by Emma Gass, 29 August 2008

Before dismissing Mauritius as just another beach holiday with bulging buffet tables and sunburned bodies on the beach, let me and Go2Africa product developer, Scarlett Edmiston, tell you about the other, underappreciated side of the island.

This is the beautiful, cultural and adventurous side that we discovered on a recent trip to the island floating in the Indian Ocean beyond Madagascar (luckily Mauritius is just a short 4-hour flight from South Africa).

A Mauritius Adventure

Our Mauritius adventure started in the southern part of the island. Although known to be the rugged, mountainous part of Mauritius we were still surprised to wake on the edge of steep cliffs plunging into the sea below.

With no reefs to protect this part of the coast it's not your typical palm-fringed dream. Instead it called for exploration - getting as close as we dared to the edge of the cliffs we pointed out fresh water waterfalls splashing directly into the ocean and black volcanic rocks below us.

If we were surfers we could have explored this southern coastline further, the south and south west coasts are where you'll find the best surfing waves.

Instead we ventured inland, into the sugar cane plantations that are synonymous with Mauritius. Sugar is one of the main industries on the island and waving sugar cane covers much of the land.

The sweet smell of molasses combines with that of sunscreen, lingering sea salt and incense to create the distinctive island scent of Mauritius.

We drove along roads flanked by 7-foot flowering cane, passing local farm labourers and their rickety motorbikes, until we reached the edge of Combo Forest. Here we left the car and started walking.

Hiking Tropical Forests

There are many great walking and hiking trails in the national parks and domaines of Mauritius which, like the one we did, take you through tropical forests, past mango trees, traveller's palms, wild raspberries and Chinese guava's (delicious eaten with chilli and salt, Creole style).

Expect your path to be criss-crossed with clear streams and to discover impressive waterfalls perfect for an impromptu swim.

That night we stayed in the hills above the coloured sands of Chamarel at Lakaz Chamarel a boutique hotel. It was an oasis of style and calm where we could reflect on our day of exploration and adventure.

Up the Adrenalin

Exploring the natural beauty of inland Mauritius can be done in other imaginative ways. Use horses or mountain bikes to negotiate the rambling hills where you can spot big-eared deer and if you're as lucky as us, shy wild boar.

Or opt for adrenalin-inducing quad bikes to explore the terrain. This is even more fun if you get caught in a tropical downpour, as we were. The slippery slopes, the flying mud and the adrenalin rush of driving along rocky tracks while blinded by fat tropical rain drops more than makes up for missing the 360 degree view of the island from the viewpoint.

If I had to recommend one truly thrilling way to experience the beautiful landscapes of Mauritius it would have to be zip-lining over the Riviere des Galets. Strong cables support you as you zip safely across the deep ravine allowing you to catch exhilarating glimpses of the river and waterfalls far below you.

Between each zip across the river, we walked - anticipating the next leap - through sugar cane fields, past banana plantations or down into the lush valley to the waterfalls.

Shopping for Culture

For some, shopping is the best part of a holiday, for others it's a chance to discover the local culture. Most of Mauritius' population live in inland villages which offer little in the way of shopping besides the local Tabac (tobacconist) or Poulet Frais (the local version of KFC).

Crumbling Curepipe is a busy inland city where clothing bargains are plentiful, but Grand Baie is the Mauritian city for the tourist market. Don't expect to find a bargain here but it's worth visiting for the pretty marina, and to watch the never-ending game of dominoes played under the trees or a game of local beach-soccer at sunset.

More Than a Beach Holiday

When you're a travel writer sent to discover Mauritius you can't just lie on the beach for 10 days - although it would be easy to do just that. The beach resorts of Mauritius are usually moments away from stretches of sugar white sands shaded by thoughtfully positioned thatched parasols and dotted with palm trees.

It would be easy not to move, except to submerge oneself in the glittering sea, but there's so much more to Mauritius than a beach holiday.

Although, after hiking through tropical gorges, seeking out waterfalls and domino games, it's always good to complete your day with a dip in the Indian Ocean.

Readers' Comments:

Do you have adventure stories from your Mauritius holiday? Tell us about it.

Article © Copyright 2008 Go2Africa.

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