The island-nation of Mauritius is one of those tropical havens dreams are made of: turquoise waters, luscious forests and crystal clear skies as far as the eye can see. If you’ve ever seen a postcard from here, you’d probably suspect it had been photoshopped to within an inch of its life but, let us tell you, photos of this glorious place don’t need to be edited! When visiting Mauritius, book your holiday rental villa in the south-eastern enclave of Pointe d’Esny, a divine exclusive suburb boasting miles and miles of incredible and pristine beaches.

The best thing about Mauritius is that you can drive north to south in just over an hour; so consider renting a car for the duration of your stay, and you’ll be able to reach every nook and cranny of this gorgeous isle. Need a hand deciding what to do and where to go when you’re not chilling out by the sea? Here’s a list of our very favourite spots in and around Pointe d’Esny, so grab a map, hit the road and have a Mauritiusly delicious vacation.

Casela Nature Park
Such an ordinary name for such an extraordinary park! This astounding natural reserve is less than an hour’s drive north-west of Pointe d’Esny, and is home to an array of African wildlife including lions, zebras, cheetahs and a whole host of different antelopes. Amazingly, you can book a ‘walk’ with lions and cheetah cubs; a truly once in a lifetime experience. You’d have to go to Zambia or Zimbabwe to ever experience this, so make sure you don’t miss your chance when visiting Mauritius. If that’s not enough excitement for you, you can also hire quad bikes for an hour around the park (lion chases not included), zipline your way through a maze of forest treetops Tarzan-style, and end your day with a refreshing waterfall plunge. Not a bad day out indeed. Book ahead if you’d like to join a ‘walk’ or to hire the quad bikes.

Souillac
The southernmost point on the island is home to Souillac, a gorgeous old town once a very important stop-over for French ships heading to India. Remnants of old colonial times are still somewhat visible, yet it’s the surrounding natural gems that really deserve a visit. About 2kms out of town is where you’ll find the splendid Rochester waterfalls, where you can take a dip while watching local daredevils take a high plunge. Don’t forget to visit Gris-Gris, the spectacular vertiginous cliffs which have been attracting tourists since the early 1800s. Take in a visit to the famous Souillac cathedral and cemetery before heading back to Pointe d’Esny, and you’ll be assured of a memorable day out.

Port Louis
Should you be lucky enough to have an evening flight home, consider checking out of your Pointe d’Esny holiday rental villa early, and head into the capital city for the day. While most people come here for the fabulous shopping (of textiles and teas), the city centre actually has quite a few cultural attractions to boot. Visit the Penny Museum and take a peek at the world’s very first colonial stamp, or check out the dodo skeleton at the Museum of Natural History. You may be also surprised to discover that Mauritius flaunts quite a varied religious entity, and the city centre is home to beautiful churches, temples and mosques, all within close quarters.