Black River Gorges National Park

The basics

The park is in southwestern Mauritius near Port Louis, and requires a half- to full-day to visit. Stop first at the information center near the eastern Le Petrin entrance or the smaller information center at the end of Les Gorges Road. Tours typically visit the park on shorter guided hikes or longer multi-day trips that explore the natural highlights of southern Mauritius, such as the kaleidoscopic Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark.

Things to know before you go

• The park has no admission fee and is free to enter.

• Facilities in the park include picnic areas, multiple information centers, and parking lots.

• The park is full of mosquitos year-round—bring long sleeves and plenty of repellent.

How to get there

The park lies about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Port Louis and can be reached by car, taxi, or guided tour. There are four main entry points: the northwest side entrance on Les Gorges Road is closest to the Black River Visitor Center, but the west and east entrances on Plaine Champagne Road and Chamarel Road are closest to multiple viewpoints and Alexandra Falls.

When to get there

The park is open from early morning until mid-afternoon on weekdays, and morning until late afternoon on weekends. The park’s main information center is open from morning until mid-afternoon, Monday-Friday, and for a couple of hours in the morning on Saturdays. The entire island is warm year-round but best during the Mauritian summer from December to February. In July and August, during the Mauritian winter, temperatures are cooler and the island is less crowded.

Discover Alexandra Falls

Roughly 500 feet (152 meters) tall, these waterfalls are among the tallest in Mauritius, and one of the highlights of Black River Gorges National Park. To reach the falls, enter via Chamarel Road (or Plaine Champagne Road) and park in the Alexandra Falls lot. From the lot, there’s a short hike to the falls and the viewpoint.