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Waves crashing on the cliffs at Gris Gris
Photo: Simisa ( talk · contribs ) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

🌿 Nature & viewpoints · South

Gris Gris & La Roche qui Pleure

Wild black cliffs where there's no reef and the Indian Ocean crashes straight onto the rocks: the most dramatic coast on the island.

🚗 From the villa1 h 05 · 41.5 kmoff-peak estimate
⏱️ Time needed1–1.5 hnot counting the drive
🕓 Best time of day🌤️ Afternoon
💰 PriceFree

At Gris Gris, the southernmost point of Mauritius, the protective coral reef stops and huge waves hit the black basalt cliffs. A grassy clifftop park with viewpoints overlooks a small (non-swimmable) beach and the pounding surf. A 10-minute walk east, La Roche qui Pleure, the 'crying rock', seems to weep as the waves drain off it.

Windy, wild and very photogenic, especially in the afternoon light.

  • Wild cliffs and huge waves
  • The crying rock
  • The southernmost point of the island
Waves crashing on the cliffs at Gris Gris
Photo: Simisa ( talk · contribs ) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
La Roche qui Pleure on the south coast
Photo: Simisa ( talk · contribs ) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Getting there

Driving route from the villa

🚗 By car: 1 h 05 (41.5 km) off-peak. Free car park at the end of the road. Directions in Google Maps ↗

  • 🚕 Taxi from the villa: about Rs 1,700–2,250 one way per car (agree the price first; a return trip with waiting time is often negotiable).

Tips

  • 💡 Never swim at Gris Gris: strong currents and no reef.
  • 💡 Keep away from the cliff edges when the waves are big.

Our notes & votes