On Location – Mauritius’ Scenic South

Laura Weeden heads south to Chamarel to check out one of Mauritius’ most famous natural wonders…

Down in the south of Mauritius you’ll find Chamarel, a little village that boasts one of the island’s biggest attractions – the 7 coloured earths.

The rainbow of hues is a result of lava from Mauritius’ last volcanic eruption mixing with mineral-loaded sand and soil. The colours range from earthy red and burnt orange to a purple-grey.

Photos of the natural phenomenon come with a ready-made backdrop, too, courtesy of the forest-clad mountains that cover this part of the island.

And there’s a family of giant tortoises in the gardens to round things off.

Trips to this part of the island usually tick off a few more scenic spots, too, like the Black River Gorges National Park, Chamarel waterfall, and Grand Bassin – home to Hindu temples, a sacred lake, and a handful of cheeky Macaque monkeys.

Check out our holidays to Mauritius here.