The centre of Mauritius

Troux aux Cerfs is a crater, 300m (984ft) in diameter. It was formed as a result of volcanic activity millions of years ago and is now choked with silt, water and a dense forest of vegetation. It is possible to scramble down the sides to the water level but caution is advised. There is plenty of parking and a kiosk to shelter walkers. There are spectacular views of the island: looking west the first majestic vista is Rempart Mountain. This is flanked to the right by the three peaks of Les Trois Mamelles, standing proud, as Mauritians say, like three breasts. To the north west the humps of Mont St Pierre are dwarfed by the bulk of the Corps de Garde. In the foreground sprawl of Curepipe and Phoenix and in the distance Port Louis.

Discernible by the jumbled range of the Moka Mountains, is the isolated peak of the
thumb-like Pouce and the tiny ball forming the head of Pieter Both. Other peaks rise and fall like papier mache replicas dumped on the landscape by a child

Plaine-Champagne

Located between the Piton of Small-River-Black and the mountains Savanna, here the Plain-Champagne plate which rises with 750 meters of altitude. This place pure and original, will enchant you by his luxuriant vegetation (ebony tree, camphor tree, wood of plait or even banana…)

Take the Plain-Champagne road towards Chamarel by borrowing its small paths, it will lead you to the spectacular falls of Alexandra Falls. That is worth really the turning

 Once up there, wait you at a superb panoramic sight of these cascades as well as Throats of Large-River-Black, with an impressive glance on the valley and the Mountain-of-Rampart

If you wish to be refreshed or quite simply eat. You at the restaurant stop theDull one.

Chamarel.

Among the oddest sites of the island are the seven-coloured dunes at Chamarel, believed to result from the weathering of volcanic rocks. These undulating and vividly contrasted layers of earth are a short drive away from the beautiful Chamarel waterfalls.

There are three ways to access Chamarel, but for the view, we recommend to start form the heights (Plaine Champagne road) and drive towards the coast.

The rich and wild vegetation along the road changes every kilometre as you drive. It is often cold and rainy uphill to become sunny and warm after just ten kilometres. There are several places along

the road where you can stop for a snapshot, a walk in the woods or to waterfalls, for a visit to the village or for lunch at one of the "table d'hotes" along the street. This drive is a must and is the most convenient way to take you from the centre of the island to the south or west coasts.

Grand-Bassin

Grand Bassin is part of the itinerary of the excursions proposed along the high plateau. The call is interesting for its legend; the water inside the crater is said to be in direct contact with the waters of the holly Ganges of India.

The Hindus of Mauritius have thus declared Grand Bassin as the holiest and sacred place of Mauritius. A Pilgrimage occurring every year on the Occasion of

the "Maha Shivaratree" festival leads tens of thousands of people to Grand Bassin, contributing to this mystical atmosphere. A huge statue of Shiva has been erected on the spot.

Black River George

This 6,574 hectare park, proclaimed in 1994, protects much of the remaining native forests of Mauritius and provides opportunities for the visitor to enjoy spectacular natural scenery and some of the unique endemic plants and bird life. The National Park is easily reached from Vacoas or Curepipe, via La Marie and Mare aux Vacoas. At le Petrin a visitor information center has been set up with picnic facilities. A boardwalk provides access to the typical dwarf forest of the region and a fenced conservation management area (from which invasive non - native plants have been removed) protects a sample of the remaining healthland. There is also a number of longer walking trails, including one to the island's highest point, Black River Peak (828 m).

From Plaine Champagne, the highest part of the central plateau of the island, there is a superb breathtaking view of the Black River Gorges and the sea lining the horizon. The Black River Gorges is a 6,574 hectare park proclaimed natural reserve in 1994. It protects much of the remaining indigenous forests of Mauritius and provides an excellent opportunity to visitors to enjoy a wonderful hiking with a spectacular scenery and also an occasion to appreciate some of the unique endemic plants and birdlife of Mauritius. The gorges have immensely contributed to the regeneration of some endangered endemic bird species like the Mauritian Kestrel and the Pink Pigeon.

The National Park is easily accessible from Vacoas or Curepipe via La Marie and Mare aux Vacoas. A visitor information centre has been set up at Le Pétrin to welcome and direct visitors and also to provide picnic facilities. A boardwalk leads to the typical dwarf forest of the region and a fenced conservation management area (from which invasive non-native plants have been removed) protects a sample of the remaining heathland. From there, various hiking tracks are offered and visitors can choose to walk to Maccabée forest (7km return) or down through the Gorges to Black River (15km) from the road across Plaine Champagne towards Chamarel where there is easy access to viewpoints at Alexandra Falls, over Bel Ombre and over the spectacular Black River Gorges. There are also a number of longer walking trails including one to the island's highest point, Black River Peak ( 828m). Road access into the Black River Gorges from the coast road has been upgraded and offers a Visitor Centre as well as a camping area.

The forest-clad slopes of the gorges and the Maccabé Forest nearby contain some interesting specimens of indigenous timber, namely the Bois de Natte, Colophane, Ebony, Tatamaka or Tambalacoque, as well as fine plants peculiar to the island such as the Trochetia, the national flower of Mauritius.

Tamarin falls

These falls are awkward to reach, but it's worth the effort for a beautiful, deep, cool bathe at the bottom of the series of seven falls. You can see them from the Vacoas side, if you follow the sign from Henrietta. From Curepipe or Quatre Bornes, take a bus to Henrietta, then walk to Tamarind Falls. If you're coming from Tamarin, turn right about 3Km north of Tamarin, at the round about to Magenta and Yemen. A tarred, bumpy road through cane fields leads to the Magenta and Tamarind Falls turn-off. Continue through all the 'Private Estate', 'Permit Needed' and 'Prohibited Entry' signs, down towards the power station. Leave your car or bike and walk along the river up to the falls. The path is quite heavily overgrown and you must cross to the other side and boulder-hop the last 300m along the river bed to reach the top, but you will richly rewarded!

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