Interesting places on the West of Mauritius Tamarin Bay Well known for its good surfing conditions, this was one of the most famous meeting points for happy surfers in the late 60's and 70's. The discovery of new and exciting surf beaches around the world and Mauritius’ new image as a luxury destination slowly killed the legend. But the surfing spirit is still alive, the waves are rolling in and on "big days," Tamarin becomes very busy, and relives its glorious past. Blank River Gorges Black River Gorges is the largest nature park of Mauritius. Its latest developments include the construction of a road leading straight into its centre, making the area even more, if not too easily, accessible. Nevertheless, the park is big enough to allow hikes with a duration time of several hours in various directions. The best way to visit the gorges is to be dropped at "le Petrin" (not far from Grand Bassin) walk down the paths and be collected in the parking area down the gorges. This would be a three hours walk instead of the almost five hours it takes to walk all the way down to the coastal road. Hikes and walks can be made alone or booked as guided excursions, led by dedicated park rangers. Chamarel Road There are three ways to access Chamarel, but for the view, we recommend to take the road leading through the high plateau (Plaines Champagne) and down towards the coast. The rich and wild vegetation along the roadside changes with every kilometre as you descend. The weather on top, being often cold and rainy, turns into sunny and warm after just a few kilometres. There are several parking spots along the road where you may stop for a walk into the woods, to enjoy the view, visit the village or have lunch. This drive is not only a must, but also the most convenient way from the centre of the island to the south or west coast. Le Morne Babant Le Morne Brabant is an isolated square mountain forming a peninsula in the far Southwest. The mountain itself is quite an intimidating sight, standing tall and dark against the mostly blue sky. Its reputation may add to the strong feelings it causes: Le Morne Brabant is said to once having been a hiding place for runaway slaves. The story does not tell how they got up there, but it is said that they constructed a wooden bridge to facilitate access to the summit. Once they had reached their hideout, the bridge was removed. After the abolition of slavery, an expedition was sent out with the news of their freedom. Seeing many soldiers coming their way, the slaves thought the expedition to be for the purpose of capturing them again. So many of them threw themselves from the mountain cliff, preferring to die rather than being enslaved again. In contradiction to the sad history of the mountain, the peninsula surrounding it is like a paradise in paradise. The crystal clear waters of the lagoon shimmering at the foot of imposing mountains such as Le Morne and "Piton de la Riviere Noire" the islands highest peak make the landscape look like an enchanted kingdom. One of the first hotels of Mauritius was built on this peninsula after the first regular passenger flights reached Mauritius in 1947. Over the past years, the wild part of the peninsula yielded to several other hotels. The wilderness has gone, but the site remains exclusive. The Martello Towers The Martello towers have gained worldwide fame, as they exist in countries like Canada, Jamaica, Sri Lanka etc. Mauritius alone counts five of them. They were built by the British between 1810 and 1846 for defence purposes against their main enemies, the French navy. The irony in their history lies in the fact that the British were inspired by a similar tower at a place called the Martello point of Corsica, where only 38 men managed to keep away English invaders for many days. The name of Martello thus derives from the name of the Corsican stronghold. The Martello tower of La Preneuse has been restored in 1999 and is now accessible for guided visits. Chamarel Chamarel is unique, for it is Mauritius’ only mountain village. It is the place which inspired most Sega songs to be written. Quiet, pretty and tidy, Chamarel successfully merges with its surrounding vegetation. Populated by a large Creole community, Chamarel is the cradle of their culture, the Creole heart of Mauritius. Traditional but not conservative, the people of Chamarel successfully separated the wheat from the chaff of evolution. Warm and friendly, with a deep sense of hospitality, they have welcomed visitors and tourists for decades but contrarily to inhabitants of other regions, very few were ever tempted to follow their visitors’ lifestyle. Apart from a visit at the Coloured Earth, the yearly Fancy Fair of Chamarel remains the most important event of the region and an occasion for the people to proudly share with others, the specialities of the village, namely the Curry No. 2 which is prepared with monkey meat. The usual main event in the working week is the Sunday mass. Weather & Climate The climate on the west coast is relatively dry and hot. In summer, the heat often becomes so unbearable that a walk under the sun requires major decision making. It is therefore recommended, to visit the west coast outside the peak season. A t-shirt (or less) is all you need to wear from November to March. A sweatshirt or something warmer may be necessary for the cooler winter evenings (June to August). On the hills around Charamel, you will need warm, long-sleeved clothes, as temperatures in the evening may drop considerably throughout the year. What to do or not to do Sightseeing is a must Try hiking, mountain biking, caynoning or sea kayaking Why not go on an overnight adventure trip combining various activities? Explore both the countryside and the lagoon Enjoy some very nice diving along the coast and don’t forget to visit the dolphins Don’t go anywhere without mosquito-repellent!
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