Tamarin and Riviere Noire, Mauritius ( July 2012)

We arrived at Tamarin on the 12th of July after a great sail along the interesting coastline. The swells were quite big with waves crashing on the shoreline with the majestic mountains as a back drop

Tamarin

We anchored between the 2 reefs with a 3-4m swell running. The yachts hull behind us would dissappear as we both dropped into the troughs

We could see into the tubes of the waves

It was great intertainment watching the surfers

Wipe out!

The next day we carried on to Riviere Noire (Black river)

The anchorage was sheltered

This wharf and dinghy dock belongs to the Anglers club and they were happy for us to use it. There is water available on the wharf

The facilities are great with hot showers, toilets, a pool, BBQ area and bar

Several cruising yachts were at Black river so we all got together for a BBQ

On both sides of the entrance to Black river are Martello towers. This one had been restored with a museum inside. It was well worth the visit

Eric talking to the Mannequin

The one on the other side of the habour is in need of restoring, but it was safe enough to go into.

The communication aerials throughout Mauritius are camouflaged in these

imitation palms. A great idea!

The Black river Gorges National Park was on our doorstep. Unfortunately it was a 12km round walk just to get there so we only made one visit

We did see deer as we walked along the riverbank

These termite nests in the trees with their tracks up the trunks were quite different to the termite hills on the ground in Australia

We did the 1.5 walk, ending at the kiosk where we sheltered from the rain and had our picnic lunch

fantastic tree trunk and roots

We were very lucky to see a pink pidgeon. Several years ago these were threatened to extinction. Luckily not becoming so like the Dodo bird

This little bird was getting something under the bark

Every morning the tourist boats would go out to allow their clients to swim with the dolphins

and the dolphins would usually oblige

We took a local bus one day to Le Morne on the SE coast. It is very much a resort area where there was alot of construction going on. We had a great lunch on the beach from a french cuisine cart

It was a long wait for the bus on our return. These very nice men gave us a lift in their  truck. We watched them filling up with water from the river, which they supply for irrigation.

We took a trip by bus into Port Louis to extend our visa's by 60 days and enjoyed the scenery of the sugar cane plantations and mountain peaks

Today we are heading around the east of the island

Cruisers Notes

Black river

 It is a sheltered anchorage, with good holding. Dinghy tie up and facilities are courtesy of the Le Morne Anglers club in the centre of the bay. Water is at the jetty and diesel.
A range of food supplies are handy. Small shops, vege stalls and 4 good large supermarkets to the north.  A fruit and vege truck comes on Tues and Fri pm and parks outside a small supermarket on the main road opposite the bus stop. 4 large supermarkets are London Way (3 bus stops nth ), Food lovers market and a gourmet butcher further on, Shoprite, then the big Cascavelle mall with Pic and Pay supermarket. If you spend more than 3000Rupees a delivery will be made back to the Anglers club..
The bus runs to Port Louis direct at 0900, 1245 and 1430hrs. (around a 1hr trip) Every 15mins buses run part way. You just have to change buses.. There is also a good service to the south. The fares are cheap.
The Black river gorge national park is on the doorstep. A 6km walk to the entrance of the National park gives a good workout! Visiting the martello towers is well worth it. One is a museum and the other is derilect, but you can walk to the top for the view, with care!