(Si vous êtes en voiture, vous trouvez plus bas un plan d’accès Google Maps) L’accès au point de vue se fait principalement par la route côtière B9 qui relie Case Noyale au village de La Gaulette. Depuis Case Noyale, après avoir dépassé l’église Mater Dolorosa construite en 1939, la route serpente jusqu’à Chamarel en offrant déjà des vues remarquables sur la côte sud-ouest. Des aires de stationnement aménagées le long de la route permettent aux visiteurs de s’arrêter pour admirer le paysage.

Another option is to take the B104 road which crosses the forest from Baie du Cap. This road also leads to Chamarel through dense and lush vegetation.

The panorama from Chamarel View Point

Breathtaking views of the west coast

Chamarel View Point offers spectacular bird's-eye views of the southwest coast of Mauritius. On a clear day, the panorama extends over a vast portion of the coastline, allowing you to admire several emblematic sites:

• The dreary Brabant : this majestic mountain of 556 meters above sea level, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, stands proudly on the edge of the ocean. It constitutes one of the most striking elements of the landscape visible from the viewpoint.
• Bénitiers Island : this small islet located off the west coast is easily identifiable from the lookout.
• Tamarin Bay : with its elegant curve and turquoise waters, the bay offers a natural spectacle of great beauty.
• The Tamarin Turret : this characteristic rocky promontory punctuates the coastal landscape.

Exceptional visibility

On very clear days, it is even possible to see the coasts of Reunion Island from Chamarel View Point, demonstrating the clarity of the atmosphere and the altitude of the site.

The village of Chamarel: authenticity and nature

A preserved Creole village

Chamarel represents one of the most authentic villages in Mauritius. Located at altitude in an exceptional natural environment, the village is mainly inhabited by the Creole community of Mauritius. This authenticity is reflected in the architecture, traditions and atmosphere that reign in the streets of the village.

Sainte-Anne church

Built in 1876, the small Sainte-Anne church constitutes the spiritual heart of the village. It is the subject of an annual pilgrimage on Assumption Day (August 15), during which the village hosts a popular festival. This day is also the village festival of Chamarel, where a beautiful festive atmosphere reigns with music, artisans and traditional Creole cuisine.

Culture and music

Chamarel is deeply linked to Rastafarian culture and represents the cradle of Mauritian seggae, a unique fusion between reggae and sega typical of Mauritius. This music was created by the singer and poet Kaya in the early 1970s. Many musical groups were born in Chamarel, contributing to the cultural richness of the island.

The natural attractions of the region

The Chamarel View Point is part of an exceptional region which brings together several remarkable natural sites.

The Earth of 7 Colors

Located near the village, the Earth of 7 Colors represents one of the main geological curiosities of Mauritius. This unique natural phenomenon features earth dunes with varied colors ranging from ocher to purple, brown, red and various shades in between. These colors are the result of the presence of volcanic ash containing different mineral oxides, exposed by erosion over the centuries.

The Chamarel waterfall

With a height of approximately 100 meters, the Chamarel waterfall is the highest continuous waterfall in Mauritius. It is fed by the Saint-Denis and Viande-Salée rivers which flow into the Baie du Cap river. The waterfall plunges from a basalt cliff into an oval basin before joining a 6 kilometer canyon surrounded by tropical forests. The flow is particularly impressive between December and April, during the rainy season and the cyclonic period.

Two viewpoints allow you to observe the waterfall. A promontory offers a spectacular overhanging view, allowing you to see the different layers of volcanic rock superimposed over millions of years.

The Chamarel geopark

Open to the public since the 1960s, the geopark aims to enhance and protect the Chamarel region. It allows you to discover the Earth of 7 Colors, the endemic fauna and flora, as well as the only coffee grown in Mauritius. The park has a panoramic restaurant where you can enjoy refined Creole cuisine in an exceptional setting.

The park is open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is an entrance fee and tickets can be purchased on site or reserved online.

The Rhumerie de Chamarel

Located at an altitude of 300 meters in a fertile valley, the Rhumerie de Chamarel was taken over in 1996 by the Couacaud family. A distillery was built in 2008 on the historic sugar cane plantation. The objective was to produce a rum exclusively from pure cane juice, and not from molasses. The rum factory cultivates cane on around thirty hectares, harvested by hand, and the canes are immediately transferred to the distillery to be pressed.

Agriculture and local production

The Chamarel café

Chamarel perpetuates coffee culture, a tradition that dates back to 1967. The region produces the only coffee grown and roasted in Mauritius, obtained from Arabica seeds, one of the most prized varieties in the world. The plantation covers 16 hectares and is located at an altitude of 280 meters. The coffee trees are planted in the middle of rows of palm trees which protect them from the wind, sun and heat.

Flowering takes place in November and the harvest takes place by hand between May and September. The fruits are then “washed”, the pulp covering the beans is removed, then they are dried and roasted using artisanal methods. Coffee can be enjoyed at the geopark café and purchased at the souvenir shop.

Other crops

The lands of the Chamarel mountain benefit from a tropical climate conducive to cultivation. Sugar cane predominates, but there are also pineapple plantations (including the Victoria pineapple), palm groves and banana plantations. The region is watered by several rivers and streams descending towards the south, ensuring natural irrigation.

Fauna and flora

Biodiversity preserved

The Chamarel nature reserve represents a true sanctuary of biodiversity. The geo-park collaborates with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) which works for the restoration, conservation and management of the Chamarel forests. Since 2009, constant efforts have been made to eliminate invasive species and promote the restoration of native and endemic plants.

During a walk in the reserve, visitors can discover an endemic garden and observe a multitude of endemic bird species flying over this tropical paradise, including the pond pigeon and the parakeet echo. These emblematic species of the west of the island, which were in danger of extinction, are flourishing there again thanks to efforts to preserve the area and the near return to the natural state of the forest.

Giant turtles

The park is also home to Aldabra giant tortoises, native to the island of the same name in the Seychelles. Cousins ​​of the two endemic species of Mauritius which disappeared in the 18th century, these turtles live on average up to 150 years and can reach up to 1 meter in length.

Other observations

Along the road leading to Chamarel, observant visitors can easily spot macaques jumping from branch to branch, black fruit bats and, near the Case Noyale hunt, numerous Java deer.

Ebony Forest Reserve

Located a short walk from Chamarel's main attractions, Ebony Forest is a nature reserve dedicated to the conservation of Mauritian biodiversity. This exceptional site offers total immersion in a native forest full of ebony trees, an emblematic species of the island.

Visitors can take well-developed trails or opt for guided tours that reveal the secrets of the local flora and fauna. The highlight of the place is the exceptional panoramic view of the southwest coast of the island from the top of the hill, Sublime Point. From this viewpoint, you can even observe the Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire, the highest peak in Mauritius culminating at 828 meters above sea level. Sublime Point is renowned for offering one of the most beautiful sunsets in Mauritius.

The reserve is open to the public every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Black River Gorges National Park

An exceptional natural heritage

Near Chamarel, the Black River Gorges National Park represents a protected area of ​​6,574 hectares created in 1997 to preserve the last vestiges of the Mauritian primary forest. This area is home to more than 150 varieties of plants and 9 species of birds endemic to Mauritius, including the straw-en-queue, the kestrel and the green cateau.

The gorges

A very pretty panorama of the gorges opens around 7 kilometers after Chamarel, at the Gorges Viewpoint car park, followed by a short walk of around 100 meters. These deep gorges cut into the basalt are located northeast of Chamarel, in an exclusively forested landscape.

Practical advice for the visit

Best time to visit

The Chamarel View Point can be visited all year round, but certain periods offer optimal conditions:

• For brightness : the middle of the day offers the best conditions for photography, without disturbing shadows.
• To avoid the crowd : favor visits outside peak tourist hours.

Recommended visit duration

A whole day is ideal to discover Chamarel and its surroundings, including the viewpoint, the village, the Earth of 7 Colors and the waterfall. A two-day stay allows you to fully enjoy the region and explore the surrounding sites at a more relaxed pace.

Recommended equipment

• Sunglasses to protect yourself from intense light
• Hat or cap
• Camera to immortalize exceptional panoramas
• Comfortable shoes for walking
• Water and sun protection

Dining in Chamarel

Several options are available to visitors:

The Chamarel restaurant : located at the top of the road from Case Noyale, this restaurant offers a spectacular view from its balcony terrace, approximately 400 meters above sea level. It dominates the entire west coast, from Tourelle de Tamarin to Morne Brabant. The restaurant offers refined and captivating Creole cuisine. Open every lunchtime.

The panoramic restaurant of the geo-park : it allows you to taste refined Creole cuisine in an exceptional setting with a view of the park.

The Barbizon Palace : a real Creole family table offering authentic cuisine. Each dish is accompanied by green papaya, cassava, brede songe and green banana. Located on Route Sainte-Anne, open every lunchtime and evening by reservation.

Varangue sur Morne : this chalet perched in the mountain offers a splendid panorama of Morne Brabant and the Saint-Denis valley, covered with tropical trees right down to the sea. The specialty is wild boar braised in red wine and the Creole platter, served on a native wooden plate with a ravenala leaf. Located at 110, Route Plaine Champagne. Open every lunchtime.

The village's tables d'hôtes also offer typical Mauritian cuisine, the opportunity to taste traditional dishes such as carry lontan, carry brown pig, carry deer, carry tangue or carry zacot, as well as the famous river camarons.

History and heritage

Origins of the name

Chamarel owes its name to Charles-Antoine de Chazal de Chamarel. The first owner of these lands located in the mountains on the southwest coast of Mauritius was Jean Louis Lousteau, notary on Isle de France (former name of Mauritius). He bequeathed these lands in 1785 to his sons-in-law, Toussaint and Charles-Antoine de Chazal de Chamarel.

Charles-Antoine de Chazal de Chamarel married Marie Anne Augustine de Saint-Félix in 1799 and had six daughters. He left the island in 1810 to settle in France. His daughter Marie Amélie returned to the country around 1845 and came back to settle in Chamarel. The first sugar cane factory was then built.

The old sugar factory

The estate which bore the name "Chamarel" was subsequently sold to an English company, The Mauritius Estate & Assets in 1891, which renovated the factory in 1894. The factory closed its doors in 1897. The chimney of the old factory, the last vestige of the sugar factory, is today on the La Vieille Cheminée estate.

Personalities linked to Chamarel

The poet, painter and philosopher Malcolm de Chazal is the direct descendant of the “De Chazal de Chamarel” who gave their name to the village. The author Shenaz Patel, with her novel “Portrait Chamarel” (Radio France Prize 2002 Indian Ocean Literature), is inspired by the soul of Chamarel, playing on the “chamarré” spirit of Mauritius, its colors and religions.

Complementary activities

Hiking

The Chamarel region offers numerous hiking possibilities. A beautiful hike leads to Piton Canot from Chamarel. After parking your vehicle in the car park near the panoramic restaurant, follow the kiosk for about a hundred meters through the undergrowth. A sublime panorama then opens up onto the lagoon and the mountains of Morne on one side and La Tourelle on the other. The walk then intensifies uphill, going deeper into the forest. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the summit, where a pretty plateau offers 360-degree views.

Hikes in the heart of the tropical forest also allow you to reach the foot of the Chamarel waterfall for a refreshing swim in shallow water. It is recommended to take a guide for these excursions.

Lavilleon Adventure Park

Close to the Chamarel waterfall, this adventure park will appeal to athletes and families. This former hunting estate not only offers a magnificent view of the ocean, the Morne lagoon and the Ile aux Bénitiers, but also offers several thrilling attractions: 260-meter-long zip line, Nepalese bridge, via ferrata, 5-kilometer hiking trail and archery.

Guided excursions

Organized excursions allow you to discover all the sites of Chamarel and the southwest of Mauritius. These tours generally include the Earth of the 7 Colors, the Chamarel waterfall, the Rhumerie, as well as other emblematic sites like Trou aux Cerfs, Grand Bassin and the Gorges de la Rivière Noire.

The road to Macondé

At the exit of the village going north, it is possible to stop at the Macondé Viewpoint. This rocky promontory located along the coastal road offers a superb panoramic view of the ocean. The Macondé road, between Baie du Cap and Le Morne, is considered one of the most beautiful roads in the world. It runs along the coastline and offers breathtaking views of the turquoise blue sea.

Chamarel and the Plaine Champagne

Continuing beyond Chamarel, the road climbs quite steeply, offering spectacular panoramas of Morne Brabant, Tourelle de Tamarin and Ile aux Bénitiers. It crosses a vast forest dominated by the ravenala (or “traveler's tree”) and emerges on the immense plateau of the Plaine Champagne at an altitude of 750 meters.

La Plaine Champagne is famous for the picking of wild guavas, also called Chinese guavas, which takes place every year in May. Mauritians meet on Plaine Champagne Road, the road which connects Chamarel to the B102 leading to Vacoas and Curepipe, to pick this fruit which will be consumed fresh or transformed into jam.

Conclusion

The Chamarel View Point is much more than just a tourist viewpoint. It constitutes the gateway to one of the most authentic and naturally preserved regions of Mauritius. Between exceptional panoramas on the west coast, a traditional Creole village, geological wonders and lush tropical forests, the Chamarel region offers a complete experience that allows you to discover Mauritius in a different light, far from the tourist beaches.

Whether you are a fan of grandiose landscapes, preserved nature, local culture or simply in search of authenticity, the Chamarel View Point and its surroundings undoubtedly deserve a place in your Mauritian itinerary. The visit can be combined with other attractions in the region to make an unforgettable day or stay in the heart of the wild southwest of Mauritius.