The beautiful island of Mauritius with its tropical beaches, forested, mountainous interior and extensive national parks is a paradise for nature-lovers.
The beautiful island of Mauritius
Here you’ll find 670 native species of flowering plants, 100 species of birds and a number of endemic reptiles.
Conservation in Mauritius
Conservation is taken very seriously in the country that boasts the having once been home to the dodo.
Early deforestation and the introduction of new species of flora and fauna have put native species under threat so that in recent years ecologists have had to work hard to protect the rare indigenous species which remain.
It’s been a difficult road but the story so far is a happy one thanks to the work of organisations like the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation which has brought rare species such as the Mauritius kestrel, the echo parakeet and the pink pigeon back from the brink of extinction.
Bird watching
Besides the rescued Mauritian species there are many other winged visitors to the island for bird-lovers to see including albatrosses, frigatebirds, boobies, herons, eagles, rails, sandpipers and terns.
Discover the wildlife of Mauritius
Black River Gorges National Park
One of the best places for visitors to get close to the island’s wildlife is the beautiful Black River Gorges National Park in the south west of the country. Extending over 65 square km the park is home to many of the island’s indigenous reptile population, birds including the pink pigeon, Mauritian Kestrel and echo parakeet and mammals including the Mauritian flying fox.
Read Air Mauritius’ Tips for hiking trails through Black River Gorges.
Beneath the waves
Below the ocean waves is a cornucopia of rich marine life from whales and sharks to vibrant reefs supporting an array of colourful sea life.
Keen sports fishers will recognise the glimmer of swordfish, barracuda, yellowfin and skipjack tuna, while divers will marvel at the stunning coral, bringing angel fish, Moorish idol, butterfly fish, snappers, groupers and turtles amongst many more.
Read more
- Discover mountain hiking in Mauritius
- For more inspiration read our guide to 7 things to do in Mauritius
- Read more about the work of the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation on their website.
No Comments