Ebony Forest Reserve Chamarel - Take a Hike Tour
Description
Imagine one of the last remaining places on Mauritius where majestic black ebony trees stand tall and Paradise Flycatchers and Mauritius Black Bulbul chase each other through the trees. Once home to the Dodo, Ebony Forest, remains a refuge for threatened native flora and fauna. Visitors will be treated breathtaking views from Sublime Point and unique mid-canopy walkways. With less than 2% native forest remaining in Mauritius, Ebony Forest is a jewel for nature lovers and those wishing to escape from the beaches and hustle and bustle of Mauritius. .
Tour Options
Itinerary
A warm welcome awaits you at our Visitor Centre. We are located just beside the Seven Coloured Earth near Chamarel so follow the signs and join us at our luscious tropical paradise. Be sure to stop and admire the Chamarel Waterfalls. We recommend you arrive at our entrance by 15:00 at the latest to ensure you have plenty of time to enjoy your visit. What can you expect? • 30 minute guided tour along a raised (0.5m – 4m high) walkway through the Flycatcher Forest • Breathtaking views of the south and west coast from Sublime Point • Witness 8 million years of history in our Ebony Experience Museum • Meet our endemic and rare threatened birds (Mauritius Flycatcher, Mauritius Black Bulbul, Pink Pigeon, Echo Parakeet, Kestrel) • Easy hikes along our ridgeline trail with spectacular views of Le Morne UNESCO World Heritage Site • Optional hike to Piton Canot for a 360̊ panaroma • Hug an ebony tree that stood at the time of the dodo
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Discover the history of the island, from its volcanic origins to the arrival of humans and the destruction of the forest in our Ebony Experience Museum. Then see our amazing forest restoration efforts to conserve the native fauna and flora. Its first stop is the Flycatcher Forest where you will be treated to a 30 minute guided tour along a raised walkway through one of the best preserved ebony forests remaining in Mauritius. Spot the native birds, learn about the value of ebony wood and hug some trees!
- After your tour, to get to Sublime Point you hike along the idyllic Ridgeline Trail (1.1 km) with amazing views of Ile aux Benitiers and Le Morne. The name says it all, Sublime is a view not to be missed during your visit to Mauritius. Relax and watch the bats flying, white tail tropic birds soaring and acrobatic performances of the Mascarene swiftlets. Why not enjoy some local snacks to full savour the experience.
- For those energetic visitors, we recommend a hike to the summit of Piton Canot for a spectacular view of the south-west coast and village of Chamarel.
- If hungry, you can purchase some local snacks at Sublime Point, why not grab some snacks, along with a souvenir, from our boutique which sells mostly local artisanal products. Profits generated are reinvested into our ongoing forest restoration work (weeding and planting) and reintroduction of birds. We have planted more than 160,000 native trees, but we have a lot more work to do. Be part of our forest restoration project by visiting us.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Reviews(125)
Today we have a wonderful time at ebony forest. We choose take a ride. Our guide Anael was very kind and very informative. And the driver Sham driving very carefully, taking care of the turtles on the road. At the top there is an amaizing scenic. So overall its worth it. Thank you Ebony team!
Thanks to Brice who made us passionate about the route and his explanations. The 4x4 tour is great and the final viewpoint is truly sublime
Too bad the welcome upon arriving at the viewpoint/snack bar was pathetic. A young man didn't even bother to return our greeting. Eyes glued to his phone. So we didn't buy anything. Furthermore, at the footbridge, the guides smoke and listen to amplified music, which ruins the "preserved forest" atmosphere.
Bonjour on vous remercie de votre revu, veuillez nous partager la date de votre visite sur email:bookings@ebonyforest.com. On fera un suivi car fumer en forêt est strictement interdit et contre nos règles.
The experience at the Ebony Forest was really good, Loic our guide was very informative and fun at the same time. They are doing such good conservation work and get very little support financially. I hope people keep visiting as it was a great place.
We thank you for your visit and contribution to our project.
We stayed in Chalets Chamarel and walked to the Ebony Forest. We took the jeep safari and give kudos to the company of Lloyd and Damien, our hosts. They had great knowledge and shared their passion for Mauritius and it's native species. Well worth the trip for us. Mosquito repellent is strongly advised.
We thank you for your visit and contribution to our project.
Thanks to Brice for an entertaining and informative tour. Great experience.
We thank you for your review and contribution to our project
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Ebony Forest Reserve and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in nature and conservation. Seeing the ebony trees up close was fascinating, and the giant tortoises roaming freely around the reserve were a real highlight. Our guide was excellent—friendly, knowledgeable and clearly passionate about Mauritian wildlife and ecosystems. Her enthusiasm really brought the experience to life. One thing worth noting is that the website describes the hike as easy. While it wasn't particularly difficult, we felt it was more moderate than easy, especially for less active visitors or families with younger children. Overall, a fantastic experience and a great way to learn more about Mauritius' unique wildlife and natural heritage. Highly recommended for nature lovers, couples and families with older children.
We thank you for your review and contribution to our project.
Worth the view at the end of the hike !Big thanks to Mr Damien,very knowledgeable and compassionate about nature.Will surely come for another day !Thanks to the team !Great job ahead.✨️
We thank you for your review and contribution to our project.
Thank you to Damien for the informative tour on the walkway. The viewpoint was superb, and the hike to the canot peak was also wonderful.
On vous remrcie de votre visite et de votre contribution à notre projet
Having already visited Chamarel Waterfall and the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths during a previous trip to Mauritius, our actual goal was to explore the “Ebony Forest reserve” in the same region. We didn't want a guided tour, but rather to explore the hiking trails on our own. This was possible @ an entrance fee of 510 rupees per person. We hiked several trails to beautiful viewpoints (Kestrel Trail, Ridgeline Trail to the “Le Mourne Viewpoint) and we walked in total 1,5 hours. We enjoyed 👍🏻 our trip walking through the retored native nature. 💟 Peter & Gaby
We thank you for your review and contribution to our conservation project.
