Wild South with Waterfalls & Rare Exotic Viewpoints with Lunch

Mauritius’s wild south is best understood from a moving car, and this private tour covers a remarkable amount of ground in one long day. You’ll visit a dormant volcano, a sacred crater lake, waterfalls, rocky beaches, village roads, rare viewpoints, and Chamarel’s Seven Coloured Earth Geopark.

I like the private car and flexible driver service, especially for a route with many short stops. I also like that lunch, park admission, hotel pickup, and drop-off are built into the $143.77 price. The main drawback is simple: this is a very full day, and several stops last only 5 to 20 minutes.

I love the variety, but you should book this with the right expectation. You are not settling into one attraction for hours. You are collecting views and small encounters across southern Mauritius, with travel time included in the 6 to 9 hour schedule.

Key things to know before booking

• More than ten southern sights: The route reaches volcano country, the central highlands, sacred sites, waterfalls, beaches, gardens, and Chamarel.

• A private outing: Only your own group takes part, with an air-conditioned vehicle and a certified driver.

• Lunch and entry fees included: You receive a three-course meal with vegetarian options, a soft drink, and admission to the included paid attractions.

• Rare coastal viewpoints: Maconde Viewpoint, Riviere des Galets, and the road toward La Prairie offer scenery that is not always included in standard island tours.

• A long, fast-moving day: Stop times range from 5 minutes at Riviere des Galets to about an hour at Chamarel.

• Driver quality matters: Hans, Menon, Jivin, Jevin, Ricardo, and Zokey are named in the available feedback. Hans is often requested, so guide assignments are made on a first-come basis.

Why this private southern Mauritius route works

The strongest feature is the range. Mauritius is not only beaches and resort water sports. In one day, this route shows you the island’s volcanic interior, Hindu religious life, rough southern coastline, fishing villages, planted gardens, and famous geological sights.

Because the tour is private, the pace can feel more personal than a large coach outing. You can ask questions, take photos from the car, and spend your time with your own group. The drivers speak English and French, and the company describes them as tourism-experienced guides rather than simple vehicle operators.

The route is also practical for someone based in Grand Baie who wants to see the south without arranging several separate excursions. You pay $143.77 per person, which is not the lowest possible day-trip price, but the package includes private transport, taxes, lunch, and entrance fees. For a couple or small group, that bundle can offer solid value.

The tradeoff is mileage. Travel time is included in the advertised 6 to 9 hours, and the schedule has many stops. You will see more places than on a slow, single-region outing, but you will not have long, unhurried visits at every one.

Trou aux Cerfs and the central highlands

The day begins around 8:30 am, with Trou aux Cerfs as an early stop. This dormant volcano sits near Curepipe in the center of Mauritius. You reach the top by car, so there is no demanding climb before the sightseeing begins.

The crater area is known for plants, monkeys, and a broad view from the high point. The attraction is less about walking around a major monument and more about seeing how volcanic activity shaped Mauritius. It gives you a useful sense of the island’s interior before the route turns toward the southern highlands.

You have about 15 minutes here. That is enough for a quick look and photographs, but not enough for a long nature walk. Bring a light layer if you are sensitive to cooler highland weather, though no special clothing requirement is given.

The route then follows scenic roads near La Marie Reservoir. The drive itself is part of the experience, with views along the road and the possibility of seeing the Oxenham Winery area. There is no scheduled stop listed for the reservoir or winery, so treat this section as a moving panorama rather than a tasting visit.

Ganga Talao, a peaceful sacred site

Ganga Talao is one of the most meaningful stops on the route. Located in a reserve valley, this sacred place is important to Mauritius’s Hindu population and is used for prayer, yoga, and meditation.

You get about 30 minutes here, making it one of the more generous short visits of the day. The setting is quiet and reflective, and it offers a change of mood after the roads around Curepipe. If you are interested in local faith and daily life, this stop adds depth that a purely scenic tour would miss.

Approach the site respectfully. This is not simply a photo stop. The tour description emphasizes its religious importance and peaceful atmosphere, so keep voices low and follow any local customs or instructions given by your driver.

The site is free to enter. That matters because the day includes several different kinds of attractions, and not every worthwhile stop comes with a separate ticket.

Alexandra Falls and the uncertain access road

Alexandra Falls lies in the southern park area and is a draw for people who enjoy short nature stops and trekking country. You have roughly 20 minutes to see the waterfall area.

Access can sometimes be affected by landslides. The operator checks conditions through its field team, but the stop cannot be treated as guaranteed in every weather situation. This is one of the few points where the company is candid about changing the route for safety.

That uncertainty is worth accepting if you want a broad southern tour. If Alexandra Falls is inaccessible, the day can still include Chamarel, coastal viewpoints, Gris Gris, and other stops. If it is open, expect a concise visit rather than a long hike.

Maconde Viewpoint and the southern coast

Maconde Viewpoint is presented as one of the less common stops on the island’s tour circuit. Its appeal is the combination of road, sea, and cliffside scenery, with about 20 minutes for photographs.

This is the type of stop that rewards a private vehicle. You are not spending half a day at a single attraction, but you are able to pause at a striking point that may be skipped on a more standard route. Sea conditions and weather will affect the quality of the view, so keep your expectations flexible.

The southern coast becomes rougher and more exposed as the route continues. Riviere des Galets is known for its rocky beach and protected Roche Galets formations. There is no coral reef here, and the sea can be rough and unsafe for swimming.

Only about five minutes is assigned to this stop. In poor conditions, the driver may keep you in the vehicle and slow down for photographs instead. That is sensible. This is a picture stop, not a swimming beach, and you should not enter the water.

Gris Gris Beach and Souillac’s local side

Gris Gris Beach, near Souillac, offers another view of the island’s untamed southern edge. Unlike a calm resort beach, it is valued for its forceful sea and exposed setting.

You get around 10 minutes here. That is enough to take in the coast, but the short timing means you should have your camera ready before leaving the car.

Souillac itself is a local village, and the route gives you a brief look beyond the resort belt. This is part of the tour’s appeal: the day is not limited to polished attractions. You pass through roads and communities that help show how varied Mauritius can feel from one district to the next.

Telfair Garden and the roads near Bel Ombre

Telfair Garden sits behind the old police station and bus station in Souillac. The setting is unusual, and its large trees make it popular for photographs. You have around 10 minutes here.

Do not expect a grand botanical garden with a long trail. The value is the atmosphere and the chance to pause somewhere that many visitors would never find on their own. It is a small stop, but it adds local character to a day otherwise shaped by major viewpoints and waterfalls.

The route then passes through the St Martin area, near resorts and Heritage Golf Park. A coconut-lined road in Bel Ombre provides another scenic stretch. No stop is allowed along that road for safety reasons, but the driver may reduce speed so you can take pictures or video from the vehicle.

This detail tells you how the day works. Some views are meant to be enjoyed through the car window, not turned into formal stops. A private ride makes those moments easier because the driver can explain what you are seeing and manage the pace within safety limits.

Chamarel’s waterfalls, colored earth, and tortoises

Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark is the largest scheduled attraction on the route, with about one hour allocated to it. Admission is included, so you do not need to budget a separate entry fee at the gate.

The park is known for its unusual colored earth formations, Mauritius’s highest waterfall, and giant tortoises. It is also one of the most recognizable places in the south, so this is likely to be the busiest and most structured part of your sightseeing day.

One hour gives you time to see the main features, take photographs, and have lunch, but it is still not a slow visit. The included meal is a three-course lunch with vegetarian options, plus one soft drink per person. Bottled water is available on request from the driver.

The food is a notable part of the package. Several comments specifically praise the lunch at Chamarel, including the quality of the meal and dessert. Alcohol is not included, and wine tasting at Takamaka would cost extra if you choose to add that stop.

Chamarel is where the tour’s value becomes easiest to judge. A paid park admission, substantial lunch, private transport, and a full day of southern sightseeing are all folded into one price. If you were arranging each part yourself, the logistics would take more time even before considering fuel and driving.

La Prairie, Le Morne, and the fisherman’s village

Later in the route, you pass through a fishing village and reach La Prairie Beach, where you can see Le Morne. The tour describes this as a less common southern view, reached by scenic roads driven by experienced local drivers.

The Le Morne sightline gives the day a strong final coastal note. You have already seen cliffs, rocks, rough surf, and coconut roads. Here, the focus shifts to a named mountain and the relationship between the coast and the interior.

The exact time at this section is not specified, so ask your driver how long the photo opportunity will be on the day. Weather will make a major difference, especially if cloud covers the mountain or softens the coastal view.

The driver makes or breaks the day

This tour depends heavily on the person behind the wheel. You are in the vehicle for much of the day, and the driver controls the explanations, road safety, photo pauses, and response to weather or landslide conditions.

The named drivers connected with the experience include Hans, Menon, Jivin, Jevin, Ricardo, and Zokey. Hans receives especially strong personal praise, but he is often booked, and assignments are handled on a first-come basis. If you have a preferred driver, request that person early, but do not assume the request can be guaranteed.

Menon is described as doing a decent job when Hans was unavailable, and Ricardo receives thanks for a fantastic drive. The useful lesson is to judge the company as a team rather than book only for one individual. The feedback also suggests that guide training is not perfectly uniform, so the style may vary.

The drivers speak English and French. That is helpful when you want both practical information and a little conversation about the places you pass.

Price, pace, and who should book

At $143.77 per person, this is best compared with the cost of a private car day, not with a basic group transfer. You get an air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, pickup and drop-off by certified drivers, taxes, lunch, a soft drink, and included entrance fees.

The value improves if you are traveling with another person or a small group, because the private format lets you share the vehicle and avoids paying for separate taxis between far-flung southern sights. It also saves you from planning a route that crosses central Mauritius and the entire south in one day.

The score attached to the experience is 4.2 from five ratings, a small sample that should be read with care. The positive themes are clear: patient drivers, good organization, plenty of places to see, bilingual service, and good food. The main reservations are also clear: the day is long, some visits feel too short, weather can reduce the payoff, and driver assignments may not match your first choice.

This tour suits you if:

• You want to see many sides of Mauritius in one day.
• You prefer a private car to a shared coach.
• You value lunch and admissions being handled in advance.
• You enjoy viewpoints, short walks, cultural sites, and scenic drives.
• You are comfortable with a busy schedule.

It is less suitable if you want a relaxed beach day, a long hike, or extended time at each attraction. The route favors breadth over lingering.

Practical details for a smoother day

Wear comfortable shoes, even though the route is mostly vehicle-based. Some stops involve uneven outdoor ground, and you will be moving in and out of the car repeatedly.

Carry sun protection and a phone or camera with room for many photographs. Weather can change the experience, especially at waterfalls, coastal viewpoints, and Le Morne. The company may limit access to Riviere des Galets or Alexandra Falls when conditions are unsafe.

Pickup is offered, and the stated start time is 8:30 am. The full duration is approximately 6 to 9 hours, with travel time included. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the experience is described as suitable for most people.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that period are not accepted for a refund, based on local time.

Should you book the Wild South tour?

Book it if your priority is seeing a lot of southern Mauritius without arranging a private route yourself. The combination of Chamarel, Ganga Talao, Alexandra Falls, Maconde, Gris Gris, Telfair Garden, and the coastal roads gives you a wide picture of the island in a single outing.

I would choose it for a first visit when time is limited, especially if lunch, tickets, and hotel transport matter to you. I would skip it in favor of a slower experience if you dislike long drives or feel rushed by short photo stops.

Ask for your preferred driver early, accept that weather may alter the route, and think of the day as a scenic survey rather than a series of deep visits. With that mindset, Beguided Tours offers a practical and unusually varied way to reach the wild south.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The tour starts at 8:30 am, with pickup and drop-off service provided by certified drivers.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately 6 to 9 hours. Travel time is included in that duration.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates in the private activity.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The package includes a three-course meal with vegetarian options and one soft drink per person during lunch.

Are entry fees included?

Yes. All fees and taxes are included, along with admission to the paid attractions specified in the tour.

Is alcohol included?

No. Alcoholic drinks are not included. Wine tasting at Takamaka is also outside the package if you decide to add it.

Can I request a specific driver?

You can request a preferred driver, but the assignment is not guaranteed. Hans is frequently requested and may already be booked, with drivers assigned on a first-come basis.