What Are The 9 Districts of Mauritius? And What Can You Do In Them?
Allow us to take you on a whistle-stop tour of the districts of Mauritius. We’ll tell you about each region on the island, what makes them so special and detail all the amazing things you can do there. It’s the perfect quick guide for the island first-timer.
It may only be a small island, but there are 9 different districts of Mauritius. In those 9 regions, you’ll find a city, 4 towns and around 130 villages. All of which have their own unique set of wonders to offer.
In this blog, we’ll introduce you to each district and tell you what makes them such a special environment. First, though, what are the 9 districts?
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What Are The 9 Districts of Mauritius?
- Rivière du Rempart
- Pamplemousses
- Port Louis
- Moka
- Plaines Wilhems
- Black River
- Savanne
- Grand Port
- Flacq
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1. Rivière du Rempart
It may be the second smallest of the 9 districts of Mauritius, but Rivière du Rempart certainly packs a punch in terms of amazing things to do and see.
Based right up on the northern coast of the island Rivière du Rempart is home to awesome locations like Grand Baie, Pereybere and Cap Malheureux. Grand Baie plays host to some leading Mauritian excursions, while Cap Malheureux and Pereybere are home to two of the best beaches in Mauritius – Pereybere Beach and Anse la Raie.
The towns over on the eastern side of the district are well worth a visit too. Grand Gaube, Roche Terre and Calodyne or incredibly picturesque.
Plus, if all that wasn’t enough, Grand Baie also hosts the main departure point for trips to the protected islands of Gunners’ Quoin, Flat Island, Round Island, and Serpent Island too. If you’re looking to get a real sense for what natural Mauritius is like, then these specks of land are perfect.
2. Pamplemousses
Moving slightly southwesterly along the coast of Mauritius we come to the next district, Pamplemousses. It may be one of the smaller regions, but Pamplemousses boasts the second-largest population of any district in Mauritius – 139,966 of the island’s 1.26 million people live here.
And it’s little wonder when you consider how much there is going on in this tiny district. Packed into its 179 km area Pamplemousses offers you the chance to explore another of the island’s best days out, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens – one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world.
Sports fans will also love the fact that one of Mauritius’s leading golf courses, Mont Choisy Le Golf, resides in Pamplemousses. But if that isn’t your speed, then there’s also the stunning Mont Choisy Beach – so you can catch a tan while they improve their swing.
In addition, the district also hosts stunning hubs like Trou aux Biches, Pointe aux Pimente and Balaclava. If you’re thinking of getting and exploring the island over a few days, we recommend bagging somewhere to stay in the incredible Balaclava Bay area. Intercontinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort would be ideal.
3. Port Louis
Port Louis is the smallest of the Mauritian districts. However, don’t let its size fool you as this tiny region is also home to the island’s bustling capital city of the same name.
No prizes for guessing that the best thing to do here is to explore the city in-depth. Take a couple of days in Port Louis and get to know the area in more detail. Take a stroll down to the picturesque Le Caudan waterfront and grab dinner in one of the trendy restaurants. Or visit Aapravasi Ghat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can learn more about Mauritius’s colonial past
One thing you might not expect to see on a tropical island is a load of awesome urban artwork – Port Louis is dripping in incredible street art. You can book a tour that takes you around the areas where the artwork is most prevalent and jaw-dropping.
4. Moka
Although Moka is one of the larger districts of Mauritius, because of its location in the island’s green heartlands its population is the second lowest.
With that natural backdrop comes more eco-conscious adventures. Here you can head out on verdant nature trails and get a lot closer to the flora and fauna of the island. The more adventurous-minded might also like to take on Le Pouce mountain – the third-highest peak in Mauritius.
The mountain route is considered moderately challenging, so hikers may not find the 2-hour jaunt to be a walk in the park. Although, if you are going to take it on, we recommend a hat and plenty of water. The humid conditions on the hike will make it a tougher climb than you think.
It’s this contrast of landscapes that sees the island win many Mauritius vs Maldives-related debates. It’s one of the only places in the Indian Ocean where you can go from the mountains to white sand beaches and back again in one day.
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5. Plaines Wilhems
Moving southeast from Moka we come to the other landlocked district, Plaines Wilhems. Again, the verdant nature of the region means the activities in this area also take on a more natural theme. However, there are still plenty of things to see and do.
Trou aux Cerfs should be top of your must-do list in Plaines Wilhems along with the Tamarin Falls.
The former of those two sites is also known as the Murrs Volcano. Located in a spot called Curepipe, the dormant volcano, and its vast crater lake have become a hub of nature. It’s also a great spot for local athletes who use the road around the crater as a jogging track.
Tamarin Falls on the other hand is a special place that Plaines Wilhems shares with the neighbouring district of Riviere Noire or Black River. Take a tour to the falls where your guide will point out all the local natural wonders along the way. Then, just down from the site of the falls, the Sophie Nature Trail offers even more natural delights.
6. Black River
As we said, Plaines Wilhems shares a border with Black River and it’s here that the gorgeous coastline of Mauritius comes back into view.
Black River stretches for 259 km along the western coast and brings in awesome days out like Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark, Le Morne Brabant, Casela Nature Park, and although its name suggests it would be better housed in the Flacq District, Riviere Noire is also home to the bustling resort town of Flic-en-Flac.
Breaking those activities down a little more, the Chamarel Geopark gives you the chance to witness multi-coloured earth (literal rainbow soil). Meanwhile, Le Morne Brabant is a peninsula on the very western tip of the island where a vast basaltic mountain sits. The peak is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers more info about Mauritius’ colonial past as well as the chance to see centuries-old settlements constructed and used by escaped slaves.
On the other hand, the Casela Nature Park offers you the chance to get closer to incredible wildlife such as elephants, tigers and zebras while Flic-en-Flac is perfect for scratching any shopaholic itches you may have.
7. Savanne
Savanne is located down on the south coast of Mauritius and is home to yet more amazing things to do on the island. In fact, the fourth largest district in Mauritius is home to one of the most popular excursions – Black River Gorges National Park.
In the park, you’ll discover a landscape that has remained unchanged since the Jurassic period, as well as the breathtaking Alexandra Falls. The park is also full to the brim with over 300 species of flowering plants and 9 species of birds unique to Mauritius including:
- The pink pigeon
- Mauritius kestrel
- Echo parakeet
- Mauritius bulbul
- and the Mauritian flying fox – not a bird but is the largest endemic mammal in Mauritius
If all that wasn’t enough, you can also explore the local resort towns of Bel Ombre and Souillac. As well as even more nature at La Vallee Des Couleurs Nature Park, Cascade Leon, Rochester Falls and La Vanille Nature Park.
On the other hand, if you’re more in the mood for some culture, the area of Grand Bassin in the north of Savanne is perfect. This sacred Hindu pilgrimage site and temple is also home to the largest natural lake in Mauritius.
8. Grand Port
Now we come to the two largest administrative regions of Mauritius, starting with the second largest – Grand Port. Home to over 112,000 people and the international airport, plenty of tourists move through this district every year.
However, if you were to stick around on the southeast coast of Mauritius you’d find a haven of beaches and natural attractions. The coast of Grand Port is also a hotspot for water sports. Witness dolphins in the wild or take your exploration below the waves and explore a multitude of wrecks that have been reclaimed by the Ocean’s kaleidoscopic inhabitants.
When you’re not enjoying everything the Indian Ocean has to offer, Vieux Grand Port, Blue Bay (great name), Pointe d’Esny and Mahebourg are the main towns in this district.
9. Flacq
The final stop on our round-up of the 9 districts in Mauritius sees us move further up on the island’s east coast to the Flacq District.
If you get up early in Flacq and race over to Belle Mare beach you could be treated to an incredible sunrise. But if you’re not an early riser you could get up when you want and head to Central Flacq on market day for an extra-sensory experience. The largest outdoor market in Mauritius is in full flow on Wednesdays or Sundays and there are a plethora of treats on offer – from crafts & artworks to delicious street food.
One thing you need to do while in the Flacq District is take a quick boat ride over to Ile Aux Cerfs. This 87-hectare island just off the coast of Mauritius is all white sand and azure lagoons. Plus, there are also beautiful restaurants, water sports and even one of the most enchanting golf courses you’re ever likely to see – designed by two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer.
Is It Possible To Visit Every District in Mauritius?
It absolutely is possible to visit every district of Mauritius. In fact, because the island is so small, you could probably do it in one trip.
Mauritius is only around 787 square miles in size. This means, if you hired a car from your resort, you could drive around it one day. Driving a full circle around the island would take roughly 6 hours.
So, if you’re the exploring type, you could get out and see every district in one trip. Or book a few resorts around the island and make the journey the purpose of your holiday – like a mini backpacking adventure except for all the faff and lack of washing.
Need a Mauritius Resort? We Got You Covered
Now you know more about the incredible districts of Mauritius it’s probably time to start mapping out your trip to see them all in person.
Luckily there are stunning resorts dotted all over this awesome island and we can place you in the best of them. Click the button below to read more about the 9 best resorts for couples in Mauritius. Then get yourself out there!
