Nature Lover's Itinerary for Mauritius in 5 Days

  • Day 1: Black River Gorges National Park
    1 hour 10 minutes (37.5 km) from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport

    Black River Gorges National Park is a hiker's paradise featuring rugged terrain, lush forests, and stunning waterfalls amid a wildlife-rich landscape. Visitors can spot rare birds, macaques, and flying foxes among other species.

  • Day 2: La Vanille Nature Park
    1 hour (32.3 km) from Black River Gorges National Park

    This park is a crocodile and giant turtle sanctuary preserving both local and exotic wildlife. Visitors can walk amidst hundreds of tortoises and rare species of insects or watch the feeding of the park's 2000 Nile crocodiles.

  • Day 3: Ile aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve
    15 minutes (5.6 km) by boat from the Mahebourg Waterfront

    Accessible only by boat, this reserve is home to the country's rarest wildlife including the Pink Pigeon, Aldabra giant tortoise, and Ile aux Aigrettes Fody. Visitors are escorted by expert guides, providing a unique learning experience.

  • Day 4: Chamarel Waterfall and Seven Coloured Earth Geopark
    45 minutes (24.4 km) from Ile aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve

    Chamarel Waterfall is the highest waterfall in Mauritius, plummeting 100 meters into a lush gorge. The nearby Seven Coloured Earth Geopark features dunes of vividly colorful sands that have naturally settled into distinct layers drenched in red, brown, purple, green, blue, and yellow hues.

  • Day 5: Le Morne Brabant Peninsula
    45 minutes (39.1 km) from Chamarel Waterfall and Seven Coloured Earth Geopark

    Le Morne Brabant is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the most famous destination for hikers in Mauritius. Standing at 556 meters, the trail offers incredible views of its surroundings, including the Indian Ocean and the reef that protects its shoreline.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Black River Gorges National Park (3-5 hours, Free)
  • La Vanille Nature Park (3-4 hours, MUR 500 per person)
  • Ile aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve (2-3 hours, MUR 1300 per person)
  • Chamarel Waterfall and Seven Coloured Earth Geopark (4-5 hours, MUR 200 per person)
  • Le Morne Brabant Peninsula (5-6 hours, Free)
  • Total Estimated Costs: MUR 2000 (excluding transportation and accommodation)

Transportation

To fully explore the sites, rent a car or book a tour with a local guide. Taxis are also available but tend to be expensive. Additional transportation costs may vary depending on the mode of transportation you take.

Estimated transportation costs: MUR 1800-3000

Useful Tips

If you have more time, you can visit additional nature reserves such as the Rodrigues Island Nature Reserve or the Frederica Nature Reserve located on the Black River Gorges mountainside. If you have less time, consider combining sites that are in close proximity such as La Vanille Nature Park and The Gris Gris Beach.

Airports

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) is the main airport in Mauritius, located 50 kilometers from the capital city of Port Louis.

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