Black River Gorges National Park

What sets it apart

The island’s highest point lies within the park: Black River Peak, 828 metres above sea level, whose summit opens onto a vast panorama. The park counts more than three hundred species of flowering plants, many of which grow nowhere else in the world, and nine species of birds found only in Mauritius. The Mauritian flying fox, wild boar, macaque and deer are also to be met. The trail network ranges from the easy forest stroll to demanding routes.

The mood

Hills, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and rainforest make up the terrain. To understand what you are seeing, a birdwatching outing accompanied by a biologist is just the thing.

Highlights

• The largest national park in Mauritius, 17,000 acres, or about 2% of the island
• More than fifty kilometres of trails
• Black River Peak, the island’s highest point at 828 metres
• More than three hundred species of flowering plants, many endemic
• Nine species of birds found only in Mauritius
• The Alexandra Falls viewpoint, signposted
• Mauritian flying fox, wild boar, macaque and deer

Good to know

• Telephone the Pétrin visitor centre, on +230 464 4053, before setting off: it will give you the park’s opening hours and the detail of its trails.
• Do not count on any walking time until you have the visitor centre’s map in hand.
• For birdwatching, choose an outing accompanied by a biologist.
• The park spreads across several districts, and its entrances lie far apart: the Pétrin one and the Rivière Noire one do not give access to the same trails.

Getting there

The Pétrin visitor centre answers on +230 464 4053. Alexandra Falls is reached by following the signs to the viewpoint, which looks out over the fall and the park. Opening hours, admission price and trail map are to be asked for at the visitor centre.