Southern Tales Tour: Full-day tour incl Crocodile Park & Seven Colored Earth

In this 8 hours private tour, you will explore the Southwest of Mauritius including a visit to Grand Bassin to see the Hindu Temple & the gigantic statue of Lord Shiva.

Then head to Alexandra Falls to see the view of the south, waterfall & its dense valley. Next, head to Gorge Viewpoint to see the panoramic view of the flora & fauna which is the "lung of Mauritius".

Next, you'll see the Chamarel viewpoint & visit the Seven-Colored Earth which is unique because of its multi-colored sand. Next, continue to Chamarel waterfall which is undoubtedly the tallest single-drop waterfall.

Later, you will enjoy a 3-course lunch & continue to Maconde viewpoint to see the stunning 360 view of the ocean. Next, head to visit the Dormant Volcano, Trou Aux Cerfs which is a highly popular attraction.

Then drive to Gris-Gris which is popular for its sea cliffs & finally visit the Crocodile Park which is home to various species of animals, reptiles & plants set in a beautiful rainforest valley.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Grand Bassin, Mauritius

Begin your 8 hours tour with a hotel pick-up at your accommodation anywhere in Mauritius. You will meet & be greeted by our guide & after boarding to your comfortable vehicle, then set off for your first stop.  

Then, drive to Ganga Talao which is a crater lake, about 550 meters above sea level. On the shoreline sits a temple along with a collection of small shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and other gods.

During your visit to this site, you will inevitably be awestruck by the gigantic statue of Lord Shiva. However, fear not about your doom, at Grand Bassin you will find the Hindu God Lord Shiva, smiling and as peaceful as ever. The statue is 33 meters high & is the highest known statue in Mauritius. Ganga Talao is a major draw of crowds in Mauritius, with many people visiting the site to pray, meditate, or simply to walk by the lake and enjoy the gorgeous surrounding views. The lake of Ganga Talao is thought to be around 18 meters deep with a healthy population of fish in the lake.

Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Alexandra Falls Car Park, HF94+6HV, Chamouny, Mauritius

The next stop is Alexandra falls which is Situated some 700m above sea level & is one of the most popular nature sites in Mauritius.

You must have definitely seen many of its pictures on postcards or in videos venting the beauty of Mauritius. Alexandra Falls is indeed one of the most emblematic & popular sites of the island. Famous not only for its breathtaking beauty, Alexandra Falls also offers visitors the chance to live a unique experience with nature.

Once you are there, do not miss the chance to admire and capture on your camera the panoramic view of the South-East Coast with its turquoise ocean. If you want to take in the full view, you can climb up a wooden platform.

On your right is the Alexandra Falls. From where you are, the waterfall looks like a silent white stream cascading over the rocky outcrops. You will also have a plunging look on Mauritius’s virgin green valley which is home to many endemic avian species and flora. You will need nothing more to soothe the eye.

Duration: 35 minutes

Stop At: Black River Gorges National Park, Mauritius

Next, you'll head to the gorge viewpoint which is the best place to have a panoramic stunning view. Midway between Chamarel and Alexandra falls, stop here for a stunning panorama. The vista point is but a 3-5 minute walk from the road and is really quite spectacular. It is a must-stop location during a road trip from Grand Bassin to Le Morne. Amidst the unspoiled rainforest of Mauritius, there are almost 17, 000 acres of rolling hills, deep valleys, spectacular waterfalls, and unparalleled beauty of flora and fauna in the southwestern region.

You’ll be astonished at how elevated the viewing area is above the gorge below. There is a nice waterfall off to your right.

The national park is famous for its array of endemic flora and fauna and the viewpoint ensures you to have an overview of what it is truly made of.

The Black River Gorges National park protects most of the island's remaining rainforest and is home to many species of wild animals and birds.

Duration: 35 minutes

Stop At: Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark, Chamarel, Mauritius

Then, you'll visit the seven-colored earth which is a natural phenomenon & a prominent tourist attraction. The colors evolved through the conversion of basaltic lava to clay minerals. An almost surreal, lunar-like spectacle of rainbow-hued sand dunes unfolds before your eyes, leaving you utterly mesmerized. Set in the middle of lush green vegetation, this unique geological oddity is one of those amazing creations of nature that just make you go “Wow”.

It is a relatively big area of sand dunes comprising sand of seven distinct colors approximately red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple & yellow. And what is more fascinating is the fact that if you mix the colored earth together, they'll eventually settle into separate layers. You may also be puzzled as the colors might play tricks on you & may appear to be shadows

There is also a Tortoise Park & Souvenir Shop offering an array of memorabilia, including local products from Chamarel while the Coffee shop is a happy cafe experience.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Chamarel Waterfalls, Mauritius

After some time, you'll visit undoubtedly the tallest single-drop waterfall in Mauritius at about 100m high, the Chamarel Waterfall is a striking piece of nature standing amid dense vegetation. Fed by the waters of three distinct streams pouring into Saint-Denis River, it has a powerful rush with a peak flow rate in excess of 40, 000 m³ per minute. The St. Denis rivers flow through fields, gorges, and green spaces seawards and makes for a splendid view. Overhanging the ledge of a basalt cliff, the Chamarel Waterfall splashes into an oval pool before flowing down a 6km tropical-forest-fringed canyon to Baie du Cap.

Tourists can choose to see the waterfalls from the upper deck situated at the Chamarel Seven Colored Earth, or, below itself.

The Chamarel falls are definitely the most famous & recognized waterfalls in Mauritius and as such has always been the main attraction for tourists & if you are one, you simply cannot afford to miss the magnificent & “best waterfalls in Mauritius”!


Duration: 25 minutes

Stop At: Viewpoint, JC5M+2MH, Chamarel, Mauritius

After a few minutes driving, we will go through the Chamarel village where you will be able to see the culture of this magnificent village which is completely different from other villages in Mauritius.

Then, you'll head to see the astounding Chamarel Viewpoint which is a family-friendly spot for you to get an amazing panoramic view of the whole Chamarel village laid beneath your eyes. From there, you will see the lush greenery and the turquoise waters of the southwest coast with Le Morne Brabant to the left and La Tourelle du Tamarin to the right. We recommend you to bring along a pair of sunglasses and a camera, in order to capture the splendid view of the green hilly region as well as an aerial view of Ile Aux Benitiers.

Afterward, you'll head to a local restaurant to savor a 3-course Mauritian lunch comprising fresh Salads, Rice, Soups, chicken curry, or fish and vegetables. You will have a choice and the chef will explain to you and ask you about your preferred choice.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Maconde Viewpoint, B9, Mauritius

Next, you'll head to Maconde viewpoint to admire the panoramic view of the remarkable ocean. You will feel like "you are in the middle of the ocean." Between Le Morne and Baie du Cap is where you will be able to witness a stunning coastal view from up above on the Maconde View Point.

The viewpoint can be accessed by climbing up a set of narrow stairs. Here you will be able to admire the remarkable ocean, the nearby coastal village, and the occasional fishermen on the shore.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Trou aux Cerfs, Curepipe, Mauritius

You'll be heading to Trou Aux Cerfs which is one of the famous natural tourist attractions in Mauritius. The dormant volcanic crater is around 605 meters above sea level, with a diameter of 350 meters & a depth of around 100 meters.

Unlike the typical volcanic features, Trou aux Cerfs’ crater is surrounded by a vast area of lush forest consisting of indigenous plant species and some giant green pine trees. It is believed that the Trou aux Cerfs erupted once and has remained dormant for the last 700 000 years; experts believe that there is a potential chance for it to become active again.

Definitely, one of the main highlights is the 360-degree view of the town, Curepipe & the majestic view of Rempart Mountain, Trois Mamelles, and the Port-Louis- Moka mountain range.

Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Gris Gris Beach, South Coast, Souillac, Mauritius

Afterward, heading to Souillac to see the astounding view of Gris-Gris. The appeal of Gris-Gris lies in its scenery, the high cliffs here drop abruptly to the sea and the refreshing winds of the Indian Ocean blow all year round.

Far away from the idyllic setting of calm seas and the tranquil scenery, is the Gris Gris beach. Gris-Gris is well known for its sea cliffs and offers visitors a magnificent view from the top. This is definitely a sight worth seeing. Coral reefs do not surround this part of the island, which allows large waves to crash directly on the cliffs.

You will have a great viewpoint on the cliffs and will see the crashing of waves against the flanks. There is a small garden offering many quiet spots for you to relax on one of the many benches while having a view of the sea, waves, and rock cliffs.

‘Roche Qui Pleure’ where if you look at the rock from the right angle, it will appear as a face with tears constantly streaming down, as the waves continually crash.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: La Vanille Nature Park, SENNEVILLE, Riviere des Anguilles, Riviere des Anguilles 60602, Mauritius

Next, you'll head to the La Vanille crocodile park where you will discover the flora & fauna endemic to Mauritius. You will get the chance to observe these animals in the reserve (according to the animal welfare act); Nile Crocodiles, tenrecs, eels, iguanas, and turtles from Madagascar and Seychelles.

You will be introduced to a collection of fossils of animals that are now extinct in Mauritius and surrounding islands such as the dodo and the elephant bird of Madagascar. You will get the opportunity to learn about insects as well since La Vanille Nature Park also has an insectarium with a rare collection of species from various locations around the world.

The Park spreads over 3.5 hectares in the south & houses many other animals that you will have a chance to see from monkeys, bats, deers, geckos & wild boars. The site is also home to 2000 Nile crocodiles where you can observe them at different stages of their growth.

Your south tour end with a return transport to your hotel


Duration: 1 hour

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.