Mauritius is famed for its pristine beaches, emerald seas, craggy shorelines with colonies of water birds and the beauty of the Black River Gorges area, a major bio diversity zone. The gregarious people of Mauritius have descended from the traders and colonizers of this island nation. So you will find people from the Chinese enclaves of port Blair celebrating the Chinese new year, as well as people of Indian descent throwing themselves wholeheartedly into Diwali and Holi celebrations, and of myriad other Hindu festivals. The Christians and people of Dutch, French and English ancestry celebrate Christmas and Easter, while the Indian and African origin Muslim population celebrates Id after fasting through Ramadan. An event peculiar to Mauritius is the annual pilgrimage of Pere Laval, the French social reformer.
For nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, a trip to Mauritius is incomplete without a visit to the Black River Gorges area, rich with tropical flora and fauna. The Black Gorges area has a national park and the Casela Bird Sanctuary. The Black Gorges Sanctuary lies on a high tableland and overlooks the southern shores of Mauritius. A trip though the sanctuary will take you through sugarcane fields, wild orchid beds, and beside waterfalls like the picturesque Alexandra. You will come across many kinds of animals like lemurs and macaques. At the Casela bird park, in the same region, you may spot the rare Pink Pigeon if you are lucky. If not, then don't be disappointed, since you can see over 140 kinds of birds from all over the world.
And budding botanists and horticultural enthusiasts should definitely visit the Pamplemousses Gardens close to Port Louis. See the lovely water lilies, the well laid out gardens, the fruit orchards and beds of spice plants.
