Why adrenaline junkies will love Mauritius

Abseil down a waterfall

If you’re looking for adventure, Black River Gorges National Park is a good place to start. Rich rainforests, tumbling waterfalls and dramatic valleys make it easy to see why this natural haven made the grade as Mauritius’ only national park. You can explore via the many hiking trails, where you might spot some of the park’s four-legged residents, including deer, macaques and small hedgehog-like creatures, called tenrecs.

Black River Gorges looks great on foot, but it looks even better from mid-air. Grab a helmet and a harness, because these canyons are perfect for abseiling. Once you’re safely buckled in, you can climb down slippery rocks alongside a rushing waterfall, or shimmy to the bottom of a steep-sided gorge, surrounded by sprawling jungle. Keep an eye out for multicoloured butterflies and Mauritian kestrels as you go, and cool off afterwards with a refreshing dip in a plunge pool.

Go zip-lining

If abseiling is too tame for you, head to Casela World of Adventures. Just along from the tranquil resort of Flic en Flac, this park has everything you need for an adventurous day out. It’s split into three zones, so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for. Nature Kingdom is ideal for kids, with a playground, a bird park and giant tortoises, while Safari Kingdom is home to big cats, giraffes and rhinos. You can book a Segway tour, or go for the wilder option of a quad bike safari.

But Mountain Kingdom is the star of the show. Here, you can zoom along the longest zip-line in Mauritius, and enjoy a bird’s-eye view over the tangled jungle below. Depending on how brave you’re feeling, you can go on a zip-line tour for one hour or the whole day. On the longest line, you’ll be in the air for a dizzying 22 seconds. To top it all off, there are some double and quadruple lines running beside each other, so you can share the moment with your fellow travellers.

Take your adventure one leap further with the canyon swing. A milder form of bungee jumping, this involves stepping off a 45-metre-high platform and hurling yourself into a canyon – attached to a secure rope, of course. If you’ve ever wanted to fly through the air à la Tarzan, this is your chance.

Walk underwater

Floating off the east coast of Mauritius, Ile-aux-Cerfs is a paradise island of turquoise waves and sugar-white sands. But don’t be fooled by appearances – this spec of land isn’t as sleepy as it seems. There are loads of activities on offer, including parasailing, snorkelling and golf. If you’re looking for something a little different, though, try the underwater walk.

Wearing a state-of-the-art helmet, you’ll be able to breathe normally as you walk along the seabed – you can even keep your sunglasses on. As you take a tour of the reef, your guide will help you find your way through the corals, taking care not to stand on any. Away from the usual snorkelling spots, you’ll be able to see brightly-coloured butterflyfish, spotted boxfish and blue palette surgeonfish – which you might know as Dory.

Jump out of a plane

If you really want to get your heart racing, this is the ultimate way to do it. On the northernmost tip of Mauritius, the resorts of Anse La Raie and Grand Gaube are famous for their skydiving – and it’s easy to see why. At the vertigo-inducing height of 10,000 feet, you can see across the whole island, from the lime-green reefs to the towering peaks of Lion Mountain. Those Go Pro-worthy views come with a hefty price tag – a skydiving trip with an instructor will set you back about £300 – but if you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, this ticks all the boxes. Feeling brave? One, two, three…

Get your adrenaline pumping

Book your holiday to Mauritius now, or check out these other daredevil destinations.

Author: Sarah Reeves