Black River Gorges

Introduction

Mauritius’ sole national park located in the central plateau is a spectacular park with a dense forest and over 300 species of flowers and birds. The central plateau of the island Mauritius is split between the Plaines Wilhems district in the south and west and the Moka district in the north and east. Spread over 6,574 hectare area, Black River Gorges National Park became a national park in the year 1994. This is the island’s highest mountain (878m) as well and protects much of the remaining forests of Mauritius and provides an excellent opportunity for visitors to enjoy wonderful hiking with a spectacular scenery. The temperature at the Black River Gorges remains a little lower than the plains as the park lies on a plateau.

Places of interest

Black River Gorges attracts a huge number of wildlife lovers from all the parts of the world, so if you love the thrill of the wildlife, Black River Gorges can be a perfect destination for you. The National Park is easily accessible from Vacoas or Curepipe via La Marie and Mare aux Vacoas.

At Black River Gorges, you can get a number of hiking tracks to choose from. You can walk to Maccabee forest or can also walk down through the Gorges to Black River. The Alexandra falls is a major attraction in the park. The Black River Gorges is home to over 300 species of flowering plants and nine species of unique birds, including the endangered pink pigeon, Mauritian Kestrel, etc. The park also contains some indigenous timber including Bois de Natte, Colophane, Ebony, Tatamaka and Tambalacoque.

You can enjoy a half day trip at Eau Bleue reservoir just 20 min drives from town of Curepipe in Central Plateau. It is famous for its clear water and tropical flora. The river at the Eau Bleue reservoir has 5 waterfalls. In this trip you can enjoy the beautiful nature and experiencing the adventure of canoeing.

You will not find any place to buy food or drinks in the park, even at the visitor centre. Don’t forget to bring plenty of water and snacks. You’ll also need insect repellent, binoculars for bird-watching and a good pair of shoes with a proper grip.