March 2022/Day 1: My wife, a few friends and I arrived in Mauritius via the Seychelles-Seychelle Islands: Giant Tortoises, Stunning Sunsets and Incredibly Beautiful Boulder Studded White Sand Beaches | Venture The Planet, flying with Seychelles Air, with only two days to explore the country before continuing on to Burundi in mainland Africa-Burundi-The World’s Poorest Country has Risen from the Ashes of Civil War to Become a Travelers favorite. It was Definitely a Favorite of Mine. | Venture The Planet. To make the most of our limited time, we rented a car at the airport and set off toward our hotel in the south of the island.
I had specifically chosen a hotel near the trailhead of Le Morne mountain, hoping to complete the four-hour round-trip hike to its summit. Unfortunately, this plan never materialized, as no one in our group was particularly keen on climbing this mountain, except me.
Mauritius is an island archipelago off the east coast of Madagascar, with its largest and most well-known island being Mauritius itself—the destination of my wife, my friend, and me. Like the Seychelles, Mauritius was uninhabited before the arrival of Europeans and was later colonized by both the French and the British.
Today, the majority of Mauritian citizens are of Indian descent, a legacy of the indentured laborers brought over by the British to work on plantations. The country is well-developed, with a thriving tourism industry and a reputation as the safest nation in Africa—though many Mauritians prefer not to be compared to the African continent at all.
Location of Mauritius off of Madagascar
Hindu Temple
Approximately half of Mauritius’ population is Hindu, while the other half is Christian. Throughout the country, churches and Hindu temples stand side by side, reflecting the island’s diverse cultural and religious heritage.
During our visit, we stopped at a Hindu temple that was unoccupied at the time, allowing us to freely explore its grounds and take photos in peaceful solitude.
I don’t usually stay in resorts, but the Outrigger was in a prime location near the hike I had planned and was surprisingly affordable, especially considering we had our own beach bungalows facing the ocean. Additionally, due to COVID-19 regulations, Mauritius required that foreigners stay only in certified hotels, which were mandated to administer rapid tests to all guests upon arrival.
As soon as we checked in, we were tested, and thankfully, we all passed. However, instead of venturing out to explore or climbing the mountain as I had originally intended, we did something I typically abhor—we stayed at the resort and relaxed.
View of Resort
Our Pretend Romantic Dinner that I wish I set up for Paula but it was actually set up for someone else
Incredible Sunset
Sunset
A small herd of wild Tenrec-hedgehog like creatures that were roaming around at night at our resort attracting the attention of guests.
Day 2: Early the next morning, we set off in our rental car to explore the island. If I wasn’t going to climb Le Morne Peak, I figured the least we could do was drive up to it and take in some good views.
We followed a bumpy dirt track that wound through the forest and mangroves surrounding Le Morne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area was lush and serene, offering a glimpse into the island’s natural beauty and historical significance.
Le Morne Mountain
Paula in front of a Giant fig tree
Le Morne
Colorful little songbird in the World Heritage Forest
Jimmie changing the flat tire
After visiting Le Morne, we returned to our hotel for the complimentary breakfast before picking up Jimmie and setting off to see Chamarel Falls, the tallest waterfall in Mauritius.
Unfortunately, the experience was underwhelming. The park felt overly commercialized, swimming in the falls was prohibited, and park rangers closely monitored visitors—even outdoors—to enforce mask protocols. Disappointed, we decided to make better use of our remaining time before our evening flight to South Africa by visiting Rochester Falls, where we knew swimming was allowed.
However, on the way, we ran into a setback—a flat tire. Given the remote dirt track leading to Rochester Falls, we didn’t want to risk the drive without a spare. With no other options, we reluctantly headed to the airport, leaving Mauritius without having swum in a waterfall.
300 Foot Chamarel Waterfalls-tallest falls in Mauritius
Chamarel’s Seven Colored Earth-a small area of colored volcanic sand in the jungle
We almost found ourselves stranded in Mauritius due to a series of safety mishaps involving our departure airline, British Airways-operated Comair. In the months leading up to our flight, the airline had experienced multiple incidents, including engine failures and landing gear issues. As a result, South African aviation authorities indefinitely suspended Comair’s airworthiness certification, effectively grounding its fleet.
Our flight remained suspended until just days before our scheduled departure, leaving us in limbo. We couldn’t secure a refund, nor did we have any confirmation that the flight would operate as planned. The uncertainty was stressful, as a cancellation would have caused a major disruption to our itinerary. When the airline finally announced that flights would resume, we were relieved—though lingering concerns about Comair’s safety record remained.
Fortunately, our flight departed smoothly and on time, putting our worries to rest.