Full day catamaran cruise to see Dolphins, including a visit to Crystal rock and Benitiers Island. The cruise is done on a great 44ft catamaran along the South West coast of Mauritius which is considered one of the most beautiful areas, and a place of unique wildness and tranquillity that one must absolutely visit when in Mauritius.
Discover dolphins in their natural habitat, have the leisure to tan on the beach, walk along the endless beaches of Benitiers Island or explore the amazing lagoons and coral reefs which are in close proximity to the beach.
Starting at 07:00, departure by minibus from any hotel inte North of Mauritius . at 09:00 you will have a short pre-departure briefing by the boat’s captain, followed by a light breakfast, including coffee, milk, tea and buttered bread with exotic marmalade.
Then the catamaran will depart heading to Tamarin Bay area where you can encounter dolphins in their natural habitat. This is a unique chance to explore the spectacular lives of these magnificent marine mammals in their aquatic habitat.
The cruise will continue along the coral reefs. During the cruise, the catamaran will stop for breaks in some key locations, where you can enjoy a swim, snorkel in the sea, soak in the sun and sip on refreshing drinks aboard the catamaran. Snorkelling is a great way to have a glimpse into the mesmerising marine life and the underwater world of Mauritius.
Eventually, the catamaran will head to the beautiful Island of Benitiers. Before arriving at the Island, you will visit the famous Crystal Rock and will have a spectacular view of the Rempart Mountain, the Black River mountain range, and the magnificent Le Morne Mountain. For lunch, you will have a delicious BBQ buffet on the catamaran. The menu includes fresh fish, chicken, rice, pasta and potato salad, a variety of salads and a dessert.
Once you go ashore, you’ll get to bask in pure relaxation - have the leisure to tan under the glorious sun, walk along the pristine beaches of Benitiers Island or explore the amazing lagoons and coral reefs which are in close proximity to the beach.
Following the visit to Benitiers Island, the catamaran will head back to Black River. During the cruise, the crew members will make your time enjoyable, they will tell you about local folklore, and play Mauritian music which will lift the spirits of everyone on board.
Please note that if the catamaran cruises off the projected itinerary to ensure that you see dolphins, then the visit to Benitiers Island and Crystal Rock will not be possible.
Dolphins are perhaps the most fantastic of all the creatures that live in the ocean. The dolphins, cheerful and playful, are a symbol of intelligence and grace.
In Mauritius, the dolphins live in pods of about 20 individuals or more and can be observed swimming from Tamarin Bay (on the west coast of Mauritius), on their way to the deep sea off the coast of the Le Morne peninsula.
The most common dolphins in Mauritius are the Bottlenose Dolphin and the Spinner Dolphin.
The Bottlenose Dolphin and the Spinner Dolphin have chosen the West Coast of Mauritius as their place for rest and sleep before heading to the deep sea for their fishing.
The Bottlenose Dolphin is one of the most common and well-known dolphins. Bottlenose Dolphins are grey in color and measure between 2 to 4 meters (6.6 and 13 ft) long, and weigh between 150 and 650 kilograms (330 and 1,400 lb). Bottlenose Dolphins live in groups called pods that typically number about 15 dolphins, but group size varies from solitary bottlenose dolphins up to groups of over 100 or even occasionally over 1000 dolphins. Their diet consists mainly of small fish.
The Spinner Dolphin is dark grey, with darker patches in the tail stock, back and throat. Usually it has creamy-white patch on the belly though this varies considerably. The beak is distinctively long and thin, with a dark tip. The fins too are lengthy for dolphins of this size. Adults vary in size from 120 cm to 235 cm and weight from 23 kg to 78 kg. Individuals reach maturity at 4-7 years (females) and 7-10 years (males). The Spinner Dolphins congregate in groups that vary from just a few dolphins to great schools numbering thousands.
