The 23 coloured earth is a unique geological feature in this part of the world for both Mauritians and overseas visitors, which makes this an essential destination when visiting Mauritius. The park is more than 450 acres in extent.
The Nature Reserve consists of green valleys, plateaus, hills, lakes, waterfalls and rivers. Visit to the park enables you to explore the endemic and indigenous flora and fauna.
Many adventurous activities are available such as: Quad Biking, Ziplines, Nepalese Bridge, Luge Kart, Trekking and private trips. The most important among them is the 1.5 km Zipline, the longest zipline in Mauritius. Nepalese Bridge is a 350 meters long hanging bridge. You will have to cross it by foot. Walking on the bridge is safe as it is well maintained. Zipline adventure will enable you to enjoy remarkable views of the valleys, landscapes, forest and waterfalls from high above.
You will also be able to get a closer look at the unique 23 coloured earth and to reach the viewpoint at the mountain top where you will enjoy a captivating, breath-taking panoramic view of the entire South Coast.
Waterfall
Your trip to the park begins with the visit to the park’s exhibition room which provides an outline of the different places of interest which you will get to discover through the visit.The park is opened from 9 AM to 7 PM. The visit normally takes about 3-4 hours. A cafeteria and a restaurant are located within the park area.
Trou aux Cerfs, also known as Murr’s Volcano, is a dormant volcano with a well-defined cone and crater. The volcano has been dormant for the last 100,000 years. It is 605 m high and located in Curepipe, Mauritius. The crater has a diameter of between 300 and 350 meters and is 80 meters deep. The crater was formed less than 2 million years ago in the second phase of volcanic activity that created Mauritius.
The volcano is currently dormant but experts think that it could become active at any time within the next thousand years. Water and silt have clogged the crater, making it inaccessible. The area immediately around the crater edge has been substantially developed, with a road ringing the entire perimeter.
Trou Aux Cerfs crater
Apart from the obvious tropical allure and a clutch of tourist hotspots, the island holds many underestimated sights, perfect for the traveler who enjoys taking the road less traveled.
Trou aux Cerfs offers 360-degree panoramic views. From here, you can overlook Curepipe and the gorgeous Rempart Mountain, Trois Mamelles, and the Moka mountain range. It is a photographer’s paradise. Trou aux Cerfs’ crater is surrounded by lush green shrubs, bushes and pine trees.
Trou Aux Cerfs crater
Trou aux Cerfs is accessible from La Hausse de la Louvière Road, the Edgar Huges Road and from Crater Lane. Here you should find parking easily enough so that you can make your way to the site. The crater itself is only accessible via a steep embankment which can be very dangerous, especially when the path is wet, so you have to be very careful if you decide to take it.
Adventure Park and Casino de Maurice are two attractions near this place.
The Tamarind Falls or Tamarin Falls are a scenic attraction of southwest Mauritius. They are a series of seven cataracts located on the Riviere Tamarin, two kilometers northwest of the large lake Mare aux Vacoas.
Tamarind waterfalls are also called 7 cascades because it has seven steps to it.
There are seven attractions in this area.
Hiking The Tamarind Falls hike in Mauritius is one of the most popular  tourist package. The hike is not so harsh and is suitable for  everyone. You will enjoy seeing exotic vegetation and also the unknown birds. The walk will take roughly 45 minutes.
Hiking
There are certain parts of the park that are reserved, and no one is allowed to enter that area because of the animals and the safety of the visitors.
2. Sea Karting Sea Karting is another popular package which you can take for one hour or half a day. The racing starts from Black River and goes along the breathtaking coastline, and then to Le Morne Brabant from Flic-en-Flac.
Sea Karting
3. Bois Cheri Bois Cheri is the most popular tea brand in Mauritius. You can take a trip to the factory where you will see how tea leaves are processed until they become the final product that you get in the market. You will also get to taste the tea here. Your package includes a trip to the tea plantation.
Bois Cheri
4. The Chamarel Rum Factory Rhumerie de Chamarel of Mauritius produces high quality eco-friendly rum. This is the most popular brand in Mauritius. You will see the entire manufacturing process and you will get to taste a variety of rums, with alcohol varying between 40% to 50%.
Rum
5. Seven Coloured Earths The Seven Coloured Earths is a charming geological formation that displays seven colors (brown, red, violet, blue, yellow, green, and purple). The formation has not been affected by the rain or sunshine for centuries.
Seven Coloured Earths
6. Le Morne Mountain Tamarind falls have the magnificent view of Le Morne Mountain and also the west coast of Mauritius. While you walk on the Basalt rock which is made from the volcano eruption, you will see the lush vegetation and variety of birds and animals.
Le Morne Cultural Landscape is an exceptional testimony to maroonage or resistance to slavery in terms of the mountain being used as a fortress to shelter escaped slaves, and let them fight for their freedom.
Le Morne Mountain
7. The Seven Stepped Waterfalls You can enjoy bathing under the series of 7 cascades of fresh water. When you do that, you get a feeling of being massaged. The waterfall itself is an excellent view  and this is also the place where you can take memorable photographs.
Seven Stepped Waterfalls
Accommodation Near Tamarind Falls There are a number of hotels near the waterfalls. Notable of which are Hillside Haven, Lacasepoz and The River House.
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.
