Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2000 km off the southeast coast of Africa, is famous for its breath-taking nature, beautiful birds including of course the extinct Dodo, and magnificent coastline. The legendary Mauritian hospitality and the fabulous hotels have propelled Mauritius to being one of the world's most sought-after holiday destinations.

Popularity can have its downsides, so the hotel group Heritage Resorts has put together a guide to sustainable holiday activities that will enable you to discover its wildlife and its culture, but also contribute to conservation, social and wildlife causes.

Hike up Le Morne Brabant
An iconic symbol of Mauritius -Le Morne Brabant (556m) is a stunning rocky crag which not only is a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE with enormous cultural significance but is also a place of great natural beauty and immense appeal for hikers. The climb offers outstanding views over the famed underwater waterfall.

Mauritian Wildlife Foundation Island Eco Tour
Embark on a boat trip for a full day trip with a Mauritian Wildlife Foundation guide to discover the small islands of Ile Aux Aigrettes with its Nature Reserve with a wide variety of Mauritian animals and plants and Ile Aux Fouquets with a distinctive lighthouse built in 1864. Lunch is provided with an opportunity to snorkel and discover the fish and coral at Trou Moutou marine park. Price £70 per adult and £40 per child. 

Kids Reef Conservation with The Yellow SubmarineThe Yellow Submarine is a new, fun and educational facility set up at Timomo Kids Club at Heritage Awali by Coral Reef Conservation. In the shape of a submarine, it invites children aged 3-11 to develop an understanding of the ocean's eco-system and learn the importance of taking care of the oceans and marine life.  Kids clamber on board past the telescope and gain entry by zooming down a fun slide. They are then surrounded by maps, colourful pictures and lots of sensory activities. The interactive and immersive experience ensures kids have fun whilst learning.

Street food tours in Port Louis
These tours, provided by a local start up enterprise called Taste Buddies, are a feast for the eyes, the mind and the taste buds. The tours take place in the island's capital, Port Louis with the young entrepreneurs who recount old tales and fun facts about the island's history, whilst guiding guests to 'in the know' eateries around the busy capital to try out traditional Mauritian dishes. 

eBike Tour to discover the Wild South
Electro Bike Tours offer a fabulous eBike adventure with a local guide to discover the most beautiful and wild landscapes of the south of Mauritius whilst learning about the history of the area. From Bel Ombre, you will reach the golden beach of Riambel for a rejuvenating walk. From there, you will head to the stunning Rochester Falls, a waterfall nestled in picture-perfect natural setting where you will enjoy a delicious picnic, before heading back home. The 5 hour guided tour costs £48 including lunch.

Seven Coloured Earth and Chamarel WaterfallLocated in the south of the island and part of the Black River National Park, is the unique Seven Coloured Earth – a geological marvel of rolling dunes in red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow. Not to be missed here, and a favourite with the kids, are the giant tortoises which can reach up to 1m in length and have an average lifespan of more than 150 years. Close by is one of the most breath-taking spots on the island - Chamarel Waterfall, the highest waterfall in Mauritius at 80 metres. There is a truly magnificent view where the cascading waters hits the pool below from its majestic height. Visitors can either hike to the waterfall or take a tour. Prices: Chamarel Hike £50 per person. Entrance to Seven Coloured Earth Geopark is £5 per person. 

UNESCO Biosphere 4x4 TourGuides from the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation offer a fascinating 2-hour drive family forest excursion tour, in an open top 4 x 4 jeep that will immerse you in a truly unique environment with a distinctly Jurassic feel to it. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – Bel Ombre is a protected and preserved site that is home to the last remnants of the island's endemic vegetation.  Expect to see monkeys, wild deer, fruit bats, and pink pigeons. Each participant contributes to the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. Prices: £25 per person. 

Blue Bay Marine Park Snorkelling
Blue Bay Marine Park in the south east of the island is one of the best places to see the biodiversity of the marine life in Mauritius with over 40 different types of coral and up to 70 species of colourful, tropical fish. With an average depth of only 10 to 20 feet, Blue Bay Marine Park is easily accessible to snorkelers and casual swimmers—most of whom are immersed in fish the moment they jump off the boat. For those that prefer to keep their heads above water but still see all the fish, glass bottom boats are a dry-hair option for watching the action below. Price: There is no entry fee to visit the park, though fees are charged for tours.

See Dolphins in the Wild
Set off from Bel Ombre and sail to the west coast, one of the best spots to observe dolphins in their natural habitat; playing, resting and feeding. An early start is necessary but is all worth it once you encounter those incredible creatures. 

Sustainable Accommodation Options
It will be important to choose a hotel that supports sustainable principles and a good choice is Heritage Resorts on the Domain de Bel Ombre in the south of Mauritius, which is ideally located for many of the activities mentioned. The hotel group is committed to reducing their environmental impact, helping to address climate change issues, advocating responsible sourcing practices and creating equal opportunities for an improved quality of life for local communities. To view the company's sustainable charter visit here.

Guests have three accommodation options on the Domaine de Bel Ombre, an enviable location juxtaposed on a white sand beach with a shallow turquoise lagoon and the rolling green landscapes of a nature reserve.

Heritage The Villas– offer a 'home from home' experience with the privacy and space of a villa but with hotel services.  The 2, 3 and 4-bedroom villas all come with private pools and expansive terrace with views over the golf course and ocean, and a BBQ area for outdoor entertaining. In addition, a private chef, dedicated concierge, spa therapist, and butler services are also available. Rates start at £312/night in a two bedroom villa.

Heritage Le Telfair is a plantation style all-suites hotel that provides luxury accommodation for couples and families, whilst delivering a high level of personal service. A “Small Luxury Hotel of the World,” the hotel is also popular with golfers, who get complimentary access to the Heritage Golf Course, and those seeking Wellness experiences, who are well looked after through the expansive Wellness programme and facilities.  2 Kids up to 12 years stay free sharing parents' room. Rates start at £141 per person/night, based on a Garden View Suite on a Bed & Breakfast basis. 

Heritage Awali - This five-star all-inclusive hotel is a relaxed and friendly hotel with 3 pools to enjoy (including an adult only pool). Guests also have access to Heritage Golf Club and its championship 18-hole golf course.  Rates start from £185 per person/night based on two sharing in a Deluxe Garden View Room on an all-inclusive basis.

 Direct bookings receive a flexible rate and free cancellation up to 5 days before check-in date.

All excursions can be booked through the concierge at each property.

Carbon Compensated Trips
For those that want to offset the carbon footprint of their trip, local eco company Mauritius Conscious will calculate the footprint of your trip including your flights, transfers and car rental and invests the money into a solar farm in Mauritius. The solar farm is part of the few existing initiatives in Mauritius to reduce the country's dependency on fossil fuel. www.mauritiusconscious.com 

For reservations, please email: resa@heritageresorts.mu For more information please visit: www.heritageresorts.mu

Editors Notes

About Heritage Resorts 

The Heritage Bel Ombre Domaine offers the ultimate combination of beach, nature, relaxation and adventure. The resort has 12 restaurants, the Heritage Nature Reserve (complete with its own wellness and adventure activities), the C Beach Club, a kids' clubs, a babies' corner and a teens' club, a championship 18-hole golf course, a kitesurfing school, two spas, fitness centres and the romantic Heritage Le Chateau an 1800's colonial French mansion now housing a Michelin-starred restaurant and an exclusive presidential suite.

Heritage Resorts obtained in December 2016 the international Green Key label, proof of its engagement and continuous efforts towards sustainability.

Strategies have been put into place to ensure that the estate is developed sustainably and in an eco-friendly way. What unites these projects is a passionate desire to protect the wild south's natural heritage for generations to come. To view the company's sustainable charter visit here

About Mauritian Wildlife Foundation

The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation is the only non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Mauritius to be exclusively concerned with the conservation of the endangered endemic plants and animals of Mauritius. The work carried out in Mauritius is one of the world's most successful conservation stories. This is due to MWF's restoration work started in the 1970s, which has succeeded in rescuing the Mauritius Kestrel, Echo Parakeet and Pink Pigeon, from the brink of extinction.

About Reef Conservation:

Reef Conservation is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the marine environment of Mauritius through the implementation and management of conservation, research, education and sensitization projects. It employs professional staff to implement and manage projects and train volunteer divers and to participate in ecosystem monitoring and other activities.