A few metres away from Baie aux Tortues, which 17th century sailors named after the many tortoises in the area, can be found the ruins of the old Balaclava estate. Visitors will be able to see the sea walls, whose initial foundations were laid down by Mahé de Labourdonnais.

The longest village on the island, Triolet offers an opportunity to visit the biggest Hindu temple, the Maheswarnath, first built in 1819 in honour of the Gods Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, Muruga, Brahma and Ganesha.

Have a memorable day out at the Water Park Leisure Village, with water slides and various fairground rides. Relaxation and pleasure guaranteed. Entry fee required. The Water Park is located on Coastal road, Belle Mare.

At Vieux Grand Port, the oldest settlements in Mauritius, you can see the ruins of the first Dutch fortifications. Excavation work is underway in a bid to uncover an important part of Mauritian history.

On the coast of Mauritius there remain three of the finest examples of Martello Towers in the world. These towers escaped the notice of fortifications experts until 1993 when one tower was restored at La Preneuse in Rivière Noire. The five towers built in Mauritius were among the last to be constructed of the 218-odd examples which defended the coasts of the British Empire, from Canada to Ceylon and South Africa to Ireland and those constructed by the Americans against the British.

Casela Bird Park is home to 142 species of birds including the lovely long necked Pink Pigeons which until recently were threatened with extinction. The lovely dusky pink birds were donated by the Black River Aviary and can be seen alongside hundreds of other exotics from Asia, Australia, Africa and the Americas.

It may not be the largest game reserve on the island, but there is still much to see. You will be able to get close to the herds of deer and admire some splendid species of Mauritian fauna. A few rustic kiosks placed in the reserve provide an unobstructed view of the sea. There you can sip a local punch and watch the sun going down.

Black River Gorges National Park, the location of some of the rarest forests in the world. It is home to more than 150 species of plants and nine species of birds which are found only in Mauritius. Black River Gorges National Park protects these living things for all time, while helping visitors enjoy the landscape. Covering 6 574 hectares, the park comprises 3.5% of the island and ties in its south-west corner. You are invited to the experience of a lifetime.