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Endemics of Mauritius: A Curated Walk (Bird-Watching)
(2516 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?
Pioneers in the outdoor 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:
James Bond for a day
What an adventure! Just loved how the guys from Yanature turns the beautiful surroundings in Tamarin falls to a giant playground. Rappelling, jumping, crawling, ziplining and swimming from waterfall to waterfall might have been the highlight of our holiday. Felt safe all the way, and got a James Bond experience we'll brag about forever 😂
Definitely worthwhile
We started the hike at 6AM and I highly recommend doing the same — it’s the perfect way to avoid the crowds and the heat. The early morning light made the views even more impressive, and the whole experience felt peaceful and special.
The hike took us about three hours to complete at a comfortable pace, including time to enjoy the views and take photos. It’s absolutely beautiful and very rewarding. Make sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen — even early in the morning the sun gets strong quickly.
Our guide, Rowin, was fantastic. Super friendly, very knowledgeable, and he paced the hike perfectly. He shared interesting facts along the way and made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable.
If you’re considering this hike, go early and ask for Rowin — you won’t regret it!
Great Experience with Rowin
We had such an amazing hiking experience – the views were absolutely breathtaking and worth every step. The scenery was stunning from start to finish, making it one of the highlights of our trip.
Our guide, Rowin, was super friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the area. He shared interesting insights throughout the hike and made us feel comfortable and safe the entire time. His positive energy and professionalism really elevated the whole experience.
Highly recommend this hike – and if you can, ask for Rowin!
Hike, Swim, Repeat – Thanks Yudish
We booked the half-day guided tour with Yudish and honestly… 10/10, would absolutely do it again.
Yudish is the kind of guy you feel like you’ve known for years after five minutes. Super easy to talk to, always joking around, and somehow knows basically everything about the island – plants, trees, random nature facts… you name it. We’re pretty sure if you pointed at a leaf, he could give you its full biography.
The hike to Tamarin Falls was amazing – beautiful views, great vibes, and the swim at the falls was the perfect reward.
It didn’t feel like a “tour” at all – more like exploring the island with a very knowledgeable (and very funny) guy.
Super Tour mit wunderschönen Aussichten und einem supernetten, fachkundigen guide
What a wonderful trip on the le morne with this lovely and very funny 😉 guide. We loved it.
₨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.
