Tamarind Waterfalls

Being a tropical island, Mauritius is home to not just beaches and lagoons, but a vast number of rivers and associated lakes, rivulets, and waterfalls as well. Being a popular tourist destination, the abundant natural attractions of the island might not be as untainted and untouched as they were even twenty years ago, but they’re still a sight for sore eyes. There are plenty of waterfalls scattered all over the island, and one of the most popular falls on the southwestern side of Mauritius is the Tamarind Falls.

Located near the tiny fishing village of Henrietta, Tamarind Falls (also known as Tamarin Falls), is an extremely well-known tourist destination, which despite being a little hard to reach, is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Mauritius, famous for its breathtaking surroundings and its immaculate ambience. The origin of the Tamarind Waterfalls is the Rivière Tamarin, which cascades its way down the entirety of the southwestern Mauritian landscape, giving rise to several different waterfalls along the way. Tamarind Falls stands at the height of around 300 metres, making it the highest waterfall all across Mauritius. The Tamarind Waterfalls by itself is a collection of seven different waterfalls, with multiple spots from where you can jump down into the deep pool below, making it a haven for adventure enthusiasts. With dense green vegetation all around, Tamarind falls a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the more crowded and touristy beaches of Mauritius.

If you love hiking or abseiling, a trip to the Tamarind Waterfalls is a must for you. There are two tours on offer for tourists: a full day hike and a half-day hike, with the full-day hike being the most opted for. The hikes start at the base of the canyon of the Tamarin Falls, moving on to the hydro-electric power station and reservoir that is operated using the energy generated from the waterfalls, and then hiking your way up to the top of the waterfalls, from where you can jump or abseil your route down, whichever you want. The entire hike is supervised by guides who will help you along the whole way. Being almost surrounded by greenery, there are a vast variety of exotic and indigenous plants and shrubs that you can see as you make your way up to the top of the falls. The hike is not a particularly hard one, so it’s quite easy for even newbies and inexperienced hikers to avail of the trek to the top of the falls. The hike takes you through extreme dense parts of forests, where you can witness a vast variety of exotic flora and fauna that you will not find anywhere else on the island.

Even though there are plenty of waterfalls in Mauritius, the Tamarind Waterfalls are unique, not just in that it’s the highest waterfall all across the island, but also because of its stunning beauty and its pleasant ambience that you will not forget anytime soon in a hurry.