delayed by others.
Casela World of Adventures
Kids Animal Adventure at Casela provides Petting Farm, Giraffe & Ostrich Feeding, Tortoises Feeding, Pony Ride and other attractions for children.
You can explore the park on Segway with expert guide to help you track & identify animals.
There are delicious meals served in restaurants located throughout the park. The WamWam restaurant and Blue Bird Resto are famous for their delicious meals.
Ilot Gabriel beach, is one of the most beautiful beaches ever. Super white sand surrounded by the most beautiful blue ocean. Located in the Indian Ocean, this beach has some spectacular coral reefs one should see to believe.
Ilot Gabriel Beach could be reached by catamaran or by a boat from Pereybere or Grand Bay. The visitors usually stay at the island for about 5 hours and then it takes about 4 hours to return back. But the journey and the timing will depend on the weather conditions in the sea.
The beach is extended over an area of about 42 hectares and is located approximately 20 kilometers from the northern coast of the island. It is known for its white sands. Sometimes there are shoals of fish visible which rise and fall adding to the beauty of the place. The wind blowing on the Ilot Gabriel Beach is pure and it feels like heaven being there. One gets to see a panoramic view of the other islands also from this beach.
Corals
This beach is open throughout the year and this destination is amazing. But it is preferable to visit the Ilot Gabriel Beach during morning or afternoon when the beach looks spectacular. People need to spare at least 3 hours to explore the entire beach and enjoy the scenic beauty of the place.
The eastern part of Gabriel Island is the best for snorkeling. You will find an intact oceanic floor, interspersed with beautiful Acropora corals. Fish that you find in this area are Flutemouth, Picasso and Titan Triggerfish, Moorish Idols, flamboyant Wrasses, Pufferfish and Humbug Damselfish as well as turtles and stingrays too.
There is no man made luxury in the Gabriel Island, yet one can spend hours here, observing the wildlife, swimming and gazing at the marine creatures.
There are three places to stay near this beach. They are:
Lux Grand Gaube is a luxurious hotel with three swimming pools and also easy access to the golf course. The suites are very spacious with air-conditioners and refrigerators in all of them. Facilities of minibar, restaurant, pool, gym and many more are also provided to the guests.
Lux Grand Gaube
2. Seaview Calodyne Lifestyle Resort is a 4-star hotel with pool, bar, spa, restaurant, beachroom and much more provided to the guests.
Seaview Calodyne Lifestyle Resort
Veranda Paul et Virginie Hotel & Spa is a 4-star place which is a perfect one for couples. There are facilities like private dinners under the stars, breakfast in the room, tandem ride in the entire village, and duo massages on water. All rooms have a view of the sea. Facilities like pool, restaurant, spa, meeting rooms, beachfront are also provided.
Black River Gorges National Park is a national park in the hilly south-western part of Mauritius. In 1994 under section 11 of the Wildlife and in 1994 under section 11 of the Wildlife and National Parks Act of 1993 it was declared to be a National Park. The park is not only a bastion of biodiversity and other natural values, it is also a natural reservoir of the nation’s freshwater. It covers an area of 67.54 km²(roughly 6,700 hectares).
There are two information centres, picnic areas and 60 kilometres of trails for the visitors and four field stations for research and conservation projects.
The expansive thick forest within the park is home to over 300 species of flowering plants and 9 species of birds unique to Mauritius, including the famous pink pigeon, which is staging a very gradual comeback from the brink of extinction. It is also home to many species of wild animals and birds. Some other endangered bird species include the Mauritius kestrel, the echo parakeet, Mauritian flying fox, Mauritius bulbul, and Mauritius olive white-eye.
Alexandra Falls
You will also come across spellbinding waterfalls (Alexandra Falls in particular), pristine rivers, picnic areas, wide canyons and dramatic mountain ranges. One can walk along the greenery and reach the highest point of the island, which is the Black River Peak.
On the edge of the park near Chamarel is the 83m high Chamarel waterfall, and the Seven Coloured Earth geological formation that is composed of seven different types of clay, all varying in colour. There is also the Grand Basin Lake, which is a sacred site for the local Hindu community of Mauritius, and in March and April you can also seek a guide to help you pick your own guavas to feast on.
The Poste Lafayette beach is located on the southeast coast of Mauritius. The beach is surrounded by volcanic rocks, mangroves, coral reefs, rich marine life and rustic landscape.
The big waves in the surrounding sea make Poste Lafayette beach a place not suitable for children and inexperienced swimmers.
Big waves at Poste Lafayette beach
The best time to visit the beach is early in the morning from 8:00 to 11:00 or in the afternoon from 13:00 to 16:00 in April to September.
Activities available at the beach are pedalo, windsurfing, kitesurfing and kayaking. Although the beach lacks public l amenities of restaurants and shopping malls, there is a public toilet and there are many snack vendors selling local burgers.
Hotels near the beach are Radisson Blu Azuri Resort & Spa, Constance Prince Maurice, Jalsa Beach Hotel & Spa, Villa Fayette Sur Mer, Sankhara Beachfront Villas, Chateau de Feuilles, Koki Bonheur, Beach and Pool Poste Lafayette and more.
Mont Choisy, located near the villages Trou aux Biches and Pereybere in the district of Pamplemousses, in the shape of an arc, is the longest beach in north Mauritius. It is approximately half an hour from the island’s bustling capital city, Port Louis.
White sandy beaches lined with large casuarina trees and turquoise water are a draw to the visitors to the island.
At the entrance of the beach there is a monument, commemorating the first flight between Mauritius and Reunion. You will also find nearby restaurants serving tasty international and local dishes. Some of these restaurants there are: Le Off, Pomodoro Restaurant, Esprit Libre, Le Bask, Kiosque Magique, Le Pestacore, Blue Lagoon Cafe, Le Poivrier, Jardin des saveurs, Gourmet Grill, Cabanne des Fruits de mer, La Rougaille Creole and French Guinguette.
The beach is crowded during the weekends and holidays and is very popular among locals. Tour operators present along the coast offer all kinds of activities. The activities include pedalo, windsurfing, catamaran cruise, parasailing, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, speed boat trip and kayaking.
Excellent boutique hotels, self-catering villas, holiday rentals and two to five-star hotels to suit every type of traveler are found in Mont Choisy. The main hotels in Mont Choisy are Tarisa Resort and Spa, Mystik Life Style, Mon Choisy Beach R, Flowers of Paradise, Mont Choisy Beach Villas, Choisy les Bains, Coral Azur Beach Resort, Le Cardinal Exclusive Resort and Casuarina Resort & Spa.
Mont Choisy Beach
Nearby attractions that you can visit from here are:
Mauritius Aquarium: You will see marine life that includes sharks, butterfly fish and sea turtles. The aquarium is 10mins drive from Mont Choisy.
Maheswarnath Temple: One of the oldest Hndu temples in Mauritius is located a short drive of 5 mins from Mont Choisy.
L’Aventure du Sucre: This is a former sugar factory which now houses one of the best museums in Mauritius. It not only tells the story of sugar in great detail but also covers the history of Mauritius, slavery, the rum trade and much more.
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden: located in the proximity of Port-Louis, displays giant water lilies with leaves that span two meters across and also features native spices, ebony trees, sugar cane and around one hundred species of palms.
Mont Choisy mall is one-stop convenience shopping destination in the North of Mauritius, offering smaller, boutique-size retail stores that allow consumers to personalize their shopping experience while discovering the island’s finest local products.
La Croisette – Located in Grand Bay and is the biggest shopping mall in the North of Mauritius.
La Cuvette Beach is not as well known as hundreds of other beaches in Mauritius. It is located in the residential area of Grand Bay, (or Grand Baie) village in the district of Rivière du Rempart at the north of Mauritius. Grand Bay is a very popular holiday destination in Mauritius.
La Cuvette Beach has a simple charm without any extravagant maze-cut hedges or sculptures by the best of craftsmen. The visitors will have to find beauty in nature without any extravagance.
La Cuvette Beach
Until recently the beach was mostly known only to the local residents and a few tourists in the immediate neighbourhood, mainly from the Royal Palm Hotel next door. Recently a sign post was erected on the main road showing its location. After the erection of the sign post the beach is experiencing more visitors.
From April up to June La Cuvette enjoys sunny weather. From July up to October often there are severe thunderstorms, along with torrential rain that quite often floods the roads. During these times, visiting the beach is not recommended. The Mauritian Government warns visitors to the beach to be careful during the months of July to October.
There are many excellent hotels in the vicinity of the beach, such as Veranda Grand Baie Hotel and Spa and Mauricia Beachcomber Resort and Spa. Besides there are several local stalls that offer the best of local Mauritian Cuisine.
