The South of Mauritius bears the cradle of the islands history. With Vieux Grand Port " as the first landing station, the region around it was the first to be cultivated and developed. It was here, in the southeast, that the Dutch explorers built Mauritius ' first settlement back in 1638.

In 1735, the French Governor Mahé de Labourdonnais decided to move the main port to the opposite side of the island and declared Port Louis to be the main harbour and administration centre. This did not cause the region to loose much of its importance but it became a lot quieter and has remained that way ever since. The city of Mahebourg , to which he gave his name, is a historical landmark, a part of its' rich heritage on display at the Naval Museum.

It was not until much later, under the British Empire that this region was gradually left behind. Today, the South is the least developed and most authentic region of Mauritius .

TOPOGRAPHY

The South Coast does not live up to the typical postcard image of Mauritius . There are very few beaches and resorts. Driving along the coast offers alternating sea and hill views and the temptation varies between sunbathing and hiking.

Due to the prevailing humidity, the vegetation in the region is very lush and unspoilt, harbouring many endemic trees and plants.

Along the South Coast , there are some shallow lagoons with crystal clear water but the South is one of the few places of Mauritius where the open sea comes straight in to break on rocky cliffs. In most places, bathing is considered as hazardous due to strong currents and dangerous waves.

Visiting the South is a twofold experience as its scenery and the omnipresence of its colonial history are both intriguing. In our opinion, the South is the region that contains by far the most interesting traces of the French colonial era.

We recommend the following places of interest: Rochester Falls , Le Souffleur, the Mahebourg Naval Museum and the Marine Park at Blue Bay .

ROCHESTER FALLS

The Rochester falls are one of the few easily accessible waterfalls. They are a nice sightseeing spot and provide an opportunity to leave the seaside behind and take a walk in the wild nature.

LE SOUFFLEUR

Le Souffleur or blowhole. This fascinating natural activity caused by waves pressing water into narrow tubes which extend above sea level, was for a long time offering a fascinating show. Due to erosion, unfortunately, it does not occur anymore. Whether "in activity" or not, the scenery around "Le Souffleur" is worth a stop and a walk.

There used to be a unique house in the centre of the Telfair Garden , which up to recently was a museum in memory of the man who built and lived in it, famous French writer, Robert Edward Hart who died in 1954. Some over-zealous government official who obviously did not attend his history classes at school had it torn down in 2001. The house was entirely built of coral stones, roof and all. It had this impalpable atmosphere of the past times, and was the main source of inspiration for the author. Adding insult to injury, the museum is being rebuilt in concrete.

NAVAL MUSEUM OF MAHEBOURG

The interesting aspects of the Naval Museum of Mahebourg lie not solely in its collection of exhibits, but also in its history as a building. Erected in the 1760's, the fine colonial mansion was built by Mr. Jean De Robillard in the typical style of the era

The place was permanently equipped with the necessities of each period. It is in one of its rooms that the French army commander Hamilton and the Royal Navy officer Willoughby received first aid, side by side, during the famous "Vieux Grand Port" battle in 1810.

BLUE BAY

Blue Bay and the nearby Pointe d'Esny are the champions for best display of colour variety, changing constantly from sunrise to sunset. In the Blue Bay lagoon, the marine flora and is still alive and blooming. The newly founded Marine Park is the ideal spot for snorkelling and glass bottom boat tours.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

The south and southeast coast face the trade winds almost all year round. The weather is therefore quite windy, especially in winter.

On the other hand, this part of the island remains relatively fresh in summer. The beach of Pointe d'Esny is said to be the best spot for lazy summer days. Beware of sunburns as the fresh breeze may lead you to think that the sun is not hot until it's too late. T-shirt or bathing suit are all you need in summer (November to March.) Sweatshirts are welcome in the evenings during the months of September, October, April and May.

During winter, (June to August) evenings may get cool as early as 5 p.m. and warm clothes are definitely necessary after sunset.

MAHEBOURG

The atmosphere of Mahebourg is lively, cheerful and friendly. This is one of the few places where, it makes no difference to the people wether you come from Europe, Bombay or from Grand Bay .

The majority of Mahebourg's inhabitants are fishermen or field workers. Activities in the city start at daybreak to slowly fade out at dusk. Unspoilt by excessive development, smiles are still free of charge.

Like in all of the larger settlements, the population of Mahebourg is a thorough mixture of the ethnic groups and religions of the island. This is not necessarily obvious though, as former ethno-cultural specifications may have faded with time into the Mahebourg identity.

Relaxed, respectful, open-minded, quiet and fascinating, the people of Mahebourg and their surroundings are what we can call truly Mauritian.

OUR RECOMMENDATION

Take one full day (at least) to visit the South
Do not pass by the hillside without taking a walk to forests and waterfalls
Take time to talk to people
Visit the bazaar of Mahebourg (on Mondays)
Take a boat trip to the islands of "Vieux Grand Port."
Take a glass bottom boat ride or a snorkelling tour in the Marine Park of Blue Bay
Plan on a SCUBA Dive - the area is known for its underwater caves
Take a swim at Rochester falls

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