What it is
About 67 square kilometres of upland forest in the southwest, ranging from around 300 to 800 metres. Marked trails run from the Black River visitor centre in the west and Pétrin in the east, from a 20-minute viewpoint walk to full-day crossings. The Macchabée viewpoint looks down the length of the gorge.
Why go
This is where the pink pigeon, the echo parakeet and the Mauritius kestrel survive, all of them recovered from populations that had fallen into single or double figures. It is also the only proper hiking on the island beyond Le Morne.
When to go
May to November. The park sits in the wettest part of Mauritius and the trails turn to mud after rain, which in the summer months is most days. Birds are most active early. Set your expectations correctly: this is quiet forest birding and hiking, not wildlife viewing at volume.
Most people stay Day trip.