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Endemics of Mauritius: A Curated Walk (Bird-Watching)
(2382 reviews)
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Tour Summary
Duration:
3-5 hours
Group:
2-12
Tour Type:
On demand
Difficulty:
Easy
Transport:
Shuttle Available at Extra Cost
Distance:
6km
About the Tour
Step into the heart of Mauritius’ most scenic national park for a unique bird watching experience. This gentle guided walk takes you through lush forest trails, where you’ll have the chance to observe some of the island’s most iconic and endemic bird species in their natural habitat.
During the tour, we usually spot around 5 to 6 out of 9 endemic bird species. Among the most commonly seen are the Mauritius Cuckooshrike, Echo Parakeet, Mauritius Bulbul, Grey White-eye, Mauritius Fody, Pink Pigeon, and occasionally the elegant Paradise Flycatcher. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the rare Mauritius Kestrel, which has been seen on roughly 2 out of 10 tours. We sometimes also spot the Mascarene Swallow and Mascarene Swiftlet, endemic to the Mascarene islands.
Along the way, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the Black River Gorges National Park, its mountains, forests, waterfall, and the distant
1 pair of Binoculars is provided during the tour for the group.
Whether you’re an experienced birder or simply a nature enthusiast, this outing offers a peaceful and immersive way to discover the rich biodiversity of Mauritius.
What’s Included?
Certified guide
Safety briefing and support throughout the activity
Storytelling and insights about the park’s history, flora & fauna
Why Yanature?
Pionneer in the hiking and trekking tourism sector
In Mauritius since January 2004
We are friends and passionate mountain lovers
Our desire to bring people on discovery
Excursions in the wilderness is what we live for
Fast, friendly support you can count on
What you’ll do
- 06:50 | Meet your guide
Meet your Yanature guide at the entrance of the Black River Gorges National Park for a short briefing about the park’s unique biodiversity and the species you might encounter. - 07:00 – 10:30/11:30 | Guided birdwatching walk
Follow your guide along forest trails and scenic viewpoints as the island awakens. You’ll explore around 6 km of easy paths (with a few short climbs), stopping to observe and identify different endemic bird species. Listen for their songs, learn to recognize their silhouettes, and hear fascinating stories about the conservation efforts that saved many of them from extinction. - 11:30 | End of tour
Take a quiet moment to enjoy the forest atmosphere before returning to the starting point.
Highlights
- Discover Mauritius’ 9 endemic bird species in their natural habitat
- Visit exclusive and protected areas within the Black River Gorges National Park
- Learn about the island’s remarkable bird conservation success stories
- Observe rare species such as the Mauritius kestrel, Pink pigeon, and Echo parakeet
- Enjoy a peaceful walk surrounded by lush tropical forest and breathtaking views
- Peaceful and educational nature experience suitable for all levels
What to bring?
- Comfortable hiking shoes
- Light sportswear (preferably quick-dry)
- Sun protection: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle (at least 1.5L)
- Snack or energy bar
- Rain jacket (weather can be unpredictable in the mountains)
- Insect repellent
Not suitable for
- Pregnant women
- People with serious back, knee, or heart problems
- Persons with limited mobility
- Children under 12 years old
- Elderly individuals with health issues or limited stamina
- Individuals recovering from surgery or injury.
Meeting Point
The meeting point will be at Pétrin Information Centre
Know before you go
- This activity starts early morning to increase chances of sightings
- Difficulty: easy — mostly flat with a few short climbs, no technical parts
- Binoculars are provided, but you may bring your own if preferred (1 pair per group, to be shared among participants)
- The tour may be rescheduled in case of heavy rain for safety reasons
- Wildlife sightings are common but cannot be guaranteed
- The guide will be the only contact person on the day of the tour. You will receive the guide’s contact details upon booking or on the eve of the activity date by email (make sure to check your spams if you did not receive the email)
What people say about us:
Fantastic experience hiking Le Morne as sunrise with Henri
We hiked Le Morne at sunrise with Henri. Henri was a fantastic and knowledgeable guide, and despite the hike starting at just before 4AM, he was extremely upbeat, brought positive vibes, and provided great knowledge and insights as we climbed.
Henri guided us up the mountain professionally, and our safety was always his top priority. It had rained a couple of hours before we headed up, so Henri made sure it was safe to proceed to the top when we got to "the wall". He said it was safe to proceed but told us to go carefully – with his help, we successfully reached the summit.
This was also a special moment for us – I'd told Yanature beforehand that I intended to propose at the top of the mountain. Yanature and Henri both went out of their way to make this a special moment. Yanature kept us informed of the weather and even moved the dates around at the last moment to ensure we had the experience, and Henri took some lovely photos and videos of the proposal.
Fun experience and can absolutely recommend.
We just come back from our Canyoning trip. We loved it and it was so much fun. The guides Nicolas and Jeremy are really nice, prepare you great for each station of the track so you always feel safe. We enjoyed every second and even got great photos and videos to remember. Merci beaucoup.
Amazing time, would recommend to all tourists and friends visiting
Had an awesome time, swam in the waterfalls and saw amazing views. Our tour guide Paj was extremely knowledgeable and made sure we had a safe and enjoyable experience!
Beautiful trek
We had a great trek guided by Henri. He helped us navigate the difficult parts of the trail. The views are beautiful and we had a nice swim stop at the quieter fourth waterfall.
Great Kayak with Dolphins Experience
What a great experience. Getting up close with the dolphins as well as breakfast in the river afterwards (on a kayak !!) must do and a wonderful experience at Tamarin
₨3,300
Full 100% Deposit Required
This booking is made on request
Where you’ll be?
Cancellation policy
A cancellation fee of 50% of the total price is asked for bookings cancelled on the day preceding the hike and 100% on the day.
