|
|
Mauritius: The Creole Experience.
Suggested Programme
Day 1 To Mauritius
Day 2 Port Louis
The Capital and main port of Mauritius was founded
by the French governor, Mahe de Labourdonnais, in 1935. The harbour
lies sheltered in a semi-circle of mountains. The town has plenty
of Creole character, and proudly shows signs of its historical
elegance. Its main square, is Place s'Armes, so conspicuous with
its row of palm trees. Close by are some fine French colonial
buildings, namely the Government House and the Municipal Theatre,
both built
during the 18th Century. To see a fascinating cross-section of
Mauritian life we head to the lively Prot-Louis market. Completed
towards 1844, the tin roofed, delicately paved market stands
close to the harbour. Its low stones walls, mounted with wrought
iron
works and floral designs are symbols of high ingenuity. We also
visit the National History Museum and the Mauritius Institute
to see the famous extinct Mauritian bird, the dodo.
Day 3 Surfs
Up!
What better way to spend another day in Mauritius than
roaring down the face of a wave. Tamarin is the surf centre
of Mauritius and with our surf school teaching you the
basics you can safely catch some good waves in the sheltered
bay.
Day 4-5 Snorkeling at its best
Crystal clear blue lagoons,
abundant fishlife, every type and colour of coral imaginable,
its not
hard to understand that Mauritius is a divers heaven. Snorkelling
is
a great way to explore the underwater world as even the shallowest
reefs are home to many colourful critters. Before we explore
the lagoons of the north coast we run through the basics
of snorkelling to ensure a fun and safe underwater experience.
Day 6-7 Black River Gorges National Park
This 6,574 hectare
park, proclaimed in 1994, protects much of the remaining
native forests
of Mauritius and provides opportunities for students to
enjoy spectacular natural scenery and some of the unique endemic
plants and birdlife.
A boardwalk provides access to the typical dwarf forest
of
the region and a fenced conversation management area from
which invasive
non-native plants have been removed to protect a sample
of the remaining heathland. From here we walk down through the
Gorges
to Black River and set up camp for the night. Up early
the next morning we walk to viewpoints at Alexandra Falls, over
Bel Ombre
and over the spectacular Black River Gorges before trekking
to the island's highest point, Black River Peak (828 m.)
Day 8 To home
Possible Extensions
Try a trip to the outdoor adventure
centre of the Indian Ocean, Reunion, or a sea kayaking
expedition. |
Kenya
Australia
|
