FAMILY SAFARIOFFERS

The Wild South & Geological Wonders

2026▾
10
Days
1
Hot Air Balloon
1
Sacred Crater Lake
1
Solo

Sacred crater lakes, basalt sea cliffs, primeval rainforest, and rushing sea geysers

See Pricing & Inclusions ↓
10 Days
Family Safari
from $7,400 pp
Home  ›  Journeys  ›  Mauritius  ›  The Wild South & Geological Wonders

OverviewA slow-paced road journey focusing entirely on Mauritius' rugged, wind-battered southern coastline, basalt sea cliffs, and sacred crater lakes. This itinerary is designed for luxury travelers who want to experience the island's most authentic and dramatic natural landscapes — the misty highlands of Grand Bassin, the roaring cliffs of Gris Gris, the primeval canopies of Black River Gorges, and the geometric basalt pillars of Rochester Falls.

Best ForLuxury travelers seeking the raw, untamed beauty of Mauritius' wild south — completely avoiding commercial tourist hubs
Duration10 Days / 10 Nights (approx)
RouteNairobi → Mauritius (MRU) → Bel Ombre → Grand Bassin → Gris Gris → Black River Gorges → Rochester Falls → Souillac → Nairobi
Group SizePrivate or small group — your party, or join a small departure
Price From$7,800 per person sharing
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Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort — a historic 19th-century styled estate on the wild south coast

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Grand Bassin sacred crater lake — 33-metre golden statues of Lord Shiva and Durga Maa above the mountain mists

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Gris Gris Sea Cliffs — walking the clifftop paths as massive ocean waves crash against vertical black basalt faces creating The Crying Rock sea geyser

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Hot air balloon or helicopter flight over the rolling sugar fields and dramatic sea cliffs of the Bel Ombre reserve

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Black River Gorges National Park — primeval rainforest canopies, private ridge hikes, cascading mountain streams

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Breakfast on a rock platform beside a secluded waterfall stream deep in Black River Gorges National Park

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Rochester Falls — unique hexagonal basalt pillars with water cascading over perfectly geometric columns; swimming in the freshwater pool

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Maconde Viewpoint — 360-degree clifftop views of the wild south coast from a coral-rock outcrop on a dramatic coastal hairpin

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Souillac colonial architecture walk — stone bridges and 19th-century port buildings

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Bois Chéri Tea Plantation — private master tea blending session and folk music performance

The Wild South & Geological Wonders
Route Map

Interactive Route Map

Nairobi → Mauritius (MRU) → Bel Ombre → Grand Bassin → Gris Gris → Black River Gorges → Rochester Falls → Souillac → Nairobi. Day-by-day scrollspy markers to follow.

Itinerary

Bel Ombre, South Coast

Day 1 | Nairobi → Bel Ombre — Arrival on the Wild South Coast

VIP handling at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta Airport, direct flight to Mauritius. VIP tarmac reception, private luxury SUV to the wild south coast.

Check into Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort — Ocean Suite — or Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort. Private guided tour of the south coast if arriving before 4:00 PM. Welcome dinner.

Day 1 | Nairobi → Bel Ombre — Arrival on the Wild South Coast
Grand Bassin

Day 2 | Grand Bassin Sacred Crater Lake

Drive into the misty central highlands to Ganga Talao (Grand Bassin) — a sacred lake filling an extinct volcanic crater, with 33-metre golden statues of Lord Shiva and Durga Maa standing guard over the mountain mists.

Your guide explains the religious significance of the most sacred Hindu site in Mauritius. Nearby temples and the sacred Shiva lingam. Return to the resort for a relaxed afternoon. Gourmet dinner.

Day 2 | Grand Bassin Sacred Crater Lake
Gris Gris

Day 3 | The Roaring Basalt Cliffs of Gris Gris

The Gris Gris Sea Cliffs — clifftop paths above dramatic vertical black basalt rock faces, massive ocean waves crashing below creating The Crying Rock natural sea geyser. One of the most dramatic coastlines in the Indian Ocean.

Your guide explains the geology and history of the area. The wild ocean stretching to the horizon from every viewpoint. Return to the resort for a relaxed evening.

Day 3 | The Roaring Basalt Cliffs of Gris Gris

Day 4 | Hot Air Balloon over Bel Ombre

Rising before dawn, a serene private hot air balloon flight or low-altitude helicopter charter drifting silently over the rolling sugar fields and dramatic sea cliffs of the Bel Ombre reserve — the coastline, green fields, and cliffs from above.

Champagne toast and gourmet bush breakfast after landing. Afternoon at leisure at the resort.

Black River Gorges

Day 5 | Black River Gorges Deep Mountain Trek

An elite naturalist guide into the primeval rainforest canopies of Black River Gorges National Park — private ridge hikes looking down at cascading mountain streams and volcanic valleys. Rich birdlife and endemic plants.

A beautiful breakfast spread set up on a rock platform beside a secluded waterfall stream deep in the national park. Return to the resort for a relaxed evening.

Day 5 | Black River Gorges Deep Mountain Trek
Rochester Falls

Day 6 | Rochester Falls Basalt Columns

A private trail hike to Rochester Falls — the waterfall cascading over perfectly hexagonal basalt columns, creating a natural geometric masterpiece found nowhere else in Mauritius.

Swimming in the freshwater river pool beneath the cascade. The surrounding lush scenery and extraordinary geology. Return to the resort for dinner.

Day 6 | Rochester Falls Basalt Columns
Baie du Cap

Day 7 | Maconde Viewpoint & Clifftop Sundowner

Climb the narrow stone stairs of the Maconde Viewpoint — a giant coral-rock outcrop jutting into the ocean on a dramatic hairpin bend of the coastal road, with 360-degree views of the wild south coast.

Handcrafted cocktails from a private clifftop setup on the Bel Ombre ridge at sunset — a perfect sundowner. Return for gourmet dinner.

Souillac

Day 8 | Souillac Colonial Walk & Beachside Bonfire

A private architectural walk through the historic village of Souillac — old stone bridges and colonial buildings from its 19th-century port days. Coastal valley seafood lunch.

A celebratory multi-course bonfire dinner on the beach at Heritage Le Telfair — flames, vintage wines, the sound of the southern Indian Ocean.

Day 9 | Bois Chéri Tea Plantation & Franco-Mauritian Heritage

The historic Bois Chéri Tea Plantation with indigenous master tea blenders — 150 years of tea leaf drying, traditional furniture hand-carving techniques, and Franco-Mauritian cultural heritage.

Private folk music and oral storytelling performance. Celebratory farewell dinner at the resort paired with vintage wines.

Day 10 | Return to Nairobi — Departure

A relaxed luxury breakfast overlooking the wild waves. Check out, chauffeur transfer to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport, international flight back to Nairobi.

Breakfast

Want to adjust the pace, swap a lodge, or extend this journey?

We are here for that. Every Finders & Keepers Safaris itinerary is a starting point, not a fixed departure — the pace, the lodges, the length, the dates and the party travelling can all be reshaped around you. Tell us what you would change and a specialist will rebuild the journey and price it honestly, before you commit to anything.

Tailor This Journey →
The Wild South & Geological Wonders
Your Accommodation

One Exceptional Properties

Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort — Ocean Suite
NIGHTS 1–9
Bel Ombre, South Coast, Mauritius

Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort — Ocean Suite

View
Why This Journey

What sets this journey apart

Mauritius’s rugged south: basalt sea cliffs, a sacred crater lake and rainforest breakfasts beside waterfalls, from a historic estate.

01

Cliffs and a crater lake

Walking the Gris Gris sea cliffs as waves crash against black basalt, and Grand Bassin, a sacred crater lake beneath 33-metre golden statues of Lord Shiva and Durga Maa.

02

From the air

A hot air balloon or helicopter flight over the sugar fields and dramatic sea cliffs of the Bel Ombre reserve.

03

Rainforest at your own pace

Private ridge hikes in Black River Gorges, breakfast on a rock platform beside a waterfall stream, and Rochester Falls’ basalt columns, from the Heritage Le Telfair estate.

Best ValueJan – MayWarm, occasional showers, lush island
Peak SeasonMay – SepDry, cool season — ideal for outdoor days
Shoulder SeasonSep – DecWarming up again, fewer crowds
Best forSolo travellersHikersPhotographers
Plan this journey with us →

Inclusions & Price

Deposit Offer

Hold 2027 for half the usual deposit

Confirm any 2027 departure with a 15% deposit instead of the usual 30%, booked before 31 December 2026.

  • Your balance is not due until 60 days before departure.
  • The reduced deposit holds your camps, permits and internal flights at today’s rates, so a mid-year price movement does not reach you.
  • Applies to new 2027 bookings only and cannot be combined with a group discount on the same booking.
Solo Travellers

30% off the single supplement

Travelling on your own? We cut the single traveller supplement by 30% across selected 2027 departures.

  • The supplement covers the sole-occupancy cost a camp charges when a room sleeps one rather than two.
  • Available on selected camps and dates — your specialist will tell you which of your nights qualify before you commit.
  • Nothing changes about the journey itself: same guide, same vehicle, same rooms.
Group Offer

Bring three, the fourth travels free

Book four guests on a 2027 group departure and the fourth guest’s safari cost is on us.

  • The waiver covers the land portion — camps, meals, guiding and game drives.
  • International flights, visas, gorilla and chimpanzee permits and personal spending are excluded, as those are paid to third parties per head.
  • All four guests must travel on the same departure date and book together.
What's Included
  • VIP tarmac handling at all airports
  • All private luxury vehicle transfers
  • 9 nights luxury accommodation
  • All meals — Full Board throughout
  • International flights Nairobi–Mauritius–Nairobi
  • Grand Bassin sacred crater lake visit
  • Gris Gris clifftop walk
  • Hot air balloon or helicopter flight, Bel Ombre
  • Black River Gorges forest trek
  • Waterfall stream breakfast
  • Rochester Falls private trail hike
  • Maconde Viewpoint clifftop sundowner
  • Souillac colonial architecture walk
  • Bois Chéri Tea Plantation tour
  • All park & site entry fees
  • ✓Travel insurance facilitated on your behalf (adjusted in your quote if you are already covered)
  • Visa processing assistance & fees
What's Not Included
  • International flights to/from Nairobi (confirm at booking)
  • Gratuities for guides & staff
  • Premium imported alcohol
  • Items of a personal nature

Per Person Pricing

Per Person Sharing$7,800
Single Traveller SupplementOn Request
ⓘ Pricing is an estimate subject to confirmation based on season, group size, and final accommodation selection.

2027 Season Pricing

The same unforgettable journey, priced by season.

Jan – May Best ValueWarm, occasional showers, lush island
$7,400
May – Sep Peak SeasonDry, cool season — ideal for outdoor days
$8,600
Sep – Dec Shoulder SeasonWarming up again, fewer crowds
$7,950

Flexible Payment Plan

1

Reserve today with a low early deposit to lock in your 2027 dates and pricing.

2

Spread the rest across convenient instalments, at a pace that suits you.

3

Final balance due one month before departure — nothing more to pay once you fly.

Speak To Us

Journey Details

Travel Kit

Duffel, sun hat, reef-safe sun cream and dry bag

  • Your duffel — A soft-sided Finders & Keepers Safaris duffel, sized for the luggage limits on seaplane and inter-island transfers, where 20 kg per person is common and hard cases are often refused.
  • What is inside it — A wide-brim sun hat, a reef-safe sun cream that meets the marine park rules across the region, and a roll-top dry bag for boat days and sandbank picnics.
  • Yours to keep — The bag and everything in it is a gift, not a loan.
  • Packing around it — Light, breathable layers, and one modest set covering shoulders and knees for Stone Town, villages, temples and local islands.

Note

Cyclone season falls between November and April

While rare, tropical storms are most likely between November and April; the drier, cooler months of May to October offer the most reliable weather for outdoor activities and water sports.

  • Early starts — The best of this journey happens at dawn — before the heat, the crowds and the haze. Your guide will confirm what time you will be collected from your hotel.
  • Tailoring this journey — If you would like this package with more or fewer days, arranged for a group, a family or a solo traveller, or with add-ons, reach out and we will tailor it for you.
  • Route changes — Your guide or driver may alter the route in certain circumstances, but every destination set out in the itinerary will be covered.

Documents

Visa-free for most nationalities

  • Passport — Valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with at least two blank pages for stamps.
  • Visa — Visa-free on arrival for up to 90 days for UK, EU, US, Canadian, Australian, Indian, South African and most African and Commonwealth passport holders.
  • All-in-One Travel Form — Every traveller completes the Mauritius All-in-One Travel Form online before departure. It combines the immigration, customs and health declarations into one submission.
  • Strict biosecurity — Mauritius protects its agriculture closely. Declare all food, plant material, seeds and untreated wooden items; undeclared goods attract on-the-spot fines.
  • We handle the paperwork — We complete and submit your visa, eVisa or travel-authorisation applications on your behalf. You supply the documents once; we do the filing, track the approval and hold the confirmations for you.
  • Where you must appear in person — A few consulates insist on biometrics or a short interview that nobody can sit on your behalf — China requires fingerprinting for some nationalities, as do European and United States visas. We still prepare the entire file; we simply book you a single appointment and brief you beforehand so one visit settles it.
  • Before you travel — Entry rules change frequently and without much notice. Your specialist confirms the current requirements for every passport in your party at the time of booking, and checks them again before you fly.

Guaranteed Departures

Private, tailor-made departures on your dates, or join a small group

  • Once confirmed, you travel — When your departure date is confirmed, it is guaranteed. We do not cancel, merge or reschedule a confirmed departure for commercial reasons, however the final numbers fall.
  • What confirms a departure — A departure becomes confirmed once the agreed number of travellers has been reached and paid for in line with the agreed payment schedule. Places held without payment do not count towards it.
  • If the minimum is not reached — Where a group departure has not reached its agreed numbers, we tell you early rather than late, and you choose: move to the next available date, continue at a revised small-group rate, or take a full refund of everything you have paid.
  • Solo journeys — Solo and tailor-made itineraries carry no group minimum at all. Your dates are confirmed the moment your deposit is received.

A deposit of 30% is required to confirm your booking, with the balance due 60 days before departure. All itineraries can be tailored — extend a stay, add a destination, or adjust the pace to suit you. Comprehensive travel insurance covering trip cancellation, medical evacuation and personal effects is required for all guests. Your dedicated specialist remains on call throughout your journey for any changes or assistance you need.

  • What to pack — Light, breathable fabrics, and more swimwear than you think you need. Away from the resort, cover shoulders and knees — Stone Town, the fishing villages and any temple will expect it. Bring reef-safe sun cream, which the marine parks require, a rash vest for long snorkelling days, and one smart-casual set for dinner.

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