By air
SSR International (MRU), ~1 h by road
Indian Ocean Islands · Mauritius
Black River Gorges, Mauritius
Rainforest gorges and rare birds
Getting there
Best time to visit
September to January — the flowering season
Don't miss
Black River Peak
The Macchabée forest
The gorges viewpoint
Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao)
Things to do
Hiking the Macchabée trail
Birdwatching for the pink pigeon
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Mauritiustrip · Public domain
What to pack
Hiking boots, a rain jacket
A quieter corner
Tamarind Falls, the 'Seven Cascades'
Questions travellers ask
When should I hike in Black River Gorges?
September to January, the flowering season. Pack hiking boots and a rain jacket.
What are the trails and sights in Black River Gorges?
Hike the Macchabée trail, take in the gorges viewpoint, and see Black River Peak and Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao). For a hidden gem, find Tamarind Falls, the 'Seven Cascades'.
Can I see rare birds in Black River Gorges?
Yes: rare birds are part of the draw here, and birdwatchers come looking for the pink pigeon.
Where can I eat around Black River Gorges?
Bring a picnic lunch, or head to the Creole cafés in Chamarel.
About Black River Gorges
- Forest
- Hills
Where it is
Black River Gorges National Park covers the forested uplands and gorges of south-western Mauritius, rising to Black River Peak, the island's highest point at about 828 m, with the sacred lake of Grand Bassin to the east.
History
Much of Mauritius's native forest was cleared for timber and plantations under Dutch, French and British rule, and the dodo was extinct by the late 17th century. The national park was created in 1994 to protect much of the island's remaining native forest and its surviving endemic birds.
People
The villages around the park are home to Mauritians who speak Creole, French and Bhojpuri, and every year large numbers of Hindu Mauritians walk to Grand Bassin, also called Ganga Talao, for the festival of Maha Shivaratri.
Known for
- The Macchabée forest trail
- The Mauritius kestrel and pink pigeon
- The gorges viewpoint
- Black River Peak, the island's highest point
- Grand Bassin, the sacred lake
Did you know?
The Mauritius kestrel, which lives in these forests, was once among the rarest birds in the world, with only four known in the wild in 1974, before a captive-breeding programme helped it recover.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.