HIKING AND ADVENTURE SPORTS
While you can arrange hiking excursions independently, it is probably better to do so through a reputable local tour operator, such as White Sand Tours or Mauritours, or one of the companies that specialise in hiking. Speak to your operator about places like the Black River Gorges National Park, Combo Forest or Bassin Blanc – all of which have great potential as hiking venues. (For information on hiking in the Black River Gorges National Park
Many of the island’s best hiking spots are found in nature reserves and permission from the Forestry Department (% 675 4966) is required to enter these. Their offices are next to the botanical gardens in Curepipe. They can also provide maps. A growing number of the island’s private estates or domaines are opening up to the public and typically offer guided nature walks and hiking, as well as quad biking and 4x4 tours
As you would for hiking anywhere, be sure to take appropriate footwear, water, rain gear, suncream and protective wear for the tropical sun. The Mauritian mountains really don’t require any special skills and you need only an average level of fitness to attempt them. However, to avoid the risk of getting lost, it’s advisable to contact your tour operator about arranging a local guide for you.
There are some impressive caves in Mauritius, many of which were used as shelters by runaway slaves or by pirates in days gone by, but these should never be explored alone. Again, speak to a local tour operator if you wish to visit any of them. They should be able to arrange transport, entry permission and an experienced local guide.
Adventure sports, like canyoning, climbing, ziplining (flying-fox), mountain biking and off-road driving, are not as big in Mauritius as they are in Réunion. Nevertheless, there are a number of companies that offer these types of activities:
Incentive Partners Ltd Domaine de Chazal Chamouny; % 422 3117; e info[at]incentivepartnersltd.com; incentivepartnersltd.com. Offers a range of land- & water-based activities including ziplining.
Kart Loisir La Joliette, Petite Rivière; % 233 2223; f 233 2225; e kartloisir[at]intnet.mu; ( from 09.00 daily. Offers go-karting & quad biking. Go-karting from Rs300 pp for 10mins, quad biking from Rs1,380 pp for 1hr.
Otelair % 696 6750; e otelair[at]yahoo.com; otelair.com. Offers hiking, canyoning, rock climbing, mountain biking & kayaking. Team-building days can be arranged.
Parc Aventure hamarel; % 234 4533; f 234 5866; e parcaventure[at]intnet.mu; parc-aventure-chamarel.com; ( 09.00–16.00 Thu–Tue. An elaborate obstacle course through 12ha of forest, with rope bridges, climbing nets, etc. The course takes around 2½hrs to complete. Wear long trousers, trainers, gloves & insect repellent. There is a minimum age requirement of 6 years. Also on offer are mountain biking, hiking, kayaking & canyoning. Reservation necessary.
Trekking Ile Maurice Black River; % 785 6177; e yan[at]trekkingilemaurice.com; trekkingilemaurice.com. Offering guided hikes & trail running around the south west of the island.
Vertical World PO Box 289, Curepipe; % 251 1107; e vertical[at]verticalworldltd.com; verticalworldltd.com. Specialises in hiking, canyoning & rock climbing.
Yemaya % 752 0046/754 4234; e adventure[at]yemayaadventures.com; yemayaadventures.com. Specialises in hiking, mountain biking & sea kayaking. Tickets are sold at HABIT clothing shops across the island.
The following private estates offer activities such as hiking, mountain biking, quad biking and 4x4 tours. For more information see the What to see section of the relevant chapter.
Eastern Mauritius
Kestrel Valley Anse Jonchée, Le Vieux Grand Port; % 634 5011; f 631 5261; e ledomaine[at]intnet; kestrelvalley.com
Southern Mauritius
Frederica Nature Reserve Bel Ombre; % 623 5522; e info[at]domainedebelombre.mu; domainedebelombre.mu
Vallée des Couleurs Chemin Grenier; % 251 8666; e info[at]lavalleedescouleurs.com; lavalleedescouleurs.com; ( 09.00–16.30 daily; adult/child Rs150/75. About 10km north of Souillac lies this multi-coloured exposed area of earth, similar to the Seven Coloured Earths of Chamarel. It is far less visited than Chamarel & claims to have 23 colours of earth as opposed to 7. It is within a pleasant forested area with good views of the coast. A walking circuit takes you past areas of endemic plants, a few animals (deer, ducks, tortoises, etc) & waterfalls, as well as the coloured earth. Quad biking, ziplining & pedaloes are available for the energetic. There is a café on site.
Western Mauritius
Casela Nature & Leisure Park Royal Rd, Cascavelle; %/f 452 2828; e casela[at]intnet.mu; caselayemen.mu. A safari-park-style area, with resident zebra, ostrich, deer, wild pigs & giant tortoises, can be explored in a safari bus (Rs85 for 1hr), on a Segway (Rs1,100 for 1hr) or on a quad bike (Rs2,160 for 1hr). It is the zebra which make this worthwhile. Casela also offers ziplining, consisting of 11 lines which criss-cross the ravines surrounding the sugarcane fields (Rs880 for 1hr, Rs2,420 for a full day) & canyoning (Rs2,810 for a full day). New to Casela is the adventure trail (Via Ferrata circuit). It involves climbing, trekking & ziplining in either a half-day (Rs1,710) or a full-day circuit (Rs2,310).
Central Mauritius
Domaine les Pailles Les Guibies, Pailles; % 286 4225; f 286 4226; e domaine.sales[at]intnet.mu; domainelespailles.net
Domaine de l’Etoile Royal Rd, Moka; % 729 1050; e resa.cieletnature[at]drbc-group.com; cieletnature.com
BEACHCOMBER ‘SPORT AND NATURE’ Beachcomber’s Le Shandrani Hotel runs a daily programme of sports and nature activities which cater for all levels of fitness. It’s open to non-residents and bookings can be made via Le Shandrani (% 603 4540).
The programmes, which last either a full day or half day, are an ideal way to see beautiful parts of the island, whilst doing some exercise. Some of the programmes are suitable for children.
SKYDIVING
Skydive Austral Riviere du Rempart; % 499 5551; einfo[at]skydivemauritius.com; skydivemauritius.com. Offers tandem skydiving from 10,000ft. Prices from Rs11,500.
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