Mauritius: Southwest – a area of natural beauty

August 6, 2023
Mauritius
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Mauritius' southwest is the sunniest and driest region of the island, with a nature and landscapes that will remind you of the African savanna. In the mountains Charamel has many natural wonders and the coast is home to Le Morne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

All our time in Mauritius had been spent in the north of the island, but we knew there were sights in the south of the island that we wanted to see before we left.

The first place we went was to the small village of Chamarel, where we headed to see a couple of the local famous tourist attractions.

CHAMAREL WATERFALL

The first of these was the Chamarel waterfall, which at 100m is the tallest single-drop waterfall in Mauritius. Fed by the waters of three streams pouring into Saint-Denis River, it has a peak flow rate of more than 40,000 m³ per minute. We have seen many waterfalls around the world, and whilst this was in a beautiful setting, I don’t think it will be making it into our top ten.

SEVEN COLOURED EARTHS

Close by the waterfall are the seven coloured earths geopark, an iconic tourist attraction in Mauritius. The undulating strips that naturally form different layers of sand are one of the most photographed and visited attractions on the island. It is a relatively small area of sand dunes comprising sand of seven distinct colours (approximately red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple, and yellow). These different coloured sands spontaneously settle in different layers, and the dunes acquire a surrealistic, striped colouring. The area is surrounded by boardwalks which makes it easy to get great views of the sands from various angles, and as we walked around the sun came out to make the colours pop even more.

Right next to the coloured earth is the tortoise park, home to several giant tortoises. Originally from Aldabra in the Seychelles, the species can reach up to 1m in length with an average lifespan of more than 150 years. The park’s oldest giant tortoise is said to have died at the age of 250 years! The second-largest species of tortoise in the world, the Aldabra species is a cousin of the native domed and saddle-backed giant tortoises, which went extinct in Mauritius in the early 18th century.

LE MORNE

To finish up the day we travelled towards the coast where we got a glimpse of Le Morne Brabant, a peninsula on the far southwestern tip of Mauritius at the tip of which is a basaltic monolith with a summit 556 metres (1,824 ft) above sea level. In 2008 Le Morne was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.

There are trails that lead to the top, which takes around 2 1/2 to 3 hours and are difficult and steep in place, and involve some scrambling over rocks. We chose not to attempt this.

BLACK RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK

On the way back to Mont Choisy we made a quick stop in the Black River Gorges National Park at the Gorges Viewpoint to look across the valleys, which was spectacular, but did mean running the gauntlet of hawkers and monkeys.

There are 50km of challenging hiking trails that run throught National Park, but we didn’t have enough time in the day to explore these. Perhaps next time.

Planning your visit to Chamarel

Best time to visit Mauritius

Climate

Current Weather Forecasts

Port Louis

Sunday

79°

few clouds

Clouds24%

Humidity62%

Wind19mph

Mon

Min71°

Max79°

Tue

Min72°

Max78°

Wed

Min71°

Max79°

Thu

Min72°

Max79°

Mahebourg

Sunday

80°

broken clouds

Clouds75%

Humidity65%

Wind19mph

Mon

Min73°

Max75°

Tue

Min72°

Max75°

Wed

Min72°

Max76°

Thu

Min73°

Max75°

The best time to visit Mauritius is toward the end of the year, from October through to December, when temperatures are hottest. However, Mauritius has an enviable subtropical climate that normally brings sun, warmth, and blue skies, so expect perfect beach weather for most of the year.

The Chamarel Mountains in the south can get rain at any time of year, which provides them with a luxuriant green covering, but the rest of the island generally only sees prolonged rain in January and February, when cyclones roll in from the Indian Ocean.

Mauritius – Month-by-Month

Visiting Mauritius in January

Early January is very popular due to the Christmas holidays and escaping the Northern Hemisphere winter. However, this time of year is prone to cyclones and rain so is not a reliable time to travel.

Visiting Mauritius in Fenruary

February is affected by cyclones, so we would advise against traveling at this time.

Events & Festivals

Holi festival (end of February or March): Celebrating the beginning of spring, it’s also known as the Festival of Colours due to the brightly coloured powder and water that is thrown around the streets, covering everyone in its path.

Visiting Mauritius in March

March is a popular time to visit Mauritius. The weather is hot, but it can also be humid with occasional rainfall.

Events & Festivals

Visiting Mauritius in April

April is hot, with temperatures hitting 86°F.

Visiting Mauritius inMay

May is one of the best months to travel to Mauritius. The temperatures are warm, but the humidity has lifted, making for a more comfortable climate. There are also some fantastic offers to take advantage of at this time of year, and it’s a good time to travel if you prefer to have more space to yourself.

Visiting Mauritius in June

June is very pleasant, offering warm, sunny days. Those who prefer hotter weather may find it a bit cooler, with average highs of 75°F, and you may need to wear warm layers for alfresco evenings.

Visiting Mauritius in July

July is a popular time of year due to the summer vacations in the Northern Hemisphere. The trade winds pick up, making some of the less sheltered beaches breezy and bringing temperatures down. In general, average highs are around 73°F.

Visiting Mauritius in August

August follows the pattern of July, with warm days that are perfect for sheltered beaches, but you will appreciate a jumper or coat in the evenings.

Events & Festivals

Ganesh Chaturthi festival (August or September): This Hindu festival honoring the elephant-headed god Ganesh is a public holiday in Mauritius. Colorful Ganesh statues are displayed publicly and at home before being immersed in a body of water.

Visiting Mauritius in September

The trade winds die down during September and the temperatures start to rise once again.

Events & Festivals

Visiting Mauritius in October

October tends to be the driest month, with comfortable average highs of 77°F. It can be quite popular; particularly around half term dates for family vacations.

Events & Festivals

Diwali (October/November): With its significant Indian/Hindu population, Mauritius sees enthusiastic Diwali celebrations, with twinkling candles and lamps lit across the island to mark the Festival of Lights.

Visiting Mauritius in November

In November the temperatures start to rise, as does the humidity. Gearing up for tropical summer rains, this month can be a real mixture. Some days may be more humid than others, but overall it’s still a good time to visit Mauritius.

Events & Festivals

Visiting Mauritius in December

December is one of the busiest months for visitors to Mauritius; especially over the festive period. Humidity builds throughout the month and it is likely to rain; particularly around Christmas and New Year. However, the rain is normally a heavy shower and helps lower the humidity. Afterwards, the sun usually shines through and it dries up quickly.

Where to stay

MON CHOISY BEACH RESORT

We stopped in the Mon Choisy which is on the northeast coast of Mauritius. This is a lovely area of the island with great beaches and supposedly the best weather.

The resort was outside the main areas of the town and right on the edge of the large public beach at Mon Choisy. The resort was right on the water, with a rocky beach. It was a perfect place for watching the sun go down and catch the sunset.

We wanted to self-cater, or at least have the option to, so this resort was perfect as the rooms had a small kitchenette which was reasonably well equipped. The rooms were very comfortable, but most of them do not have much of a view.

The pool area was perfect for sunbathing and cooling off, as well as being a perfect spot for seeing sunsets.

HÔTEL 20 DEGRÉS SUD

This 5-star hotel is also located on the northeast coast of the island near Grand Baie.

The first boutique hotel in Mauritius, the 20 Degrés Sud offers you the luxury and excellence of a 5-star hotel in an establishment with the dimensions of a charming hotel.

No ostentatious luxury but much more: elegance and refinement. The delicacy in taste, spirit and feelings that will truly give you the feeling of being in a world apart.

Nestled in a pretty coconut grove at the water’s edge, the 20 Degrés Sud enjoys a privileged location, far from all the hustle and bustle, but only a few minutes from the entertainment of Grand Bay. Its location in the heart of a very quiet residential area served by a charming coastal road gives it a peaceful and relaxing side.

This charming, intimate hotel has 36 rooms, including 7 suites, all overlooking the pretty coconut grove bordering the sea. A bit like home, all the rooms are different. A mixture of antiques and furnishings exclusively from the Belgian decorator Flamant Home Interiors gives this place a warm, unique and personalized atmosphere.

LE PENINSULA BAY BEACH RESORT & SPA

This 3-star hotel is located on the southwest side of Mauritius, closer to the International Airport.

Located in Blue Bay, a 2-minute walk from Blue Bay Beach, Le Peninsula Bay Beach Resort & Spa has accommodations with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a fitness center and a garden. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a shared lounge and a 24-hour front desk, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The property provides karaoke and a tour desk.

The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, an electric tea pot, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a shower. At Le Peninsula Bay Beach Resort & Spa all rooms include bed linen and towels.