1 Day in Mauritius
“Only one people, only one nation!”
Mauritius is a small island of 2,040km2 and 2.35 million people. This country places a large focus on unity to avoid conflict due to its diverse culture. The population consists of Indo-Mauritians, Creole-Mauritians, Sino-Mauritians, and France-Mauritians of India, Africa, China, and France descendants respectfully. Mauritius is home to the now extinct Dodo bird and has 13 official state holidays. I only had one short day in Mauritius, which I spent exploring islands and snorkelling!
Ile aux Aigrettes
Ile aux Aigrettes is off the southeast coast of Mauritius. This 27-hectare island is made up of coral limestone, which is unlike the mainland that is of volcanic origin!
The island has been left largely untouched since 1965 when it was declared as a nature reserve and a scientific research center. It is the only place to encounter rare species that have long disappeared from the main island and are not found in the rest of the world. The Mauritius Fody and the Pink Pigeon are two of the birds here that are extremely endangered. An indigenous forest has been restored here through a restoration project. There are beautiful and less common trees here including ox wood, pinewood, rat wood, and bottle palm. I found it interesting to learn that non-native Aldabra Giant Tortoises were introduced here to take over the important ecological role of the extinct Mauritian Tortoises that would eat and spread plant seeds throughout the island.
We were able to jump off the boat here and go for a swim! The water felt so amazing and was crystal clear! It was nice to finally be in the ocean after sailing for so long.
Ile aux Fouquets (Ile aux Phares)
Dutch settlers discovered the Ile aux Fouquets (also known as the Ile aux Phares) in 1598. The lighthouse was built in 1864 and was still operational until the beginning of the 20th century. This island houses some of the oldest fortifications of Mauritius. The island is protected for its biodiversity.
We were able to get of the boat and explore. The lighthouse is very impressive and I loved all the old window frames. I was mesmerized by the beautiful white-tailed tropicbirds hovering above us. There are only 300 of these birds left in the world. I recommend bringing your shoes onto the island since it has a very rocky environment.
Ile de la Passes
Ile de la Passes is a small but very historic island off the southeast coast of Mauritius. The fortifications on Ile de la Passes were once used to protect the bay during the Battle of Grand Port in 1810. This island was a battlefield for both English and French troops in early times. This small island is great for exploring and appreciating the views.
Trou Moutou – Snorkelling spot
Trou Moutou is a popular snorkelling spot on the South East coast of Mauritius near Mahebourg. I saw pipefish, parrotfish, puffer fish, damselfish, sergeant major, wrasse and more!
Always make sure to use sunscreen without oxybenzone in it. Oxybenzone kills and damages coral reefs by causing coral bleaching, damage to DNA, and disruption of reproduction.
Ile aux Flamants
Ile aux Falamants is a tiny island made out of sand that is situated in the east. It was described to us as “a magnificent island with a romantic atmosphere.” We saw many people relaxing here and having a picnic lunch. If you are planning to visit Ile aux Flamants, be sure to bring sunscreen as there is no shade!
Grande Riviere Sud Est (Grand South East River)
The Grand RIviere Sud Est is the longest and most renowned river on the island. Travelling down the river offers a moment of relaxation and amazing views. It flows 30km along the Bambou Mountain chain. It empties into an impressive waterfall in the Baie de L’Anse Cunat.
We were able to get close enough to the waterfall to be cooled off by the mist. I was very impressed by the flora and fauna in the area. There were many different types of flowers, cacti, and vines hanging from the sides. We saw about 6 monkeys crawling through the neat land structures. It was pretty funny how they stared at us with an unimpressed look. We also saw bats hanging upside down on high tree branches. People brave enough can cliff jump off the side rocks!
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