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Black River Gorges
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Black River Gorges

The National Park: Forest Trails, Viewpoints and Waterfalls

Plan this trip
1 dayIdeal stay₹6,500From / night₹1,600Food / dayFreeEntry

The island's largest national park, a deep forested gorge running down from the central plateau to the west coast, home to the last of the native forest and to rare birds such as the pink pigeon and the Mauritius kestrel. The road across Plaine Champagne has the Black River Gorges and Alexandra Falls viewpoints; trails such as the Macchabée loop and the climb to Black River Peak, the island's highest point (828 m), start from the Pétrin and Plaine Champagne entrances. Entry is free. There is no lodging in the park: stay in Chamarel or on the west coast and come for the day.

Highlights

  • Black River Gorges viewpoint
  • Alexandra Falls
  • Macchabée forest trail
  • Climb Black River Peak
  • Pink pigeons and kestrels
  • Native forest of the plateau

Things to do

  • Hike the Macchabée forest loopMorning · 4h
  • Climb Black River PeakMorning · 3h 30m
  • Gorges and Alexandra Falls viewpointsAfternoon · 1h 30m

Tours & tickets

Tours & tickets in Black River Gorgesvia GetYourGuideTours & tickets in Black River Gorgesvia Klook

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When to go

Best time: May – December (drier trails)

Worth knowing

Cyclone Season: Watch the Class Warnings

January to March is the height of the cyclone season. Most weeks pass with heat, humidity and short downpours, but when a cyclone nears, Mauritius Meteorological Services issue warnings from Class I to IV: from Class III everyone stays indoors, buses stop, shops and sights close and flights are often cancelled for a day or two. Keep a spare day before your flight home, take travel insurance that covers weather delays, and follow your hotel's advice.

Heads up

Cyclone Season

The cyclone season runs from November to April, with most storms from January to March. Early and late in the season a cyclone is less likely, but watch the forecast in the week before you fly.

Heads up

Maha Shivaratri: Pilgrims on the Plateau Roads

In the days before Maha Shivaratri (February or March) the roads to Grand Bassin across the plateau are full of pilgrims on foot and some are closed to traffic: allow extra time, drive slowly, or visit the highlands from the west coast another day.

  • Maha Shivaratri at Grand Bassin — The biggest Hindu pilgrimage outside India: for three or four days before the night of Shiva, hundreds of thousands of Mauritians walk to Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao), many carrying kanwars, decorated arches of flowers and mirrors, to bring lake water home to their temples. Volunteers line the roads with free food and drink. The roads round the lake close to cars, and the plateau roads are full of walkers day and night; visit the lake another day unless you mean to join the pilgrimage, and drive with care across the island. A public holiday.
  • Thaipoosam Cavadee — The Tamil festival of Murugan: after days of fasting, devotees carry the cavadee, a wooden arch with flowers and pots of milk, to the kovils (temples), many with their cheeks and tongues pierced. Processions in Port Louis and the towns from early morning. A public holiday.
  • Ganesh Chaturthi — Ganesh's festival, kept mostly by Marathi-speaking Mauritians: home and temple prayers, then processions carrying the idols to the sea or rivers for immersion the next day. A public holiday.
  • Divali — The festival of lights: houses and temples lit with clay lamps and fairy lights, sweets (gateaux) shared with neighbours, and fireworks after dark. A public holiday, and one of the busiest weeks for flights from India.