The southern region of Mauritius, also known as the Wild South, is the most preserved part of the island; it stands out from the other regions with its incredible cliffs and impressive waves, creating a feeling of closeness to nature. The south and south-east offer magnificent views of the mountains and sugar cane fields as far as the eye can see. Many tourist operators from the region have chosen a sustainable development for their hotel and leisure projects, like the Domaine de Bel Ombre. The south of the island is also a concentrate of history, the region has witnessed the various landings of explorers during centuries and houses a lot of remnants from the past.
What to See?
The village of Mahebourg alone will require a full-day tour. The highly historical town was founded at the beginning of the 19th century by the French and was named after Mahé de Labourdonnais. The famous naval battle of 1810 took place in the lagoon, more precisely at Vieux Grand Port – the only French naval victory inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The village abounds of ancient vestiges recalling the different colonisations along time, as well as the period of slavery; you can still see the slaves’ wash house, among other protected monuments.
Pointe Canon is an interesting place to go to have a nice overview of the different sites surrounding Mahebourg. You will see the imposing Lion Mountain that overlooks the sugar cane fields, Mouchoir Rouge islet, facing the waterfront, and Ile aux Aigrettes further north, a small protected island located in the lagoon and which is also a nature reserve. Pointe Canon is the place where the inhabitants of the region meet during events such as regattas and the commemoration of the abolition of slavery celebrations in February.
The Naval Museum in Mahebourg is a highly historical place, not only because of the artefacts preserved therein, but also for the building itself. Learn about the maritime history of Mauritius through a series of well-kept treasures: paintings, lithographs, statues, objects. You will even come across the old wagon of the governor in the yard! Make a big leap into the past… The house built during the second half of the 18th century, known as Maison Robillard named after its owners, had been converted into a hospital after the Battle of Grand Port in 1810, and later purchased by the British authorities in 1950.
The Cavendish Bridge, also known as Ville-Noire Bridge: one cannot miss this outstanding bridge when leaving Mahebourg towards the north. This concrete structure of more than 150 metre long, spanning La Chaux River, was designed by French engineer Paul Le Juge under the government of Sir Cavendish Boyle, whose name was given to the bridge. Completed and inaugurated in 1911, it was restored on the occasion of its centenary in 2011. You can safely walk along the longest bridge of the island, on its new pedestrian path, to connect the small village of Ville-Noire on the other side.
Ferney, next to Mahebourg, also played an important role in the history of Mauritius having been the landing place of the Dutch in 1598. A memorial was erected on the shore. From there, you will be surrounded by the ocean on one side, and the sugar cane fields and the Lion Mountain on the other. A few minutes away, you will reach the Vallée de Ferney, a vast valley which is house to various species of endemic animals and trees. You can choose to go hiking by yourself or be accompanied by a guide. Nearby, Falaise Rouge unveils a beautiful view on Fouquets and La Passe islands in the lagoon.
Pointe du Diable, also called known as Pointe Canons, is located on the coast when leaving Vieux Grand Port, heading north. You will easily find this former French defence post on the road, set up tp defend the island from the British invaders, with its series of old cannons facing the sea. This name, understand “Devil’s Point”, comes from the first navigators who had their compasses showing various directions at this place for no reason according to them… but it was evntually found that there is a magnetic field in the mountain nearby influencing the compasses.
Leaving Mahebourg towards the south, Ile aux Aigrettes will offer a unique experience with nature. This island, located halfway between Mahebourg and Pointe d’Esny, is a nature reserve managed by the Mauritian Wildlife Fund. It is part of a conservation and rehabilitation programme for Mauritian indigenous and endemic fauna and flora. Within a few minutes by boat from the coast, you will see animals and plants that do not live on the main island, for some of them, including the Telfair Skink. Sculptures have also been placed along the tracks to represent extinct species, including the owl (yes, there were owls in Mauritius!) and the giant turtle, today replaced by its cousin from Aldabra who is similar to it. Experienced guides will accompany you and relate the huge conservation work achieved during the past decades.
After Ile aux Aigrettes, southbound to Pointe d’Esny and its white sandy beach, and Blue Bay, a popular beach for local picnickers and a protected marine park. Go for some snorkelling to admire the undersea flora and fauna, and if you don’t want to get wet, hop on a glass-bottom boat, you will easily find one on the beach.
Gris-Gris and its beautiful surroundings
If you continue your journey towards the south, there are several stopovers to make in Souillac: Le Souffleur, La Roche qui pleure, Gris-Gris and Rochester Falls. Although this part of the Mauritius is not suitable for swimming, many unspoiled sites are to be discovered, as well as its history.
Nature bursts in the south! Stop at Le Souffleur to see the water spring into the air like a geyser during high tides. With the help of the wind, the water jets sometimes reach 30 meters.
A few minutes away, in Gris-Gris, La Roche qui pleure represents the profile of the Mauritian poet Robert Edward Hart, sculpted in the cliff by the elements, according to local legends… Below, you will see the mouth of Bain des Négresses river flowing into the ocean. Take a breath of fresh air on the cliff at Gris-Gris public beach in front of the impressive waves, before heading to one of the restaurants nearby to enjoy a traditional local meal.
Robert Edward Hart was a Mauritian poet who has touched generations on the island and in the Indian Ocean. A few minutes from Gris-Gris, in Souillac, a museum is dedicated to him at La Nef, a house entirely made of coral and donated by his friends.
Next door, the beautiful garden of Telfair is the ideal place for a stroll on the seafront of Souillac, under the magnificent centenary trees; it is the usual meeting point for the people living in the vicinity. You will come across some remains of the history and heritage of Mauritius in the heart of the village.
Rochester Falls is one of the most popular tourist sites in Mauritius. Located on the border of Souillac, the waterfall is made up of unique angular basaltic columns. Local youth often perform as they dive from the top of the waterfall.
Rivière des Galets features a different scenery on the coast. A beach made up exclusively of pebbles stretches in front of you. No swimming, but it is a privileged spot for seasoned surfers, and you can just sit and simply enjoy nature. In the bay of Rivière des Galets, stands Ilot Sancho, a tiny island that can be of interest for the curious.
On the way to the south-east, you will reach Baie du Cap, a small fishing village, and Macondé view point, the most photographed spot in Mauritius. Baie du Cap road is known as one of the most beautiful scenic routes of the island. A stopover is essential, one cannot drive through Baie du Cap and not climb up this famous natural promontory with its breath-taking view of the ocean. Macondé is also stunning seen from the sky! If you have some time, take a walk in the surroundings to meet locals and have a meal in one of the small restaurants or snacks in the area.
Things to do in Mahebourg
In the centre of Maheboug, if you take the time to wander around, you will find typical culinary treasures from Mauritius: all kinds of spices, dholl puris, “gateaux piment” (chilli cakes), bryani and other delicacies forming part of the Mauritian street-food. You will also find a wide array of clothes and souvenirs in the various shops along the streets and at the market, next to the waterfront. There are also some commercial centres that opened their doors recently on the outer boundary of Mahebourg.
Gastronomy
Mauritian cuisine is inextricably linked with its history. There is a statement that says that in Mauritius, you can have a Continental breakfast, go for a Chinese lunch and end with an Indian dinner along with some French wine! Mauritian cuisine is indeed a fusion of French, British, Indian, Chinese and Creole culinary traditions.
You can find very fine French cuisine from the time when Mauritius was still a French colony. The arrival of Indian labourers in the country saw the arrival of different culinary traditions, with the use of spices like saffron, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves together with different Indian breads like pharata, chapati, roti or puri, as well as dried beans and pickles. Other dishes include briani – a dish made of rice, meat, potatoes and various spices. These are easily available for those who wander in the streets of Port-Louis, the capital city where food booths are found at every street corner of the city centre.
The arrival of Chinese migrants has brought yet another culinary tradition. Today, Chinese restaurants can be seen at every corner with very popular dishes like fried noodles, fried rice, meat and vegetable balls.
You can also enjoy more refined Chinese cuisine in some Chinese restaurants where they commonly cook pork-based dishes.
With these different culinary traditions interacting, a Mauritian cuisine has emerged, and is commonly called the Creole cuisine.
The “rougaille” for instance, is prepared with tomatoes, onions, spices, and different types of meat, chicken, fish and sea food. It is usually eaten with rice and dried beans. Vegetables and fruits grown locally, or imported, are also added to typical Mauritian dishes.
It is good to know that the spices added to local dishes can make them very hot, especially if you are not used to spicy food.
Some of our suggestions are:
Gateaux Piment (Chilli fritters): Split peas are soaked overnight, then crushed with chillies and coriander before being rolled into small balls and deep fried until golden brown.
Dhal puri (Indian-style flatbread): It’s complicated but worth it! Chana dhal (split chickpeas) are boiled, cooled, crushed into a powder then made into balls of soft dough. It’s rolled out until paper-thin and cooked for seconds on the tawa (flat pan). Butterbean cari, chillies and chutney are smeared inside, before wrapping up and devouring.
Mauritian Curi (Mauritian curry): Chicken, fish or seafood is cooked in a masala sauce, created using cumin, coriander, chillies and turmeric. It’s served with roti (flatbread) to scoop up the sauce, rice and condiments of lime, mango or achar (vegetable) pickles.
Boulettes (Dumplings): Steamed dumpling parcels are filled with grated chayote or chou chou (a vegetable native to the island) and mixed with pork, chicken or dried shrimp. It’s accompanied with red-hot piment crazer (chilli sauce), sometimes a little broth and slithers of spring onion to warm the soul.
Bol renversé / upside down bowl (stir fry): Another Chinese-Mauritian dish, prepared literally in reverse. In a bowl, a fried egg is topped with stir fried chicken, vegetables and greens cooked in soy sauce and layered with rice. The whole bowl is inverted and the surprise is the unveiling of the dish. It’s a one-bowl meal served alongside garlicky water and chilli sauce.
Pineapple and chilly salt: Juicy Victoria pineapples are hand-carved and doused in red chillies, crushed sea salt and sometimes a little tamarind for sourness.
Vanilla tea: Mauritian tea comes in a variety of flavours, from citronelle (lemongrass) to cinnamon, pineapple and vanilla, which you can try at the Bois Cheri Tea Plantation.
Ti’ Punch or Rum: Rum is one of the island’s biggest exports as well as sugar. The rum in Mauritius is made using the sugarcane, so it has caramel notes, some spiced with vanilla and cinnamon. Locals at home will make rhum arrangé – adding lemongrass, ginger, vanilla pods or cinnamon bark into bottles of locally produced rum. These are steeped for months and the result is delicious.
Biryani (flavoured rice): Fragrant buttery rice is mixed with turmeric, cinnamon and spices, then cooked with chicken, lamb or fish and potatoes, before it’s seasoned with fresh coriander, mint and peas. This layered dish takes a while to make with the process involved, but it’s worth it. Especially if you have a lot of people to feed for a special occasion.
Rougaille (tomato sauce): A Creole tomato sauce is cooked with garlic, ginger, thyme and chillies. It’s spicy, with sausage or seafood added typically. Rougaille is a light dish simply eaten with rice. It’s something you wouldn’t expect from a Mauritian dish – it represents the French influence on the island.
Climate
The best time to visit Mauritius is from May to December when the weather is cool, dry and sunny. Expect some of Africa’s best beaches, fresh seafood and long, sundrenched days on a Mauritius holiday.
The island has a classic tropical climate with warm weather year-round. Even in winter, from May to October, the temperature drops from hot to balmy. During summer, from November to April, the days are hot and humid.
We don’t recommend visiting Mauritius during the wet cyclone season, from January to March, and avoid the east coast in July and August, when the wind is at its strongest.
From November to April the temperature is around 27° C on the coast and around 22° C on the Central Plateau.
In Winter (May to October) the temperature is around 22° C on the coast and around 19° C on the Central Plateau.
December, January and February are the warmest Months, with average temperature of around 27 – 28°C.
July is considered the coolest month of the year with average temperature of around 20 – 21° C.
