When planning a trip to Black River, it is worth distinguishing the village of Riviere Noire from the wider destination of Black River. Riviere Noire is home to an official entrance to Black River Gorges National Park, with a visitor centre; Trou Chenille and Chamarel are part of the broader regional area. This makes it easier to understand nature, history and geology at the appropriate geographical level.

These offer different ways to plan your trip: the national park entrance in Riviere Noire, the geological landscape near Chamarel and the history of Trou Chenille. You can choose your focus—nature, landscape or cultural history—before comparing places to stay.

The national park entrance in Riviere Noire

Black River Gorges National Park has an official entrance with a visitor centre in Riviere Noire. If you include the park in your travel plans, this gives you a specific point of interest within the village itself. Check the current opening hours for the entrance and visitor centre before your visit. This helps you schedule the nature portion of your plans and coordinate it with your other travel interests.

Cultural history in the wider destination of Black River

In the wider destination of Black River, Trou Chenille is considered the cradle of settlement in the southwest of Mauritius after the abolition of slavery in 1835, and the first village of Le Morne inhabited by descendants of enslaved people. This account connects the settlement history of the southwest with the specific history of a village in Le Morne. For travellers interested in cultural history, this is a different focus from the national park entrance in Riviere Noire.

A project to reconstruct the village aims to raise awareness among visitors from Mauritius and abroad of the historical and cultural significance of the former village, and to inform them about it. The project is therefore focused on sharing this history and significance.

Chamarel: landscape and planning your visit

Near Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth, the wider destination offers a distinctive landscape attraction: the Seven Coloured Earths are a natural formation of volcanic sand. A 3 km trail leads from the main entrance to the dunes and passes two viewpoints overlooking Chamarel Waterfall. The geological formation, a defined trail and views of the waterfall combine to make this a landscape-focused visit. Check the current conditions before visiting.

Aldabra giant tortoises can be seen at the Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth Geopark; the animals on offer may change. The animals on offer may change. This wildlife aspect complements the geological features. Visitors to Chamarel can therefore consider the natural formations and wildlife viewing as separate interests.

Hotels and choosing a location

When looking for hotels in Black River, checking the precise location is a useful first step. The official entrance and visitor centre are in the village of Riviere Noire; Trou Chenille and Chamarel are attractions within the wider destination of Black River. Check the location of an accommodation option against the places you plan to visit.

Discover more destinations: Chamarel, Le Morne, Flic En Flac, La Preneuse, Albion, Tamarin, Petite Riviere, La Gaulette

Back to the wider travel overview: Black River.