Le Pont Naturel (French for natural bridge) is exactly what its name suggests: a bridge-like rock formation over a sea cave on the rugged southern coast of Mauritius. Located 15 km from Mahebourg—our place of residence during our two-month stay in the country—it made for a nice sunset-trip destination.
Directions
Coming from Mahebourg, drive around the airport and take the road toward L’Escalier. At the end of Trois Boutiques village, turn left and go straight until the end of the asphalt. Follow the dirt road to the right between the sugarcane fields and take the second left. Carry on straight and into the forest past the last field until the parking area. Walk to the coast.
Alternatively, you may drive on asphalt to Le Bouchon Beach and hike along the coast for about 30 minutes.
Beyond the edge of the mesmerizing forest, we beheld a lunar-like landscape. Formed by ancient lava flows, the black volcanic coast dropped abruptly into the deep sea. This is one of the few parts of Mauritius’s coastline where the island meets the open ocean, without the lagoon intervening. Big waves crashed uninterrupted against the cliff, exploding into flurries of foam and spray. The view of the deep-blue horizon compelled me to meditate on the notions of immensity and isolation, reflecting on the 3,000 miles of empty ocean that separated my gaze from Antarctica.
The natural bridge arched over the entrance to a little cove that millennia’s worth of waves have dug into the rocky coast. It was a unique spectacle and would have made for an excellent diving board had we felt suicidally spunky. The sea below was too agitated to avoid a fatal smash, let alone attempt to climb back up again. But if you visit on a calmer day, it might not be unreasonable to consider jumping.
We didn’t get to see the sunset because the west was overcast. Nevertheless, it was beautiful to observe twilight falling over this desolate landscape. Except for a local young couple on a tryst, no one else was around. We took some pictures, flew our drone, absorbed the scene, and drove back through the dusk.
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Accommodation and activities in Mauritius
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Video
Photos
View (and if you want use) all my photographs from Pont Naturel in higher resolution.
