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 148,000 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(120)
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.
The tour started after a council by the friendly personnel in the visitor centre. Upwards I used the trails. Signs on the way give relevant background information. Even at noon it's worthwhile.
We thank you for your visit and contribution to our conservation project
We made the Jeep tour with friends with children including 1 baby. The young guide was very interesting throughout the visit. She took the time to show us geckos on trees or explain several trees in the reserve. The driver was also very nice. It was exciting!
On vous remercie de votre visite et de votre contribution à notre projet.
A really worthwhile experience visiting the Ebony Forest restoration project. The guide was really knowledgeable and gave us loads of insight into the history of the Mauritian ecosystem and the work to restore it from centuries of destruction. The hike is fairly intense, in places very open and extremely hot in the sun. The route to the top peak is hard going even if you consider yourself “gym fit” but well worth the effort for the panoramic views around the island. We walked with a family who had a young child with them. The guide was amazing with her and kept her going long after a lot of kids legs would have given up (they didn’t go up to the top peak). Take good shoes, lots of water and plenty of insect repellent. If you don’t enjoy a hard walk, the jeep tour would be an excellent alternative.
We thank you for your visit and contribution to our project.
Our hike at Ebony Forest was so much more than a beautiful walk in nature — it was an experience with meaning. From the moment we arrived, we could see the passion behind this incredible conservation project. The trails are well maintained and wind through restored native forest, with breathtaking views over Chamarel and the southwest coast. Along the way, we learned about the endemic plants and birds of Mauritius, and the inspiring work being done to restore what was once lost. What makes this visit truly special is knowing that every ticket directly supports the NGO behind Ebony Forest. Your visit helps fund native forest restoration, species recovery, conservation training, and climate change adaptation efforts. It feels good to know that simply by hiking, you are actively contributing to protecting Mauritius’ unique biodiversity. The guides are knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic, sharing stories of rare species and ongoing rewilding efforts. It’s inspiring to see conservation in action — not just talked about, but lived every day. If you are looking for one of the most meaningful things to do in Mauritius, this is it. Stunning scenery, fascinating insights, and the chance to make a positive impact — all in one unforgettable experience. Highly recommend.
We chose the Jeep tour. It may not be the + ecological, but bcp more relaxing than walking in intense heat (plus it climbs hard at times). The guide was very good, we learned bcp!! To do absolutely! In addition, you will contribute to the restoration and maintenance of the remaining 3% of the island's primary forest.
On vous remercie de votre visite et de votre contribution à notre projet de conservation
