A 10-minute drive out of the capital, 11 kilometers towards the northeast, is the Royal Botanical Gardens of Pamplemousses. Described as one of the world’s oldest and most beautiful gardens, this 60-acre arboretum is a living museum of trees, blooms, shrubs and rare species of plants. Started in 1735 when French Governor Labourdonnais bought the Mon Plaisir mansion house, this vegetable garden developed into a major fresh food source for ships calling Port Louis. Later in 1768, the house was bought by French Horticulturist Pierre Poivre, who introduced more than 500 different species of plants from around the world, including 80 species of palms and about 25 indigenous to the Mascarene Islands. Combining native plants with exotic specimens from other countries, he turned the garden into what is now the internationally acclaimed Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens.

Our next stop was La Vanille Reserve des Mascareignes, near Riviere des Anguilles, further deep in the south. Richly endowed with wildlife, this nature reserve is best known for its sizable number of Nile crocodiles and giant tortoises. Several self-guiding nature trails wind among the woods, providing opportunities to enjoy the lush vegetation, indigenous flora, streams, and perhaps to spot geckos, Madagascan tenrecs, monkeys, Java deer, fruit bats, mangoose, lizards and chameleons. Wildflowers splash the park interior. Ranger-guided tours of the park are also offered. We got a good view of the Nile crocodiles, transferred from Madagascar, thriving by the thousands, in their breeding waterholes. A fishpond was stocked profusely with brightly-colored Japanese koi carp. Another main attraction here is the 2-acre tortoise park, where you’ll find around 500, half-a decade old or more, giant Aldabra tortoises roaming around peacefully. I even sat on the shell of one of them! Of special interest is the insectarium. Mr. Jacques Siedlecki’s amazing collection of approximately 20,000 species of butterflies and insects, is one of the largest and most fascinating in the world.