Around 2.5km southeast of central Souillac, a grassy clifftop affords fine views of the black-rock coastline. A path leads down to the wild Gris Gris beach; a sign warns of the dangers of swimming. The term gris gris traditionally refers to 'black magic' and, looking at the tortuous coastline, you can see how the area got its name. Then again, another story suggests that the beach was named after the puppy (!) of a French cartographer who visited in 1753.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
14.92 MILES
This popular ecotourism destination is a 26-hectare nature reserve on an island roughly 800m off the coast. It preserves very rare remnants of the coastal…
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens
28.81 MILES
After London's Kew Gardens, the SSR Gardens is one of the world's best botanical gardens. It's among the most popular tourist attractions in Mauritius and…
15.88 MILES
Protecting a 400-year-old forest, this reserve is an important habitat for the Mauritius kestrel, one of the world's most endangered raptors, and a visit…
25.12 MILES
Although dedicated to the world-famous Mauritian one-penny and two-pence stamps of 1847, the Blue Penny Museum is far more wide-ranging than its name…
21.17 MILES
If you're only going to visit one attraction related to Mauritius' rich colonial history, choose Eureka. This perfectly preserved Creole mansion was built…
25.92 MILES
The shrine of French Catholic priest and missionary Père Jacques-Désiré Laval is something of a Lourdes of the Indian Ocean, with many miracles attributed…
16.88 MILES
Locals like to wax nostalgic about Tamarin Beach and its surfing heyday, and in many ways this sandy cove still feels like a throwback to earlier times,…
14.01 MILES
Don't miss the central foire de Mahébourg, near the waterfront. The initial focus was silks and other textiles, but these days you'll find a busy produce…
Nearby Mauritius attractions
0.37 MILES
Robert Edward Hart (1891–1954) was a renowned Mauritian poet, apparently appreciated by both the French and the English. His house, La Nef, is an…
0.73 MILES
Right at the end of the headland beyond Gris Gris beach, 600m further on and well signposted, La Roche Qui Pleure resembles a crying man – you'll have to…
1.74 MILES
St Aubin is an elegant plantation house that dates back to 1819; it originally sat alongside the factory but was moved in the 1970s so that its owner…
1.77 MILES
Rochester Falls are by no means the country's most spectacular falls, but they're worth a detour if you're in the area. Follow the makeshift signs from…
2.7 MILES
This busy zoo and reserve makes for a fantastic field trip with kids. The park has the greatest number of giant tortoises in captivity in the world (over…
5.55 MILES
Is it an island or is it a part of the mainland? Well, that all depends on the time of day that you visit. Separated from the mainland by a tidal channel,…
6.77 MILES
This 250-hectare tea factory and museum is located about 12km north of Rivière des Anguilles amid a vast expanse of cane. Hour-long tours of the tea…
7.17 MILES
This half-formed grotto on the side of a cliff spouts a geyser-like fountain (up to 20m high!) when seas are rough. You'll need a bit of gumption (and a…