Ebony Forest Reserve Chamarel - Take A Hike Tour

We came here after visiting the 7 colored sands park. The concept of the ebony forest is quite interesting as it’s a private initiative restoring the native forest. Since 2006 they’ve done a remarkable job restoring a huge part of this area. There are different ways in which you can experience the forest. We opted to take a hike. Amazingly you can meet the free roaming tortoises. How cool is that!!! The hike itself was very nice through as real as it gets wilderness, and Anaelle, who was our guide for the elevated walkway section did a fabulous job explaining the backgrounds of the park project as well as all the different types of plants and animals we got to see. Taken together I’d definitely recommend this activity but plan in 3-4 hrs if you don’t want to rush. Overall it’s really worth the entrance ticket which is not too expensive anyways. The boutique here is also a lot nicer than the one at the seven sands.

An excellent and truly underrated trail. The trail goes through the forest and reaches amazing viewpoints. Along the way, there is a local guide who is very interesting and informative about Mauritius in general, and the reserve, its plants and animals in particular. Highly recommended!

Not worth the 600 bucks per head. Just a jungle path walk. Two tortoise creeping along the path. Waste of time

The place is wonderful. Its the perfect spot to unwind and reconnect with nature. You get to see tortoises along the walk and different kind of birds. The path was easy to follow. Shoutout to Damien from the snack shop who was super helpful and very welcoming. We couldn’t help but notice that they dont take our contact details at the reception area while coming which i think is important should anything happen. And there is no security if ever you go beyond 17hrs as the place closes down and there is no system in place to ensure everyone has gotten down safety. Thats the one thing i believe they should improve on. Otherwise we had a great experience

Today we have a wonderful time at ebony forest. We choose take a ride. Our guide Anael was very kind and very informative. And the driver Sham driving very carefully, taking care of the turtles on the road. At the top there is an amaizing scenic. So overall its worth it. Thank you Ebony team!

The experience at the Ebony Forest was really good, Loic our guide was very informative and fun at the same time. They are doing such good conservation work and get very little support financially. I hope people keep visiting as it was a great place.

We stayed in Chalets Chamarel and walked to the Ebony Forest. We took the jeep safari and give kudos to the company of Lloyd and Damien, our hosts. They had great knowledge and shared their passion for Mauritius and it's native species. Well worth the trip for us. Mosquito repellent is strongly advised.

Thanks to Brice for an entertaining and informative tour. Great experience.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Ebony Forest Reserve and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in nature and conservation. Seeing the ebony trees up close was fascinating, and the giant tortoises roaming freely around the reserve were a real highlight. Our guide was excellent—friendly, knowledgeable and clearly passionate about Mauritian wildlife and ecosystems. Her enthusiasm really brought the experience to life. One thing worth noting is that the website describes the hike as easy. While it wasn't particularly difficult, we felt it was more moderate than easy, especially for less active visitors or families with younger children. Overall, a fantastic experience and a great way to learn more about Mauritius' unique wildlife and natural heritage. Highly recommended for nature lovers, couples and families with older children.

Worth the view at the end of the hike !Big thanks to Mr Damien,very knowledgeable and compassionate about nature.Will surely come for another day !Thanks to the team !Great job ahead.✨️

Having already visited Chamarel Waterfall and the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths during a previous trip to Mauritius, our actual goal was to explore the “Ebony Forest reserve” in the same region. We didn't want a guided tour, but rather to explore the hiking trails on our own. This was possible @ an entrance fee of 510 rupees per person. We hiked several trails to beautiful viewpoints (Kestrel Trail, Ridgeline Trail to the “Le Mourne Viewpoint) and we walked in total 1,5 hours. We enjoyed 👍🏻 our trip walking through the retored native nature. 💟 Peter & Gaby

The tour started after a council by the friendly personnel in the visitor centre. Upwards I used the trails. Signs on the way give relevant background information. Even at noon it's worthwhile.

A really worthwhile experience visiting the Ebony Forest restoration project. The guide was really knowledgeable and gave us loads of insight into the history of the Mauritian ecosystem and the work to restore it from centuries of destruction. The hike is fairly intense, in places very open and extremely hot in the sun. The route to the top peak is hard going even if you consider yourself “gym fit” but well worth the effort for the panoramic views around the island. We walked with a family who had a young child with them. The guide was amazing with her and kept her going long after a lot of kids legs would have given up (they didn’t go up to the top peak). Take good shoes, lots of water and plenty of insect repellent. If you don’t enjoy a hard walk, the jeep tour would be an excellent alternative.

Took a jeep tour through the Ebony forest with a guide. Our guide Anaelle was wonderful, passionate guide and a really nice companion who introduced us to endemic plants and animals in Mauritius as well as about Mauritius history, culture and a lot more. Interesting and well presented museum ar the beginning of the tour and breathtaking views at the end. Happy to support efforts to save endemic forest.

Perfect day visiting the forest. Brice our guide for the raised walkway was very informative and friendly.

Our hike at Ebony Forest was so much more than a beautiful walk in nature — it was an experience with meaning. From the moment we arrived, we could see the passion behind this incredible conservation project. The trails are well maintained and wind through restored native forest, with breathtaking views over Chamarel and the southwest coast. Along the way, we learned about the endemic plants and birds of Mauritius, and the inspiring work being done to restore what was once lost. What makes this visit truly special is knowing that every ticket directly supports the NGO behind Ebony Forest. Your visit helps fund native forest restoration, species recovery, conservation training, and climate change adaptation efforts. It feels good to know that simply by hiking, you are actively contributing to protecting Mauritius’ unique biodiversity. The guides are knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic, sharing stories of rare species and ongoing rewilding efforts. It’s inspiring to see conservation in action — not just talked about, but lived every day. If you are looking for one of the most meaningful things to do in Mauritius, this is it. Stunning scenery, fascinating insights, and the chance to make a positive impact — all in one unforgettable experience. Highly recommend.

Truly amazing experience and really fortunate to go on a one to one tour with guide Damian, a fantastic young man with great knowledge. He will even try and conjure up some birds for you with his bird calling! Get off the beach and spend some time here to support the endangered plants of Mauritius as this is a vital conservation site for the country.

What a super place to visit and the ticket price helps to keep tbe reserve going. Booked tickets for a hike after reading that you could get a short guided tour across the flycatcher walkway, when we got there the lady in the ticket desk actually explained it was a self guided tour but there might be a guide hanging around by the Flycatcher walkway.. She radioed ahead and said if we could be there by 1230 then a guide would help us.. We were really lucky to get Damien as our guide and as it was only me and my husband we could ask him lots of questions.. Damien was such a good guide, very knowledgeable and funny and told us all about Mauritius and it's flora and fauna and how they are trying to rewild indigenous plants at the reserve, if we hadn't have had a guide we would have missed out on so much. Had a lovely hike up the the Ridgeway trail to the lookout which gives some exceptional views of La Morne and Île aux Benetiers and enjoyed meeting several giant tortoise on the way. The museum was also worthwhile and overall the whole experience was very good, so much better than the 7 coloured sands park next door which is very touristy.. A small coffee shop and somewhere to sit after your hike would be the only improvement to make.

Very practical ticket. The visit was quite enjoyable and you can spend as much time as you want according to your wish.

It was misleading , it was clearly written that the tick include professional tour guid which I specifically choose because I have my kids 8&6y and my mum 65y ,I asked about the tour guide on the reception they tell me it is a self hike and I show them my ticket included a professional tour guid then they said he will meet us at the flycatcher raised walkway at 10 am put no one shows !! The two star for the misleading information otherwise the place worth it and the reception staff very friendly and helpful , I would not advise for children less than 8 y or elder with back or joint pain . The place is amazing with facilities like toilet and coffe shop at the sublime view point ,I would also recommend to get the paper map as for case your phone died ,water and hiking shoes.

Fabulous hike through the forest. We really enjoyed our self-guided hike. Seeing the wild giant tortoises was a real treat, but the views from the two viewpoints are just incredible. The hike is just hard enough to make you feel that you accomplished something, but not too hard. Getting to the top and finding a snack bar was a truly wonderful highlight! Highly recommend.

The Ebony Forest is a real gem in Mauritius' attractions. I try to visit every time I come to Mauritius and it's always a fabulous visit. It's really wonderful to see the work they're doing re-introducing and re-establishing Mauritius' native flora and fauna, and it's so great to learn about how Mauritius used to be (although sad to see the state of the deforestation). This time we took the guided drive to the top, but I've previously done the self guided walk up and it's a fabulous walk with a couple of great view spots on the way, not too strenuous or long although it is steep in places. Taking the guided tour drive with Damien was a real delight. First he guided us through the museum highlights. I've learnt more from that museum about the history of Mauritius than anywhere else! Then we took the jeep up to the raised walkway and then the viewpoint. Damien was super keen to share everything with us - on the raised walkway we managed to spot flycatchers among other native flora and fauna. At the sublime view point at the top Damien was on the lookout for the Mauritius Kestrel for us - and we got lucky and spotted one! It's a great spot to take in the view and have a snack - tasty samosas and chili cakes, and do try the tamarind juice too! On a holiday to Mauritius that's so often about the sea and coast, this gem really stands out for the information they provide, the work they're doing, and the wonderful flora and fauna you can see, including of course the wonderful ebony trees. Everyone in our group said it was a real highlight of the trip.

We spent about 2 hours here but could have spent more if we had wanted to walk all the way to the end of the trail. We didn’t see much wildlife unfortunately but we could hear birds etc in the trees they were just being camera shy. The facilities are new and clean and would recommend it for a safe “hike”.

Excellent tour. Joanna, our guide, was very passionate and informative about the conservation project, history, wildlife etc. We were pleased we opted for the jeep tour as we were already hot and tired after cycling to the forest. The tour also included a walk through the forest on the boardwalk (which includes many steps) where we spotted some of the rarer birds of Mauritius.

Enjoyable and informative experience in large reforestation project We took the jeep tour, which lasts about 2 hours and includes a guided tour of the small museum, a walk through the forest on a raised walkway and a visit to Sublime Point. The views from there are outstanding. All the staff were very helpful and friendly, especially Chris, our jeep driver.

I recently visited Ebony Forest, and it was an incredible experience! The natural beauty of the area was breathtaking, and the tour was well organised. Our guide, Damian, was fantastic friendly, easygoing, and impressively knowledgeable. He made the experience engaging and informative, sharing fascinating insights about the forest and its history. I highly recommend a visit to Ebony Forest, especially with Damian as your guide!

Ebony Forest was beautiful ! We did our own mini hike on the Kestrel trail without a guide . It was easy to follow and very beautiful with great views . We saw fruit bats in nature environment and some tortoises . On site of Chamarel 7 coloured earth but not connected . Highly recommend

Beautiful and easy walk through the forest partially guided. Brigesh was our guide. He was really very good : he provided very interesting insights and showed us plants and animals we would not have seen without him. The view at the end of the walk is amazing.

Just wow. I have been there with family member, and we all had an amazing time there. The staff at the front desk very helpful and professional. The little museum provides us with some useful information about the history of island. We were told at the front desk that we have 14 tortoises in the nature, there. We came across there. Raphel and Franklin. It is a wonderful sight-seeing spot whereby you have the best view of the Le Morne Brabant mountain and a glance at the western coastline. Highly recommended for nature lovers.

Had a great time with my family.The staff at the reception was very friendly and helpful.Saw a lot of endemic plants.Met some tortoise on the way up.The view at the top was breathtaking.

We stumbled across this place on our trip to Seven Coloured Earth and turned out to be the highlight of the whole day. The staff at reception were very helpful and we opted for the self guided hike to the viewpoint. The park was so peaceful and we managed to spot several of the roaming tortoises on the way. Highly recommend!

Ebony is a beautiful forest reserve near the Chamarel Seven Colored Earth Geopark. In fact, being more interested in nature than touristic locations, we decided to visit the geopark only because we had booked a hike in the Ebony forest. To our surprise, the former was more rewarding. Not that the reserve or the hike were not great. But their website had given us higher expectations about the guided tour, especially after our experience at Île aux Aigrettes (details in its review). We thought we would first be taken into the forest by a guide, and then allowed to explore on our own. But there was no one available. So we found a guide after a short hike to the raised walkway. He then gave us a largely rote description (most of which was already on the information boards placed along the walkway), and the rest was more about the procedures rather than the species of birds and animals being saved from the brink of extinction. At the wildlife film room, the screen was blank and the room, empty. The museum had a lot of information but the room was musty because of which we couldn’t spend much time inside. Overall, it was evident that the reserve was established with a vision and a lot of effort went into creating it. But we felt the enthusiasm in running the daily operations is a bit lacking… Our self-guided hike was good though – the view was great; and we saw a Mauritian flying fox, a Mascarene paradise-flycatcher, a couple of giant tortoises (up close in the wild!), and even two tropicbirds in the distance! The trails are marked. Hikers can click a photo of the route map and take the paths they wish to at their own leisure.

Just an amazing place with amazing people who are doing their best to preserve the ebony forest. Soo worth of visit! You can really see and feel how people made so many mistakes in the past which led to extinction of so many species on this small island. So glad to come and meet all this lovely people who are trying to save and bring back to life the forest and all its inhabitants.

Super experience for our Ebony Forest trip. Delightful introduction to destruction of the forest and dodos with artefacts to touch. We then travelled up the mountainside by safari truck and stopped to feed any boulders (tortoises!) that needed to be moved off the truck. Flycatcher canopy walk was interesting but the real treat was Sublime view. We were an intergenerational group of 7 and were lucky to be there with no one else so totally immersed in the stunning views. Delicious lemongrass cordial - in real glasses at the little hut. Fantastic few hours and incredibly good value. Absolute highlight of Mauritius holiday. Don’t forget sun hats, sun screen and mossie spray!

Visited the Ebony Forest in Mauritius and started with a short museum tour, but very informative, and you will learn everything about the island. The walk through the forest was refreshing, showcasing the native ebony trees leading to the summit. For an easier ascent or in case you have less time, a guided jeep tour is available, where guides like Chris offer friendly and helpful insights. A must see for those interested in Mauritius's natural history and scenic beauty.

Well worth a visit. We decided to walk to the top and the view there is quite incredible. Unfortunately, my husband was affected by the high humidity which raised his sugar levels and caused a problem with his ability to walk back down without diffculty. I would like to thank Sonia for assisting me by getting a ranger to pick him up. They were all so kind and willing to take us back to our hotel but my husband was feeling well enough to drive after half an hour rest. Thank-you all for your kindess to us.

I visited this breath-taking place last week. we started from museum enough to fill tourists with some necessary information, along with that they have souvenir shop and clean rest room. All the staff is very welcoming and friendly. Then we took Safari Ride to explore the very calm and lush green forest. I must say worthwhile visit this place.:)

We visited with teenagers. A great experience. Very friendly and helpful staff. Started at the museum which was very informative and just the right amount of information. We did a self guided walk which we would highly recommend. Walk was well signposted. Paths were narrow with lots of tree roots so required some concentration, steep in places. Enjoyed being right in the forest and amongst the wildlife. Saw plenty of birds, geckos and tortoises. Stopped at the Sublime view point for cold drinks and snacks - chilli bites and samosas and ice creams were available. Incredible views to the coast. Toilets available at the top. Lovely shop at the reception. Can fill water bottles here ( but not at the view point at the top) The walk was very sweaty but shady in the trees. This is a great experience, not too touristy and a perfect way to explore the true Mauritius

Went to the waterfall & 7 coloured earth and wanted to explore the forest too. Sadly it's not included with the entrance fee and you have to pay extra - in my opinion there should be only one fee for everything. We paid for the forest anyway because I think it's nice that they use the money for recreation. We got a normal ticket and there was a small guided tour included (which we didn't do in the end, because we were too hot and exhausted from getting to the viewpoint - UV index at it's highest and about 30 degress with mostly sun). I would recommend hiking when it's not too hot; you can also pay for a ride). At the beginning there's a small shop and very informative museum about the history. The view at the top was stunning and we had a really nice chat with a staff member at the viewpoint. It was nice that they offered drinks and icecream for a reasonable price. There were two different routes for going up to the top of the mountain - one through the forest with a trail, which was more difficult and one concrete path, which was partly very steep. From the viewpoint you can take a detour to a higher viewpoint. Don't forget your insect repellent!

Lovely conservation project. You can see ebony trees and learn about the original fauna and flora of mauritius. We took the hiking tour. Highly recommended.

We had a great time in this forest. As we are fit, we chose to hike and not take the jeep. It was not hard. The walk was pleasant; the guided visit, very interesting; the view breathtaking! We had the most memorable fresh tamarind juice ever at Sublime! A huge thank-you from the bottom of my heart to all the volunteers and staff who help protect endangered species and keep Mauritius green.

Was a good day, the sublime view point was nice, but the hike was rather boring (lots of same scenery). Also make sure to bring mosquito crème because we did not know that was really a must.

Being a relatively unfit person, I did a lot of googling to try & find out how difficult the hikes were at Ebony Forest but did not learn much. So now that I have done it, here is my review. Please refer to the photo which shows the main tracks & the footpaths. Main tracks means vehicles i.e. the jeeps, use these tracks so they are “paved”. Footpaths means jungle tracks so a bit rougher but still cleared & easy to follow with even ropes in places to help you. Main track A-B is 1.2 km was ok for a relatively unfit person. Footpath C-D Ridgeline - we took that route for the better views & to feel that you are walking in a forest so it was an alternative to the “inland” route which is the paved & main track. But the footpath was also quite challenging in places. Fortunately, ropes are placed in strategic spots which helped give us some “support”. As some people said, they brought sticks as there is nothing for you to hold onto/help you if you need it. Many of our group which also comprised young children, stopped at D, the Sublime viewpoint. A few of us who couldn’t resist the last 20-30 mins or so went up further to Piton Canot for the 360 degree view from the west coast, inland to the south coast & back to the west coast. See video attached. (PS could not attach video!) They all said it was a “steep” climb & difficult for those who are unfit, with weak knees & even the coming down was difficult as the ground was slippery. It’s only 0.4 km away so it is doable but be warned. We all came back from Sublime viewpoint via the Main Track which is mainly flat as the jeeps use it but the last bits are a bit “steepish” going down. In summary, it is doable for a relatively unfit 50+ person, man or woman, although we were very stiff & sore the next day! We were in a group & started off at 1450 leisurely & we were back at 1730 after having spent about an hour or so at Sublime Viewpoint resting & enjoying the truly Sublime views! But we didn’t get a chance to visit the museum or do the guided walk because of time so I guess, we have to go back!

Booked the guided trek. Our guide Avish was friendly, knowledgeable and fun. The tour starts with a tour through museum where Avish explains the changes which have occurred to the island which makes their work so important. The tour starts with 2 shortish but steep climbs then it flattens out, then follows walks along raised metal walkway (not high, but you're not standing on the plants and trees etc. You then gou up a path which is root covered and sometimes a bit rocky, not difficult but the guide will help and talk you through the area and point out interesting facts, plants, animals plus the bird boxes. This is handy as I was checking not to trip while listening to the information. You then get to the fantastic viewpoint with a small cafe. Finally there is the descent on more raised walkways and finally you walk down the steep path you walk up at the start. Throughout our guide was mindful of the need for breaks and was happy to stick to our walking speed.

If you are in the region of Chamarel, you should not miss visiting Ebony Forest! It was the highlight of the day! The guided tour on the raised walkway was super interesting and the walk on the ridgeline trail was fantastic. When you reach the sublime point you are merely amazed by the breathtaking view. You even get some drinks and snacks there. We had an interesting and nice talk with Avish, who was on duty at this time. So please visit Ebony Forest, it's worth it.

We booked onto a 09:30 jeep drive and combined it with a walk around the forest. Seeing the Ebony trees was really pleasant but also made me sad for all the deforestation that has occurred on the island which is also the same for the rest of the world. The jeep took us to a raised walkway where you could see certain types of flora and fauna, and our guide Jean Francois was very helpful, courteous and knowledgeable. We got to the top and had a splendid view over the vista. We opted to walk the rest of the way, but you can just take the jeep backdown. If you walk the rest of the way you get the opportunity to walk up Piton Canon which is a prominent peak at the south west end of the island, and you can get views across much of the southwest with a 360 panorama. The walk there is quite steep in places and be careful if you do it when it rains as we did. There is useful handropes along the way. We were staying in Chalets Chamarel which is part of the geopark with other activities and sites such as 7 coloured earth, Chamarel waterfall and an adventure park so it was very close for us to get to. If you are not staying in the geopark you will either need to hire a care, get a driver or book a taxi in advance. Definitely worth the trip though.

Moderate hike within the forest with a rewarding views at the end. 100% recommended. Bring mosquito repellent, sun block, hats & water.

We did the classic tour and absolutely loved it. It felt great to connect with Mother Nature and to see the great job the team did to conserve the forest. Also appreciate the knowledge imparted by the guide!

We absolutely loved our visit at the Ebony Forest Reserve. The guided tour was led by a very friendly and learned young lady, who informed us about the activities done to preserve the little that is left of the original fauna and flora of Mauricius. We greatly admire their work and hold our fingers crossed they succeed! After the guided tour, we took a hike towards the Sublime Point and continued up to the peak of nearby mountain. Definitely worth every rupee! Strongly recommend.