Bel Ombre resort in Mauritius - best hotels and things to do

This region on the south-west coast of Mauritius is called a land of contrasts: here the elegance of colonial mansions meets a wild shore, and luxurious golf courses border prehistoric forests. Bel Ombre in Mauritius has a special charm.

Photo by Jyoti Pur on Pexels

History of the area

The name sounds poetic, and the legend of its origin is just as beautiful. According to local retellings, in the 18th century the first tenant of these lands, Simon Remirac, caught a large fish in the local river called "ombre". Impressed by the catch and by the beauty of the place, he named the estate Bel Ombre.

For a long time this region was isolated: mountains and rough rivers did not allow roads to be built. Only in the 19th century did the sugar industry flourish here. The sugar factory worked until 1999, and its ruins are now part of the cultural landscape. Today the region is managed by Rogers Group (ER Group), which turned the old plantation into a model of sustainable tourism.

Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort

How to get to Bel Ombre

From the airport (MRU) it is about 40 kilometers. That is 40-50 minutes by car or taxi. The B9 road along the coast is considered one of the most scenic roads in Mauritius. From the capital of Mauritius, Port Louis, it is about 60 km.

Le Château de Bel Ombre

In the very heart of the estate, among French gardens and century-old trees, rises a magnificent 19th-century mansion. This building with snow-white columns and lace verandas keeps the spirit of old Mauritius. Today one of the region's well-known restaurants is located here. The cuisine is based on the "farm to table" concept: almost all ingredients, from fruit to aromatic herbs, are grown right here, and seafood is bought from local fishermen at dawn.

Opening hours: lunch 12:00-15:00, dinner 19:00-22:00. Advance booking is required.

Prices: for those who want to get acquainted with local flavors, the hotel offers the seasonal Discovery lunch menu (about $50), and for a special candlelit evening a five-course tasting set is ideal (from $90 without wine).

Le Château de Bel Ombre

What to see and what to do in Bel Ombre

Bel Ombre offers amazing natural places on the island and many options for active leisure.

Nature reserve in Bel Ombre

Heritage Nature Reserve is a large private reserve. Here you can go on safari in off-road vehicles and quad bikes. You drive through endemic forests, and on the way you may see Java deer, wild boars and macaques. For those who love more drive, there are buggy tours through the reserve. The routes pass waterfalls and viewpoints (Frederica, Dalhousie), from where an incredible panorama opens up.

Bel Ombre Nature Reserve

Seashell museum

Also known as World of Seashells in Bel Ombre. The halls hold one of the largest private collections in the Indian Ocean - more than 8,000 exhibits brought from all over the world. Thanks to interactive stands, the walk turns into a fascinating story about marine biology, myths and the history of how shells were used by people.

Opening hours: daily from 09:00 to 17:00.

Price: about $15, the ticket is often included in the price of quad tours.

World of Seashells

Maconde Cape

One of the most scenic places on the south coast of Mauritius. The rock here forms a steep loop. You can climb a narrow staircase to the top - from above there is a view of the bay, where the turquoise water of the lagoon sharply turns into the deep blue ocean. It is best to come at sunrise or by 16:30, when the lagoon turns incredible colors.

Location: 10 minutes from Bel Ombre by car.

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Gris-Gris beach and Roche Qui Pleure rock

The southernmost point of Mauritius, 15-20 minutes drive east. This is the only place not protected by a reef. Huge ocean waves crash against the coastal rocks. At the edge of the beach rises the rock called "the crying stone". Water enters cracks and runs down the basalt, creating the illusion of tears on a human face.

Swimming here is strictly forbidden, but it is a popular place for walks and photos. Follow the path to the left of the viewpoint to the very stone.

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La Prairie beach

It is 10 minutes from Bel Ombre in the direction of Le Morne. This is a wild beach with emerald grass right by the sand. It is an ideal place for a picnic and panoramic photos to photograph the famous Le Morne mountain. The depth here is small, so it is great for calm snorkeling.

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Rochester Falls

Rochester Falls is one of the widest waterfalls on the island. Its rocks have the shape of rectangular basalt columns. You can swim in the lake at the foot of the falls.

How to get there: 20 minutes by car from Bel Ombre past sugar cane fields. The road is unpaved.

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Blue Bay Marine Park

An hour from the center of Bel Ombre lies Blue Bay Marine Park - a protected natural zone of international importance. It is a real paradise for those who dream of seeing all the beauty of coral. Because the reef here is protected from waves, the lagoon has turned into a calm and very warm shallow area with fantastic visibility.

The main "masterpiece" of the park is a large ancient coral more than five meters in diameter. You can go to it... or enter the water with a mask and snorkel. The fish here are so used to people that schools of colorful parrotfish and clownfish will surround you as soon as you step into the water.

Price: renting a glass-bottom boat costs 18-25 euros.

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Bois Chéri tea route

Head inland on the Bois Chéri Tea Route. The Bois Chéri estate, founded back in 1892, is the cradle of Mauritian tea. The road to it goes through scenic hills that are often wrapped in mist in the morning. The place resembles landscapes from Sri Lanka.

During the factory tour you will be shown the entire path of the tea leaf - from harvesting on the plantation to packing. But the most pleasant part awaits you at the end: a tasting in a chalet on top of the hill. Sitting on the terrace overlooking the sacred lake and the mountains, you will taste different varieties, from classic black tea to the famous vanilla tea that has become a signature of Mauritius.

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World-class golf in Mauritius

In Bel Ombre there are golf courses that border the nature reserve.

• Heritage Golf Club (Le Château). An 18-hole course, repeatedly recognized as the best in Africa. From every point there is either an ocean view or a mountain view.
• La Réserve Golf Links. Opened in December 2023. This is the first links-style course in the region (with steep slopes and fast turf).

Conditions: for guests of Heritage hotels, the green fee (the right to play) is often included in the stay. For guests from other hotels - from $150-200 per round.

Heritage Golf Club - Le Chateau

Bay2Bay Tour

An excursion on a traditional open bus or speedboat - from Jacotet Bay to Maconde Cape. During the excursion you can see lime kilns, the ruins of mills, and hear stories about the colonial past of the region and the pirate era. The trip lasts about 1.5 hours.

Price: about $65 per adult.

Horse riding in Riambel

The wild beach of Riambel is about 2.5 kilometers of untouched coastline, where there is not a single hotel, only white sand and casuarina trees. Here you can swim right with the horses. And for those who prefer to stay on land, a sunset ride is a good option. The ride ends with dinner on the beach - a table will be set for you with fine cheeses and a glass of good wine.

Price: a one-hour ride is about $70-90, swimming with a horse - from $120.

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Where to stay in Bel Ombre

Hotels in Bel Ombre are worth your choice. The estate offers several resorts of different levels and first-class service for a holiday in the south of Mauritius.

Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort

This is a hotel in the style of 19th-century colonial architecture, with snow-white wooden pavilions and lace balconies. The Citronnelle River runs across the whole property and flows into the ocean.

• There are 158 suites in total. The interiors are done in a colonial-era style. Guests have a 24-hour personal butler.
• Direct access to two world-class courses, including La Réserve Golf Links.
• The Seven Colours Spa Millesime is a temple of wellness, where treatments are selected individually.
• The Baby Timomo kids' club, which among other things accepts babies from birth (up to 35 months free, from 8:30 to 15:30).
• Kilometers of light sandy beach protected by a coral reef. The water here is calm and crystal clear.

Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort

Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort

The hotel is decorated in an African style. Natural materials are used in the design: leather, dark wood, straw and ocher shades. The All Inclusive package here is considered one of the most varied on the island.

• 160 spacious rooms, with a minimum area of 52 sq. m. The interiors are cozy, warm, with African motifs.
• A huge spa center of 3,000 sq. m., designed like a village with huts among a tropical garden.
• Three swimming pools (one shaped like the dodo bird).
• Archery, tennis and footgolf.
• The Timomo and Friends club with crab hunting and workshops.

Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort

Sofitel So Mauritius

An elegant hotel with futuristic architecture: dazzling white "cocoons" of buildings, flowing lines and bright hibiscus accents in the decor.

• 92 rooms and villas with a private garden and outdoor shower.
• Butler services are provided for villas.
• The resort's spa complex offers exclusive wellness treatments.
• Free rental of bicycles, kayaks and SUP boards.
• A private lagoon with white sand, very quiet and secluded.

Sofitel So Mauritius

Kaz'alala Hosted B&B

This is a completely new format for Bel Ombre. Not a large resort, but a cozy guesthouse - four restored houses that used to belong to plantation staff. A beautiful garden, shared kitchen, breakfasts, a swimming pool and green grounds right in the center of Bel Ombre. Guests have access to the C Beach Club and the infrastructure of Heritage golf courses, while saving significantly on accommodation.

Kaz'alala Hosted B&B