Gavin Bell
THE guide in the Mauritian adventure park was justly proud of the wildlife attractions her island has to offer. “Where else in the world can you swim with dolphins in the morning, ride a camel at lunchtime and walk with lions in the afternoon?” she asked. Off-hand I couldn’t think of any.
She was referring in the first instance to one of nature’s most enchanting experiences, swimming with spinner dolphins that come to rest and play most mornings in the calm waters of a lagoon off the south coast.
Local boat owners take small groups with masks and snorkels to join the fishy frolics as the surface breaks with flashing fins. After taking the plunge I was joined by three dolphins swimming a few feet from me, seemingly oblivious to my presence before they zoomed off like smiling torpedoes.
The close encounters with camels and lions are more controlled in Casela World of Adventures, a large open-air zoo cum adventure playground where South African lions raised in captivity are deemed friendly enough to stroll with visitors. This is clearly a unique experience, but I contented myself with stroking playful white lion cubs with huge paws, and wishing I could take them home. Until they grow up.
Wildlife conservation is a priority in Mauritius as it prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of independence from Britain next year. Centuries of human settlement have decimated the island’s indigenous flora and fauna, and intensive efforts are finally underway to preserve what remains.
Most of it is in the relatively undeveloped south, where a wild expanse of densely forested mountains has been declared a nature reserve. A viewpoint above the Black River Gorges National Park offers a vision of the dawn of time, a tumult of peaks and ravines where white tropic birds with long graceful tails drift silently far below and the air is filled with birdsong.
This is the last refuge of endangered species like the Mauritian kestrel and the Echo parakeet. A few years ago they were facing extinction, like the ill-fated Dodo wiped out by 17th century Dutch sailors and settlers. Now there are hundreds of them flying around protected nesting sites.
Another natural haven lies offshore on the Ile aux Egrettes, a coral islet that the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation is restoring to its natural endemic state. Among rare birds like the Olive White Eye, the stars of the show are giant Aldabran tortoises introduced by Charles Darwin, lumbering through the bush as they will continue to do for the next hundred years or so.
Arguably the most innovative marine wildlife experience is in a mini submarine that descends more than 100 feet to a shipwreck on the seabed, and banks of coral that are home to shoals of tropical fish. The 10-seater Blue Safari submarine is like a mini-Nautilus from Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, but instead of sub-eating monsters we encounter only curious angelfish and parrotfish gazing through the porthole windows.
Next year’s anniversary celebrations will produce a calendar of lively events, and sanctuaries from the hustle and bustle will be at a premium.
Among the best is an adults-only haven on the north coast named the Indian Ocean’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2016 in the World Travel Awards. Paradise Cove is the kind of place to celebrate, and perhaps rekindle, romance in an elegant neo-colonial complex around a sheltered cove.
Guests can choose between discreet relaxation areas around a small sandy beach, an infinity pool on a cliff top overlooking a lagoon, and in individual thatched ‘love nests’ on a headland. Throw in a spa amid exotic foliage, free water sports and a choice of fine dining, and they might be excused for missing the anniversary fireworks.
For families, the all-inclusive Ravanela Attitude resort on Turtle Bay combines quality accommodation and cuisine with facilities for youngsters in land and water sports, and children's clubs.
Kuoni has a range of hotels on Mauritius to suit most tastes and budgets. Seven nights half-board in a deluxe room at Paradise Cove is from £1906pp
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here