Places of Interest Near SSR International Airport

Places of Interest Near SSR International Airport

The SSR International Airport is found in the beautiful South of Mauritius, interspersed with the many exquisite and beautiful touristic attractions found in the vicinity which contribute to the immense worldwide popularity of the southern region.

The South is considered the wildest and most raw, untouched part of the island. With the numerous peaking mountains, the rich and diverse forests, the sharp and unforgiving cliffs, the breathtaking sceneries, the exciting parks, and many others, it comes as no wonder why the region is so beloved amongst tourists. 

To help you plan your holiday easily, we have created a list featuring some of the most exciting and famous activities in the south of the island. 

• La Vanille Nature park

Nestled in a subliminal valley bustling with live greeneries and filled with the life of a plethora of animals, La Vanille Crocodile Park is a must-visit on the list of any tourist on the island.

 The park spreads over an area of about 3.5 hectares of raw forestry and is home to the largest collection of reptiles on the island. Created in 1985, the reserve possesses the biggest population of captive tortoises of the entire world, at a whopping number of 1000, including the oldest and one of the largest tortoises on the entire globe, named Domino. 

The park is also internationally recognised to be one of the largest reserves housing about 2000 Nile crocodiles, varying greatly in both size and age, ranging from newborns to fully grown, strong adults. 

Aside from crocodiles and tortoises, La Vanille Nature Park also possesses a world unique insectarium. Formed over years of ardent yet minutely precise work and unflinching passion from Mr. Jacques Siedleki, the insectarium consists of about 26 000 unique species and about 30 000 specimens carefully organised to produce a playful setting of dancing colours. Beetles, butterflies and various other insects originating from 5 continents are displayed in this magnificent work of art. Some of these specimens are extremely rare and unique in the entire world. 

• Gris Gris

Mauritius is more commonly known for its calm azure lagoons and beautiful chalk-white sand lining them. Gris Gris, on the other hand, breaks all these expectations with giant, abrupt cliffs and rough oceanic waves crashing on them. Nevertheless, Gris Gris is acclaimed for the raw natural beauty and the not so well known face of Mauritius it offers. 

Located at the southernmost point of the island, the dominating grey cliffs of Gris Gris give on to a subliminal view of the humongous waves rushing towards the shore. There is also a small garden where you can lay about and have an amazing picnic as the sound of the crashing waves and the salty aroma create an otherworldly ambiance. 

On the end side of Gris Gris is a rather interesting optical illusion that attracts thousands of visitors. There lies a rock, which when seen from a certain angle of view, appears to be a face which is crying, with tears constantly streaming down its cheeks. This is due to the near-continuous attacks of the waves on the rock. 

• Bois Cheri

Bois Cheri is the first and biggest producer of tea on the island, with origins dating back to the 1890s.

Discover the history, stories and tales intertwined within the grounds of this estate as you are taken upon a guided tour through the plantations as well as the factory. 

Subsequently, you will also get the chance to visit the Bois Cheri Tea museum and get a first-hand experience of how this bustling industry has grown, thrived and instilled a special place in Mauritian trade and culture. 

The estate towers over the whole southern region and hence provides an exceptional panoramic view which you can enjoy while sipping on some the delicious tea you have just witnessed being produced. 

• Saint Aubin House

Constructed way back in the first decades of the 19th century, the Saint Aubin estate has been a producer of sugarcane for decades, before finally being restructured and renovated to reflect the rich Mauritian heritage it represents. As of date, you can still see the ancient beams and ship poles which were used in the construction of the house. 

Sugar Cane is grown in bulk on the grounds of the estate and turned into sugar as well as a delectable rum. You can witness the whole process right before your eyes as you tour the factory, plantations and distillery. 

• Ganga Talao

Sheltered in the mountainous regions of Savanne District, is a mystical crater lake, deep in the heart of Mauritius. Considered the holiest place on the entire island, Ganga Talao is greatly renowned not only by the locals for the religious meaning it holds but also amongst tourists for the raw relatively untouched natural beauty it possesses. 

The region is covered under a veil of fog, even during the summer days with extreme silence hanging in the atmosphere, creating an eerie and supernatural feeling. However, come the end of the first quarter of the year, the once sparse area finds itself bustling with people coming from all over the island, walking from their faraway houses, over several kilometres, to do their prayers for the festival of Maha Shivratri. 

At the entrance of Ganga Taloa, 2 mighty 33m statues stand guard. The one on the right is Mangal Mahadev, with his companion snake around his neck and his Trident in hand, known as Trishul in Hindi. On the left is Durga Mata, a goddess in Hindu culture. 

The lake is surrounded by numerous temples dedicated to the many Hindu gods, with intricate sculptures and beautiful architecture. There is even a temple on the peak of a hill, accessed through a series of steps on the slope and providing a picturesque view of the lake and the crater in its heart. 

The best, most efficient and simultaneously most enjoyable way to get to these places is no doubt by car. EasyCab MRU provided cars for rent at some of the most attractive prices throughout the entire island. 

Here at EasyCab Car Rental Mauritius, we dedicate ourselves to your satisfaction and safety and pride ourselves in providing you with memorable holiday experiences in our car. If you can’t drive, we do also offer Mauritius Airport Transfer services.