Mauritius

Thought to be the last resting place of the dodo, this tiny coral outcrop, surrounded by a limpid sea, has giant Aldabra tortoises lumbering under an ebony canopy and pink pigeons living in the semi-wild. — The Telegraph

In an effort to protect the area's rich underwater forest of rare corals from encroaching development, the government has given Blue Bay 'marine park' status. — Lonely Planet

The National History Museum contains various objects, furniture and maps illustrating the colonial history of the island under successive Dutch, French and English rule. — Michelin Guide

Make sure to stop at Bois Cheri, a working plantation and museum, to celebrate tea's history and to take in the gorgeous, fragrant scenery. — Afar Magazine

It's easy enough to get lost in the scenic beauty of Black River Gorges. — Afar Magazine

An educational initiation into a natural environment in the process of reasserting itself. — Michelin Guide

Aapravasi Ghat (Immigration Depot), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is embedded deep in the collective memory of Mauritians. — Michelin Guide

Trou aux Cerfs, the crater of an extinct volcano overrun with thick shrubs and undergrowth, 180m wide at the base and 80m deep, evokes the stag hunts. — Michelin Guide

Pamplemousse botanical garden -as it is commonly known- is truly extraordinary. — Michelin Guide

Eurêka House, at the foot of Ory Mountain, is a superb example of 19C colonial architecture. — Michelin Guide

We can't recommend highly enough a visit to the Blue Penny Museum for its wonderful collections illustrating the history of Mauritius. — Michelin Guide

Hidden from the road by a field of ancient mango treets, the Château de Labourdonnais stands at the end of a majestic driveway of Chinese Banyans (tropical trees in the Ficus microcarpa family). — Michelin Guide

The “Thumb” of Mauritius provides a 360 degree view of the entire country.  — Atlas Obscura

Gaps in the coral reef expose the coastline to the ocean's fury as it pounds against the cliffs in a deafening roar. — Michelin Guide

Parasaling is now something I'd do again and again without a second thought and I'd recommend Ile aux Cerfs as the ideal location to anyone. — Afar Magazine

The Réserve des Mascareignes is a 6ha tropical park where you stroll among bamboo, palm trees and orchids while exploring the fauna of the Mascareignes and Africa. — Michelin Guide

Robert Edward Hart (1891–1954) was a renowned Mauritian poet, apparently appreciated by both the French and the English, although we've yet to meet anyone who's heard of him. — Lonely Planet

Past the visitor's centre, with some rare Rodriguan plants on display, you enter this vast park (30ha, part of it designated a nature reserve) that is striving to promote the growth of primary forest. — Michelin Guide

The manor house of the Domaine des Aubineaux was built in 1872 in a classic colonial style; in 1889 it was the first residence on the island to be outfitted with electricity. — Lonely Planet