The Black River Gorges is the only national park located in the mainland of Mauritius which also has the largest accessible native forest which is an ideal place to view quite a number of endangered birds. It is also known to be the largest national park which provides for over 50 km of walking trails and is the most ideal way to spend your holiday while on the island. In Mauritius, 5 star resorts are a great place to stay at especially in resorts such as InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort which provide opportunities for such excursions.
The park protects the remaining land of the rainforest after several areas were destroyed. A walk through this park is also a great way to spot some of the island’s most endemic animals like the Mauritian flying fox, Mauritius kestrel, pink pigeon, parakeet, bulbul, fody and many others. The highest point on the island is 828m known as Black River Peak, which provides a great view of the surroundings and for bird watching.
For those interested in exploring the park, there are four known entry points to the park such as Black River; the main entrance, Case Noyal entrance, La Marie entrance and Chamouny entrance. Each entrance point is located at the west and southern coasts of the island. The national park is said to cover about 2% of the island’s surface and is home to many of the island’s native species.
The park which was once used as a hunting ground, became a protected reserve in 1994 after researchers and scientists discovered more than 300 species of plants, 9 bird species that are endemic to the island, and a population of over 4000 fruit bats that lived within the grounds of this forest.
Those in the park can even plan a picnic and dine in at the park as they enjoy being surrounded by nature. However do keep in mind not to litter, damage or destroy the park and its surroundings in any way.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+
