How to embark on an adventure: Your ultimate guide to exploring Mauritius’ national parks

The island nation of Mauritius found in East Africa is simply more than azure seas, lush green tea plantations and rum tasting opportunities. This is because the country is well-known for its biodiversity that can be captured when one embarks on a riveting trip to its remarkable nature reserves and national parks. Here is a detailed guide on accessing some of Mauritius’ finest.  

Explore Black River Gorges National Park

Nestled in the southwestern part of Mauritius and arguably, the mother of all national parks in the country – Black River Gorges National Park is spectacularly beautiful and extremely inviting if you happen to be an avid hiker. Boasting well over 50 km of hiking trails that cater both to the novice as well as the skilled campaigner, Black River Gorges National Park is where you will be handed an opportunity to hike up the Black River Peak Trail that will happily lead you towards the island’s highest point from where breathtaking vistas of the shoreline and dense jungle can be caught sight of. Passionate nature photographers would do well to capture every angle there is to the free-flowing Alexandra Waterfalls while the very essence of the island’s flora and fauna will reveal itself to you, the farther and deeper you venture. Native plant species in the likes of ebony and extremely rare orchids can be witnessed while endemic species such as the pink pigeon and the Mauritius kestrel have been known to seek refuge within the leafy environs of this national park. The entrance fee hovers between USD 5 – 10 per head and if searching for a good place to stay at, then consider Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas which provides access to some of the best things to do in Mauritius. 

Enter La Vanille Nature Park

Known to engage in nature conservation and provide patrons with an educational and entertaining time, La Vanille Nature Park found in the country’s south is an experience that you need to make allowance for. While the entrance fee will depend on the nature of activities that you plan to be a part of, know that you will not have pocket out anything over USD 20 and in turn, be well placed to enjoy guided tours, feeding sessions and meet some of the animals that call La Vanille Nature Park home. These include numerous species of crocodiles including the feared Nile crocodile, Aldabra tortoises and an insectarium that contains a cross range of insects and rare butterflies. 

Z thomas, Vanille nature park Mauritius 2019-09-30 11, CC BY-SA 4.0

Move through Bel Ombre Nature Reserve 

Be it a guided trek that will introduce you to the wonders of the natural world or an action-packed 4-wheel drive outing that will give you an adrenaline rush like never before, time spent at the Bel Ombre Nature Reserve will be time well spent indeed. Scour marshlands en route to moving through tropical evergreen forests and mid-latitude forest patches that will have you primed to spot endemic bird species in the calibre of the Olive White-eye, Echo parakeet and Mauritius fody. What makes calling by Bel Ombre Nature Reserve a worthwhile pursuit can be attributed to the fact that this 1,300-hectare nature reserve is accessible throughout the course of the year with a wide spectrum of thrills and spills to come into contact with at one’s own leisure. 

Set foot within Bras d’Eau National Park

Founded in 2011, Bras d’Eau National Park which can be reached if you travel to the northeast portion of the Mauritius lays claim to ancient ruins, thick jungle and an array of floral and faunal species. Aside from the orchids and ferns that are found here, the curious traveller in you will be informed of the Bois de Fer and Mauritian ebony trees that have been thriving here for years. Further, birdwatchers will find plenty of value as this national park showcases species such as canaries, sparrows and the Mascarene Paradise flycatcher.