BEL OMBRE, MAURITIUS – Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort has announced its recommended top ten ecotourism experiences. It is aimed at guests who want to experience the unique natural attraction of south Mauritius, where the resort is located, and learn about the marine and terrestrial ecology of the island.
The activities take people outdoors into a variety of habitats, with plenty of the trips offering an educational element. There are ecotourism activities for all ages and fitness levels. The rugged and charming south is defined by beautiful coral reefs, lagoons, mangroves reserves, plantations, steep waterfalls and forested slopes rising up to Little Black River Peak at 827m, the tallest on the island.
Access to the diverse outdoor nature options in south is easily done from the Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort, a stunning deluxe property of sea-facing rooms, suites and villas overlooking a postcard-perfect turquoise lagoon adjacent to the Bel Ombre nature reserve.
Any activity on the Mauritius Ecotourism Top 10 can be arranged by the resort’s activity desk which has secured special rates for all out-of-resort activities on the list.
The top ten are:
E-Bike Tours: See the best of the south coast on an e-bike – a bicycle with a battery charged engine that lets you travel greater distances in less time. The rides last half a day or a day and allow guests to enjoy amazing landscapes, take pictures and relax. Go yourself or with a guide. Guided trips include cultural insights, historical explanations, anecdotes and stops for Mauritian food and drink with locals.
Guided Hike in Biosphere Reserve: Take a guided five-hour hike among mid-altitude forest, tropical evergreen forest, marshlands and heath at the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Bel Ombre, adjacent to the resort. The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation guide will help you look out for rare endemic birds such as the Echo Parakeet, Mauritius Kestrel, Pink Pigeon, the Cuckoo Shrike, and more.
Hike Black River Gorges National Park: Discover a wild and rugged corner of Mauritius, the last stand of many indigenous forest and wildlife species in a remote area covering 2% of Mauritius’ land surface. Hike off trail with a guide or enjoy over 50km of tracks ranging from 4 to 10 kilometres.
Hike Frederica Reserve: Take a guided trip around 1300 hectares of Mauritian biodiversity from sugar cane fields on the coast up valleys with waterfalls to deeply forested highlands. It is the habitat of rare birds: the Black Bulbul and the Echo Parakeet. Look out for the Java deer. Night safaris are also available.
Horse Riding in Riambel: Located just a few minutes away from the resort, the Centre Equestre de Riambel offers horse riding sessions on a 2.5 km stretch of beach. Horse riders can also swim with the horses in the lagoons.
Iles Aux Aigrettes: The 27 hectare low-lying islet just under a kilometre off the southeast coast of Mauritius is now a nature reserve, scientific research station and ecotourism attraction. The island retains the only surviving “Mauritius Dry Coastal Forest” and is home to endangered species. Visitors can see the Aldabra giant tortoise, the slow Telfairs Skink, and the wildly coloured day gecko.
Kite Surfing: The south of Mauritius is ideal for kite surfing, especially June to September. It takes between six and 10 hours to learn the basics. It’s a challenging sport that requires a degree of resilience before you can perform freestyle, wave riding, jumping, and air-style. The dedicated will receive an updated IKO progression card from the instructor.
Lagoon Trip by Glass Bottom Boat: In the Bel Ombre lagoon at the Outrigger there are healthy coral reefs, a total of 55 hectares (136 acres) of coral patch reef and 22 hectares (30 acres) of sea grass beds, with approximately 70 different fish species observed in the lagoon. A trip into the lagoon on a glass bottom boat complete with ecological interpretations by NGO Reef Conservation is inspirational and educational. The activity is a key part of Outrigger’s global marine conservation initiative, ‘OZONE’, which is committed to preserving coral reefs.
Le Morne Mountain Hike: The 490m peak is a World Heritage site. It honours the island’s slaves who found refuge on the mountain. You need a guide to reach the top and enjoy the views from this amazing coastal mountain. For the fit only.
Seven-Coloured Earth: Apart from waterfalls, mountains, plateaus, crater and valley views, one of the attractions of a trip to Chamarel is to witness the ‘Seven Coloured Earth’ phenomenon. Through variable decomposition of volcanic rock, sand dunes have settled into surrealistic stripes of seven different colours in a process that geologists don’t yet fully understand.
For further ecotourism trip information email the resort at farheen.annooar@outrigger-mu.com. For information and booking the Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort, visit outrigger.com.
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ABOUT THE OUTRIGGER MAURITIUS BEACH RESORT
The stunning deluxe property with 181 sea-facing rooms, suites and villas offers a breath-taking beachfront location overlooking a postcard-perfect turquoise lagoon in the south of Mauritius. Nestled in the nature reserve of Bel Ombre, 45 minutes from the airport, the Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort encourages guests to ‘Escape Ordinary’ with Outrigger Signature Experiences which reflect one of the most exotic and diverse cultures of the Indian Ocean. Perfect for families and couples, the resort, which has a relaxed dress code, offers four popular restaurants, including mouth-watering and innovative Creole dining at the colonial-style Plantation Club. Four luxurious pools, a quiet zone, a kids’ club, Navasana Spa, and a wide range of watersports and ecotourism options on land and sea position Outrigger among the premier beachfront resort brands in Mauritius. Visit the Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort here.
ABOUT OUTRIGGER HOSPITALITY GROUP
For more than 70 years, Outrigger Hospitality Group has charted a journey of discovery – expanding from Hawaii to premier resort destinations in Fiji, Thailand, Guam, Mauritius and the Maldives. The privately held hospitality company currently operates and/or has in development 38 properties with approximately 6,500 rooms – inviting guests to ‘Escape Ordinary’ with authentic Signature Experiences and the Outrigger DISCOVERY loyalty program. Outrigger’s multi-branded portfolio includes Outrigger® Resorts, OHANA Hotels by Outrigger® and Hawaii Vacation Condos by Outrigger® while also managing select properties from top international hotel brands including Embassy Suites®, Best Western®, Wyndham Vacation Ownership® and Hilton Grand VacationsTM. Find out more at Outrigger.com or visit @OutriggerResorts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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