La Vanille: A Wildlife Paradise

Mauritius may be long associated with white sand beaches, turquoise waters and a perfect climate. However, the rainforest region in southern Mauritius is in complete contrast to this flawed schema. Here the rainfall is frequent and the vegetation is thick and dense, providing visitors on their holidays in Mauritius with a landscape that's slightly prehistoric in appearance, and that's before you've met the wildlife...

An untamed beauty is often how the Fame Fatal rainforest is described by those that have visited it on their Mauritius holidays. The description is spot-on, and surely it's not just coincidence that the name bears more than a passing resemble to a different type of predatory female. The Fame Fatal will certainly succeed in pulling you in and holding you enraptured on your holidays in Mauritius.

However, unlike the femme fatales, it is not the rainforest itself that is dangerous, but rather the exotic wildlife that make it their home. Fame Fatal is home to more than one thousand wild Nile crocodiles, the majority of which are located in the nature park at La Vanille. The park is within easy access of many of the larger hotels in southern Mauritius, including the Movenpick, Bel Ombre and Tamassa resorts. However, many of the larger Mauritius hotels in the north also run excursions to La Vanille and the crocodile park.

The park runs through the famous Riviere des Anguilles, an environment which is just perfect for the Nile Crocodiles. All the crocodiles that you see originated from Madagascar and have now made the park their home, with help from the giant bamboo and banana trees that provide the shade that they require. The park also has a number of smaller baby crocodiles and, under the guidance of a trained ranger; you can pose for photographs holding one in your arms.

Not everyone is enamoured with crocodiles, so instead you may want to visit the giant tortoises that make the park La Vanille, on the island their home. Mauritius holidays just aren't complete without catching a glimpse of some of the oldest tortoises in the world. However, the real star of the park is Domino, who is 90 years old and weighs 270kg.

La Vanille also contains some more unusual species that you may be lucky enough to spot on your Mauritius holidays. There are monkeys, fruit bats, wild pigs and even skunks, though you may not want to get too close to the latter!

The final building at La Vanille, the insectarium, is the lifetime work of Jacques Siedlecki. The insect fanatic has documented over 23,000 different species of insects from beautiful blue-hued butterflies to hissing cockroaches and centipedes. On your holidays in Mauritius you will have the opportunity to question Mr Siedlecki on his strange obsession as it is he who takes you around the Insectarium and talks about all things insect-related.

We imagine that you will have taken the opportunity to sample many traditional delicacies on your holidays in Mauritius, from the spicy Creole dishes served up by street-sellers to the delicious Indian-French cuisine dishes served up at many of the luxury Mauritius hotels. However, chances are you won't have tried traditional Mauritian food with a twist. The twist being crocodile meat! Crocodile meat tastes surprisingly like chicken and sampling it in La Vanille's treetop restaurant, situated high in the rainforest canopy, is sure to provide a meal to remember on your Mauritius holiday.