The south coast is a must-do in any Mauritian road trip. Whether you come from the north, south or east of the island, your itinerary must include this scenic route. Of course, you will be in for a treat if you like cliffs or love having a bird’s eye view of the ocean. Located on the South West tip of Mauritius is Macondé.
Maconde a Wonderful Experience
Nevertheless travelling across Macondé road is one of the most wonderful experience. Ranked in the Top 10 most beautiful road in the world, it lies alongside the coast where you can enjoy the sea breeze and amazing view while driving. The sun beaming and creating a shining effect on the water with sunglasses a must to have to enjoy this experience.
It is believed that the name “Macondé” originates from the slavery period, where runaway slaves from the Makonde tribe of Mozambique came to seek refuge. On the other hand, others believe that is was named after the governor Jean Baptiste Henri Conde, who built an outlook on the cliff.
Maconde Volcanic Rock
Experiencing ‘Macondé’, the natural beauty of this place is enhanced by the volcanic rocks, it is the most frequently visited attraction by the locals. Climbing the steep staircase is the small pain to bear for this amazing view. As Mark Twain quoted, “Mauritius was made first and then heaven; and heaven was copied after Mauritius.” This view simply summarizes the beauty of Mauritius and leaves you mesmerized. The turquoise water, this greenery and blue sky and the breeze makes you feel like ‘heaven on earth’.
The icing on the cake is that this place is a free attraction and does not even cost a penny to visit. At times, it can be very packed and you have to watch out otherwise you might fall. You can also get into the heat of the action and hire pleasure craft made available in the village to get a tour of the lagoon and the southern coast.
It is so popular that you might need to expect a crowd on top of the rock; especially during the weekends but we can’t blame anyone as the unobstructed view wins everyone’s heart! You’ll be amazed by how the calming waters of the West coast meet and merge with the wilderness of the south coast.