A walk through the Ebony Forest Reserve Chamarel

Once upon a time, rare endemic forests covered most of Mauritius, but now they have almost completely disappeared. The Chamarel Nature Reserve was established to preserve the native flora. Tourists mainly come here to see the waterfall and the seven-coloured earth, and that’s exactly what we did. We then drove a little further to the tourist centre, where we had booked a tour.


There are various ways to visit the nature reserve; see all the options on the official website. We saw some hikers, but as we had young children, we booked a 4x4 tour. This option is also ideal for a group of friends.

First, a quick visit to the nature reserve’s museum.












Then we get in the car and set off.




There will be several stops and walks along specially constructed ramps. The guide will tell you about the nature reserve, as well as the local flora and fauna. 




The name of the Ebony Forest Reserve comes from the ebony tree – specifically the species Diospyros tessellaria – which was heavily logged by colonists in the past. It’s interesting to compare the weight of a normal tree and an ebony tree in the same spot.


After the island was discovered by Europeans in the 17th century, a significant portion of the natural forests was cleared to make way for sugar cane plantations. As a result, the Ebony Forest Reserve has become one of the projects aimed at restoring the island’s original ecosystem. Here, native trees are being planted, invasive plants are being controlled, and conditions are being created to encourage the return of rare bird species.

The final and main highlight of the route is the Sublime Point viewpoint, which offers a panoramic view of the island’s west coast. It is the most beautiful view in Mauritius and quite exclusive, as very few tourists visit this spot. You should come in the evening, when the light is at its best.


They also filmed a short scene here from The School for Magical Animals 2; my daughter was thrilled because she absolutely loves that film.


Getting there: car park -20.437167, 57.372028. The visitor centre is located within the nature reserve, which charges an entry fee; I’m not entirely sure whether you need to pay the entry fee if you have a booking for a guided tour. You can find out when you arrive; the gates and ticket office are here: -20.439000, 57.389750.