A network of hiking trails crisscrosses the wild and empty Black River Gorges National Park. Unfortunately, they're not always well marked, so check the route and trail conditions at the information centres before setting off. Look for the rare tambalacoque (dodo tree), black ebony trees and wild guavas. Birdwatchers should keep an eye out for Mauritius kestrels, pink pigeons, echo parakeets and Mauritius cuckoo-shrikes. If you're looking for a guide, try Yanature, Otélair or Yemaya.
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Black River Gorges National Park
Mauritius
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
19.28 MILES
This popular ecotourism destination is a 26-hectare nature reserve on an island roughly 800m off the coast. It preserves very rare remnants of the coastal…
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens
21.22 MILES
After London's Kew Gardens, the SSR Gardens is one of the world's best botanical gardens. It's among the most popular tourist attractions in Mauritius and…
17.41 MILES
Protecting a 400-year-old forest, this reserve is an important habitat for the Mauritius kestrel, one of the world's most endangered raptors, and a visit…
16.03 MILES
Although dedicated to the world-famous Mauritian one-penny and two-pence stamps of 1847, the Blue Penny Museum is far more wide-ranging than its name…
12.22 MILES
If you're only going to visit one attraction related to Mauritius' rich colonial history, choose Eureka. This perfectly preserved Creole mansion was built…
17.48 MILES
The shrine of French Catholic priest and missionary Père Jacques-Désiré Laval is something of a Lourdes of the Indian Ocean, with many miracles attributed…
5.76 MILES
Locals like to wax nostalgic about Tamarin Beach and its surfing heyday, and in many ways this sandy cove still feels like a throwback to earlier times,…
17.51 MILES
Don't miss the central foire de Mahébourg, near the waterfront. The initial focus was silks and other textiles, but these days you'll find a busy produce…
Nearby Mauritius attractions
0.48 MILES
The stunning Macchabée Viewpoint is in the heart of the Black River Gorges National Park, where some of the best trails meet.
2. Plaine Champagne Police Post
2.31 MILES
The Plaine Champagne Police Post is the trailhead for the Parakeet Trail.
2.53 MILES
On a clear day, the views from here across the gorge and down towards the west coast rank among the best on the island.
3.44 MILES
From the Alexandra Falls Viewpoint, you can admire the cloud forest of Mt Cocotte (771m) and the view down to the south coast. The falls themselves are…
3.73 MILES
Fine views of Tamarin Falls. You'll need a guide to get here.
3.86 MILES
Set among the vast hillside plantations of Chamarel, the rhumerie is a working distillery that doubles as a museum showcasing the rum-making process. The…
4.33 MILES
La Balise Marina is already revolutionising the tourism industry in Mauritius before it's completed, by creating the island's first port welcoming luxury…
4.74 MILES
This eclectic place is utterly unlike anywhere else on the island. Essentially an interactive gallery of illusions and art, it has an upside-down room, a…