South and Southwest Mauritius
In Southwest Mauritius, near the Le Morne World Heritage Site, is the small village of La Gaulette. We stayed here for three weeks in May 2014 at The Rusty Pelican Appartments.
La Gaulette Village
The village is an excellent option to use as a touring base as it is only a short drive to the Black River Gorges National Park. Furthermore, the airport and most attractions were within an hour or so, including Port Louis. Also, the village is popular with the kitesurfing fraternity because it is close to the Le Morne peninsula.
We stayed on the ground floor at the Rusty Pelican, with a terrace overlooking the garden. It was an ideal spot for a drink, chill out and watch wildlife.
Around half a dozen restaurants are within 1 km walking distance of the guest house. We tried each one before settling on three to return for our evening meal: The Enso Restaurant and Bar at the Village Walk Shopping Centre supermarket was the best. Also, the Indian and the co-located Asian restaurant offered decent food and value.
Red-whiskered Bulbul, Female
The Rusty Pelican Garden attracted wildlife, including Red-whiskered Bulbul, an introduced invasive species (Ref 1 and Ref 2). Although an urban species, it feeds on fruits and moves from degraded habitats into higher-quality native forests. Thereby potentially spreading invasive plants. Moreover, destructive Village Weavers were nesting in a tree next to our apartment.
Village Weaver Nesting Colony
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Village Weaver Nesting Colony Behaviours
The village weaver (aka masked weaver) is an introduced species to Mauritius from Central Tropical Africa. A small colony was nesting in the back garden of the house next to our apartment. So, I observed and photographed these destructive birds occasionally for a week or so.
The male birds would tear strips from palm trees in the Rusty Pelican Garden. Then, build a framework and cover it with leaves from broad-leafed trees. Females watched males constructing the nest and would then fly to inspect them. The owner of our apartment was not happy with the birds destroying her palms. So, she had the tress the weavers were nesting sawn down. Such a shame as I lost the opportunity for some good observation and photography.
The featured images show some of the behaviours of both the male and female birds that I observed.
South and Southwest Landscapes and Wildlife
The south and southwest coasts have several public beaches between La Gaulette and Gris-Gris, near Souillac. And, these beaches were easily accessible with good parking, and Gris-Gris was under a leisurely sixty-minute drive from La Gaulette.
Unfortunately, a rockfall blocked the B9 south coast road at Maconde Viewpoint, which was not accessible during our trip. A diversion was in place between Baie du Cap via Chamarel and Case Noyale to Le Morn. So, the beaches east of Maconde Viewpoint were only accessible via the diversion or the Black River Georges and Chamouny roads.
Meditation at Gris-Gris
A local man was meditating on the cliffs at Gris-Gris Beach, south coast of Mauritius.
South and Southwest Landscapes and Wildlife
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Mauritius Landscapes and Wildlife in the South and Southwest
Chamarel Viewpoint is on the B104 road from Case Noyale to the south coast at Baie du Cap. It is just before the Chamarel turnoff. The viewpoint offers panoramas of Tourelle du Tamarin, towards Petite Riviere Noire and Le Morne peninsula. Moreover, Le Morne UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site, one of only two in Mauritius.
The gallery features landscapes at Gris-Gris, Pomponette Public Beach, La Prairie Beach, with views of Morne Brabant Mountain. Also, at the southern end of the Le Morne peninsula. Wildlife includes an endemic Mauritius grey white-eye was foraging for insects along the Le Morne trail. In contrast, a curlew, a winter visitor, was feeding in the lagoon.
Kitesurfing at Le Morne Lagoon
Le Morne lagoon, also known as the Kite Lagoon, on the southwest coast of Mauritius, is a popular kitesurfing venue.
Kitesurfer at Le Morne Lagoon
The image shows one of the more advanced freestyle kitesurfers at the lagoon at Le Morne.
Le Morne Lagoon Kitesurfers
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Kitesurfing at Le Morne Lagoon
Both beginners and freestyle kitesurfers frequent Le Morne lagoon. Further, it is an excellent place for kitesurfing and taking photos from the beach without getting your feet wet.
References – Online Resources
1. Pycnonotus jocosus (Red-whiskered Bulbul). 2021. [Online] Available from Global Invasive Species Database [Accessed 17-Novl-21].
2. Gut passage effect of the introduced red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) on germination of invasive plant species in Mauritius. 2021. [Online] Available from Invasive Species Compendium [Accessed 17-Novl-21].