3 minute read
NATURE EXPERIENCES
ExperiencesNATURE
The remote land of the dodo is one of the most biodiverse places on earth, with rare birds and plants in its forest-clad mountains, and nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries ripe for exploring
Look out for the Mauritian Flying Fox - a giant bat with a metrewide wing-span - that swoops to feast on fruit trees at sundown
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Monkeys at the Gorges
RARE BIRDS
Mauritius is heaven for twitchers, with nine of the worlds’ rarest bird species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation offers ranger-led bird spotting in the Black River Gorges National Park. Ebony Forest in Chamarel offers nature hiking, guided bird-watching along a raised walkway in endemic forest and a specialist bird-watching tour with a conservationist, includes the aviaries. Mauritius Kestrel feeding at noon is a highlight of a guided nature walk through endemic forest at La Vallèe de Ferney in the Bambous Mountains. Southeast islands named after birds include rewilded nature reserve Île aux Aigrettes (Egret Island), where a ranger-led tour reveals pink pigeons, echo parakeets, ornate geckos and grumpy centenarian, Big Daddy, a giant Aldabra tortoise which Darwin first brought to Mauritius. New specialist VIP tours from Mauritian Wildlife Foundation range from a southeast islets nature adventure, with lunch at Le Case du Pecheur, to spotting seabirds in the northern islands.
WILDLIFE
Private domaines (estates) turned ecoparks offer family-friendly encounters with Java deer, monkeys (and the odd wild boar) among indigenous forest. Take a safari or ranger-led hike through the Jurassic-like UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Heritage Nature Reserve in Bel Ombre. Keep your eyes peeled during a four-wheel drive safari in La Vallèe de Ferney in the southeast – or better still on a ‘The Deer Slab tour’ during mating season in July and August. Or, try an off-road nature ride by electric bike with Explore Nou Zil in the Wolmar estate in the west. Cradled by the west coast mountains, Casela Nature Parks offers interactions with cheetahs, breakfast with the giraffes – including Ngla and Kamaria, born in 2021 - and feeding the rhinos. With increased demand for eco-activities, ground handler, Mautourco is promoting exploring Ebony Forest in 2022, which includes planting an endemic tree and hikes up UNESCO-listed Le Morne mountain, a symbol of resistance to slavery. A trip to wild South Eden from newly-reopened The Residence Mauritius takes in mountains, islands and rugged shorelines ,with stops at pirate site, Ilot Sancho, Rivière des Galets pebble beach and La Vanille Nature Park, with a new dodo museum and baby Aldabra tortoises. New at Heritage Resorts is a family-friendly lunch in a picnic pod at Frédérica Falls.
Eco-lodge on Île aux Cerfs Vallèe de Ferney
RECONNECT IN NATURE
Luxury eco-stays are a hot new trend. Romantic new lakeside tubular-shaped eco hideaway nicknamed ‘the cigar’ on Île aux Cerfs, come with butler service and bespoke dining (four more, with two beachside, are due in 2022). The exclusive four-bedroom Ferney Nature Lodge, nestled in the 2000-hectare La Vallée de Ferney estate, offers Champagne sundowners and gourmet picnics, while Ferney Bubble Lodges will arrive by 2023.
