April 27 - Day Trip No. 7

Today we head to the Black River National Park, which we approach via Chamarel. The Black River National Park covers 4,000 hectares and has a 60 km trail network. It is home to endemic plants and rare animal species such as the pink pigeon, once thought to be extinct, and the Mauritius parakeet. There are two visitor centers providing information and hiking details.

The first stop is the Black River Gorges Lookout viewpoint, easily found after the Chamarel rum distillery. We continue to the Alexandra Falls. The access road leads through a beautiful avenue of trees.

We head to the Le Petrin information center. Here we learn about the hiking options and take a short hike to a beautiful viewpoint. Behind the information center, there is also a breeding station for the rare pink pigeon and a beautifully landscaped picnic area. The Black River National Park is an excellent destination for numerous hikes with stunning views.

On the way back, we spot wild monkeys crossing the road and make another stop in Curepipe at the volcanic crater Trou aux Cerfs. The crater has a diameter of about 300 meters and is 600 meters high.

There is a lovely circular path around the crater with a great viewpoint overlooking the green bowl of the crater and the surrounding area. A picturesque place that serves as an oasis of calm amidst the large settlement. Provided it's not a weekend, when it becomes a popular excursion spot for locals who flock here in droves.