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Le Morne, Mauritius: a lagoon beneath a sheer basalt mountain

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Aerial view of Le Morne Brabant mountain rising above the turquoise lagoon and peninsula in Mauritius.
Photo: "dronepicr", CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Le Morne is a quiet peninsula in south-west Mauritius, with a shallow lagoon and a tall rock above it. Go between May and December for dry, cooler weather and steady winds.

Why go

Le Morne Brabant rises 556 metres above the sea and is a World Heritage site. A guided hike climbs to the flat summit for views over the reef and the coast. The lagoon below is among the best kite surfing spots in the Indian Ocean, and schools run lessons for beginners.

Near the tip of the peninsula, the One Eye area has calm water for snorkelling and paddling. Boats go out to see dolphins off the west coast, and to Ile aux Benitiers. Inland, the Chamarel waterfall and the Seven Coloured Earths are a short drive away, and the Black River Gorges National Park has forest trails.

Turquoise lagoon water in front of the Le Morne mountain under a partly cloudy sky.
Le Morne lagoon Photo: otterboris, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Kitesurfers ride the turquoise lagoon under colourful kites and cloudy skies.
Kite surfing lagoon Photo: Svein-Magne Tunli - tunliweb.no, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Chamarel waterfall plunges over a rocky cliff into dense green forest in Mauritius.
Chamarel waterfall Photo: "dronepicr", CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Plan it

Best time
May to December is dry and cooler. Wind for kite surfing is strongest from June to September. Cyclones are possible from January to March.
From SA
Fly direct from Johannesburg to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam airport in about 4 hours. Air Mauritius, South African Airways and FlySafair have flown the route. From the airport, Le Morne is about 1 hour 15 minutes by road. Book a transfer or hire a car.
Visa
None for tourist stays of up to 90 days. You need a valid passport, a return ticket, proof of where you will stay and enough funds. Check the passport validity rule and the yellow fever certificate rule before you travel.
Stay
Beach resorts and small guesthouses. Guesthouses start at about R1,500 a night, and mid-range resorts cost about R4,000 to R8,000 a night.
Budget
$$$, Flights are short, but resorts cost more
Good for
Couples, kite surfers and snorkellers, hikers

Visa rules and prices change: check them before you book.

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