Black River Sights and Viewpoints

October 31, 2026

Travel advisory, 31 October 2026: Mauritius is at US Level 2 (exercise increased caution) for crime, and the UK advises avoiding demonstrations and large gatherings after unrest in October 2026. Curfews ended on 19 October. Check your government’s current advice before you book.

Sights and viewpoints in Black River District

The district packs volcanic landscapes, forest lookouts, a British coastal fort and a UNESCO mountain into a short stretch of the southwest coast. Prices are in Mauritian rupees (Rs) for non-resident visitors.

Chamarel Waterfall and the Seven Coloured Earths

The Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth Geopark is a clearing of rolling dunes whose bands of red, brown, violet and green come from weathered volcanic rock. The Chamarel Waterfall, the highest single drop on the island at about 100 m, falls into a basalt amphitheatre nearby. One ticket covers the dunes, both waterfall viewpoints and the giant tortoise park. Adults pay Rs 800, children aged 5 to 11 pay Rs 400 and under-5s are free. Hours are 08:30 to 17:30 from October to May (last ticket 17:00) and 08:30 to 17:00 from June to September. The dunes are viewed from boardwalks, and visitors cannot hike to the waterfall or swim at its base. Pay in rupees, by card or by mobile pay, as foreign cash is not accepted.

Compare tickets and guided visits on GetYourGuide .

Sublime Point and the Ebony Forest

The Ebony Forest reserve protects what is left of the native ebony woodland. Its raised walkways include Sublime Point, which looks out over the lagoon and the west coast. The two hour Take A Drive jeep tour costs Rs 1,600 for adults and Rs 1,080 for ages 5 to 17, and it includes a 0.5 km walk on the walkways.

Gorges viewpoint, Alexandra Falls and Grand Bassin

Free lookouts on the B103 road in Black River Gorges National Park give views over forested valleys to the southern ocean. Macaques gather at the stops and must not be fed. Further on, the crater lake of Grand Bassin in Savanne District is a Hindu pilgrimage site with temples and two statues 33 m tall. Entry is free, and visitors should dress modestly and keep voices low near the shrines.

Martello Tower at La Preneuse

British forces built this round stone tower in the 1830s to guard the bay against French landings, and it is one of several such towers along the west coast. It is now a small museum of cannon and military history beside La Preneuse public beach. Ask locally for current hours and any entry fee before you visit.

Le Morne Brabant

The basalt mountain of Le Morne Brabant rises 556 m above the southwest tip of the peninsula and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2008. Enslaved Africans and Malagasies who escaped captivity sheltered on its plateau in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Oral tradition says that after abolition on 1 February 1835, Maroons who feared re-enslavement died at the cliffs when soldiers climbed the mountain. The International Slave Route Monument at the foot of the mountain, opposite the public beach, was inaugurated in 2009. Visit quietly and with respect.

The underwater waterfall

The underwater waterfall off the southwest tip of the peninsula is an illusion of sand and silt sliding down the sea floor. It is visible only from the air, on helicopter or seaplane flights. Anyone who swims out toward the drop-off faces strong currents through the reef pass.

Practical notes

The roads up to Chamarel and across the Plaine Champagne are steep and winding, so a driver is a good idea after a rum tasting.
Gris Gris, at the south end of the B9, is for viewing only. Undercurrents there are violent and swimming is forbidden.

Official sources: Chamarel geopark , Ebony Forest and UNESCO’s page on Le Morne .