Bel Ombre Holidays

The quiet village of Bel Ombre’s tucked away near Mauritius’ south-west corner, sheltered by forest-cloaked mountains. It’s in a fairly low-key spot, with just a handful of high-end hotels scattered along the coastline. Just behind the village is the Frederica Nature Reserve, which covers 1,300 hectares of rolling countryside – perfect for quad biking adventures and 4x4 safaris. Take a 25-minute drive inland, meanwhile, and you’ve also got the Black River Gorges National Park to explore. Everything from wild boar to deer roam its forests and grassy plains.

The lagoon is the big draw here – it’s sheltered by a coral reef, making it ideal for swimming and snorkelling. Plus, steady trade winds make it a go-to spot for kitesurfing. There’s plenty of room for sun-tanners to spread out, too. Peanut-coloured beaches dotted with palms and casuarina trees skirt most of the coastline.

The activity scene on dry land centres around Bel Ombre’s top-tier golf scene. There are a couple of 18-hole courses to choose from, both of which are sandwiched between the lagoon and the Black River Gorges National Park. The Golf du Chateau has two nine-hole courses that wind past streams and palms, while the Heritage Golf Club takes a leaf out of the PGA’s book. Expect 300-yard-long fairways, scenic lakes and challenging hills.