Volcanoes In Mauritius

Trou Aux Cerfs

Situated around 605m above sea level in the district of Plaine Wilhems, in the beautiful town of Curepipe, the Trou Aux Cerfs is the most famous volcano on our island. In the early 1800s, Trou Aux Cerfs was called Tronc Aux Cerfs on some documents. Some reports describe many deers wandering inside the crater, giving us the origin of the name.

It is classified as a dormant volcano, constitutes a crater lake, and has dense shrubs and trees. The crater’s diameter is approximately 350m, and the central depression depth is about 85m. Decades ago, at the bottom of the crater, there were vineyards and plantations managed by the Botanist Lavignac. He even wanted to build his house inside. Some Malagasy slaves used to live nearby as well.

Nowadays, lots of joggers and enthusiasts frequent the place, which turned it great for sightseeing, The tracks to descend to the crater are not that easy. One of them is very complicated due to the dense shrubs and trees. The other track is slippery in rainy weather, hence, muddy and still surrounded by thorny bushes. Some people fish in the lake. The vineyards do not exist anymore, but some ruins have remained, and the crater has been abandoned like a deep pit full of mosquitoes and giant rats, without forgetting the monkeys. However, it does have fantastic flora and fauna. The video below depicts the remained vineyard’s ruins and the crater:

Bassin Blanc

The La Marie road that leads to Mare Aux Vacoas reservoir is calm, and you usually feel a cold wave, particularly when driving. Continuing the road, it passes by Plaine Sophie Nature Walk and goes to Pétrin. You will find a small roundabout on the right that leads to the splendid village of Chamarel. Straight you will descend to Mont Blanc. After several zigzag turns, reach the mysterious crater lake of Bassin Blanc.

Bassin Blanc has a reputation for being a spooky, dark, and dangerous place. There were several corpses discovered there. They were involved in murders and suicides. One of the famous cases was in 2002. Two people were found in the lake, tied to each other, which has caused controversies on the real cause of death, whether it was a suicide or murder.

Bassin Blanc’s last eruption was 20,000 years ago, and an extinct volcano. It is 450m above sea-level approximately. There is a thick forest around it. The exact depth of the crater lake is still unknown. Some scholars say around 20m deep. However, the real figure is unknown. The track to descend to the crater is tricky, and one can get easily lost. When you reach the edge of the cone, you can see from the top the immense amount of trees at the bottom. To reach the lake, there is a high possibility to walk in thick mud, depending on the weather, challenging the dense bushes, and end at the lake. Verily, the atmosphere at the bottom is creepy, similar to a horror movie. This is not a place to wonder if you have a chicken heart!

Trou Kanaka

Further away from Grand Bassin, in the direction of Avalon on the road to Bois Chéri, situates the Trou Kanaka crater. The Kanaka crater was lesser-known until, a few years, its popularity to discover has grown.

It is among the best spots to hike. There are tea plantations in the surroundings and not too far away, which situates the Cascade Kanaka. Moreover, there is even a small cave nearby. A few decades ago, there were railway lines close to it to transport sugarcanes. It was commonly known as the Bois Chéri line.

The crater lake originated from an extinct volcano, 700,000 years old. It does not require much effort to descend into it, even if it is a bit slippery. The marshy lake is full of vegetation, so thick that you can jump on it in some areas. Around the crater, there are vast tea plantations. The atmosphere is cold, tranquil, and amazing to be if you want to disconnect from the usual busy life.

Grand Bassin

Some kilometers away from Bassin Blanc, precisely on the road to Pétrin, the right leads to the sacred lake of Grand Bassin. Grand Bassin, also known as Ganga Talao, is a crater lake from an extinct volcano located 560m above sea level. The weather in the region is most of the time rainy, foggy and cloudy. It is considered a sacred lake by the Hindu community, who every year goes to pilgrimage there on the occasion of the Maha Shivaratri religious festival. The first pilgrimage began at the end of the 19th century and has been going on until today. Grand Bassin’s first name was Pari Talao and later changed in the 1970s to Ganga Talao.

Around the lake, there are spots for devotees to pray. On the other side, there are dense trees and private lands. There is even a small islet in the middle of the lake. It is believed the exact depth of Grand Bassin is unfathomable, but Allistair Macmillan cited in his book, Mauritius Illustrated: Historical and Descriptive; Commercial and Industrial; Facts, Figures and Resources, published in 1914, probably the lake is 16m deep. Grand Bassin first appeared on the map of Jacques Nicholas Belin, in 1753. Few historical reports state slaves used to live nearby back in the French era.

Bar Le Duc

Far from the district of Plaine Wilhems and Savanne, where most of the famous craters situate, there is a small village called Bar Le Duc. Located next to Nouvelle Découverte, on a hill, the crater is on private property where permission is needed to access.

Many years ago, there was a sugar mill in the region known as Bar Le Duc Estate. Now, most of the lands around the estate are sugarcane fields, offering a splendid greenish landscape. Mountain bikers and hikers love this region because of its tranquil and peaceful atmosphere. From Bar Le Duc, you can see Alma Hill (stated further in the article below), Verdun Hill, Deux Mamelles mountain, and a few other mountain ranges and hills as well.

Bar Le Duc is a young crater, 20,000 years ago since its last activity. Surrounded by some native plants and shrubs, it is believed that Bar Le Duc is the smallest crater in Mauritius. Nearby the region, various caves originated from different lava flows. The soil is quite rough and there are basaltic rocks present mostly everywhere there.

The area and the nearby regions have few caves which are hidden in some plantation fields.