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 Mauritius
Attractions in Mauritius
Nature & Parks
Pamplemousses Botanical Garden Mauritius
The Pamplemousses Gardens (Sir S. Ramgoolam Gardens), Mauritius’s botanical gardens, can be found in the north of the Pamplemousses district and are easily accessible via the M1 motorway.
This park is rightly counted as one of the most beautiful tropical gardens in the world, and is one of the highlights of any trip to Mauritius. For those who find the seaside resort crowds to be too much or the beach too hot, the botanical garden is an
ideal destination. The Pamplemousses Gardens are a place
 of calm, where visitors can easily while away a few hours
wandering in the shade of the trees.
The land was bought in 1735 by the French governor of the time Gouverneur Mahé de Labourdonnais, and was used for planting vegetables for the capital Port Louis. However, the park’s current appearance began to develop gradually after it was taken on by Pierre Poivre in 1770.
Pierre Poivre brought seeds and plants from all over the world to Mauritius, both out of pure botanical interest and in order to break Holland’s spice monopoly.
A monument to Pierre Poivre now stands in the water lily pond.
The well-kept garden now harbours more than 500 species
 of tree, including a few plants which have since become rare.
A few of the many highlights to be found in the Pamplemousses Gardens:
Victoria amazonica water lilies
Leaves stretching 2 metres in diameter, and beautiful flowers which sadly only blossom for a short time
Palm trees
Spice trees
A lotus pond full of flowers
Talipot palms, which only flower approx. every 60-100 years
Teak and mahogany trees
Huge bamboo trees
 Other points of interest in the Pamplemousses Gardens:
The colonial house ‘Chateau de mon plaisir’, built in 1777 in typical Creole style, holds the garden management office and also occasional exhibitions.
The trees growing in front of the building were planted by dignitaries and other important visitors to Mauritius.
The replica old sugar mill.
An enclosure containing giant tortoises and Java deer.
The great lake, Grand Bassin, with its many fish (bring a bit of bread with you).
 The stunning, forged entrance gate which shines a brilliant white in the sun.
Pamplemousses Gardens, Mauritius:
Location: northern Mauritius, Pamplemousses
Children: very suitable
Ideal for visitors interested in the flora of Mauritius and the tropics
Definitely worth a visit
Opening hours: daily
Parking available
Official guides offer tours in a variety of languages
No restaurants or shops are available in the park
Entry: fees charged
Other sights in the area:
The Saint-Francois-d’Assise church and its cemetery
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