Interesting places on the North of Mauritius La Nicoliere This water reserve is located on the way to the East providing access to the centre of Mauritius. The small lake is surrounded by hills, forming a protected zone where the vegetation totally differs from that along the coast just a few kilometres away. Wild monkeys and bats can be spotted on the hills in the late afternoon and the two or three viewpoints along the road are ideal to stop and enjoy the view and the fresh air. They also provide the chance to take a short walk in the bush. Pamplemousses Gardens Initially created by famous French governor Francois Mahe de Labourdonnais (1699-1753) the gardens surrounded his governor mansion which he had built after starting the development of Port Louis as main port in 1735. De Labourdonnais’ aim was to grow the widest variety of exotic palms, trees, plants and spices in the world known at that time. "Pierre Poivre" (literally translated: Peter Pepper), a botanist who dedicated the major part of his life to spices, came to Mauritius shortly after the departure of Labourdonnais. He was hired to further develop the project, which unfortunately turned into a financial disaster for his employer, the "Compagnie des Indes." Today, only a small portion of the once vast gardens exist, but visiting it may provide a pleasant break on the way back from Port Louis. Opposite the gardens, in the welcoming village of Pamplemousses, one of the oldest churches of the country may be found. If you get hungry from walking around, you will also find a few places to eat. Weather & Climate Since the wind blows generally offshore and the beaches and lagoons are well protected, the northern region is ideal for your Mauritius holiday during the windy winter months. A sweatshirt or something even warmer is necessary for cool winter evenings between June and September. In summer (November to March) though, the North and especially Grand Bay can get so hot and humid that a t-shirt is the only thing you will want to wear over your bathing suit. What to do or not to do Avoid walking alone at night Book a full day catamaran trip to “Flat Island” Dive in a real submarine Go on a SCUBA dive safari around the outer islands Try mountain biking or hiking at La Nicoliere Discover sea kayaking around Ile d’Ambre Try some of the many water sports activities in Grand Bay
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