Coloured dunes
Colours that never mix.
"dronepicr" — CC BY 2.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Adamina — CC BY 2.0 · Martin Falbisoner — CC BY-SA 4.0
A unique geological sight in the Chamarel uplands of south-west Mauritius: small dunes of fine sand in seven distinct colours, from red, brown and violet to green, blue and yellow, lying side by side in smooth waves like a painting. The sands formed as volcanic basalt broke down into mineral-rich clay, which gave them their different colours. Strangely, the colours do not blend even if you mix them by hand, but separate again over time. The same geopark has a viewpoint over Chamarel Falls, the island's highest waterfall, dropping about a hundred metres into a dense green valley, plus a giant tortoise enclosure and a café. The ticket is about MUR 750 per visitor guides and covers the dunes, the falls viewpoint and the tortoises. Morning is the best time, when the colours stand out in the sunlight, and it is usually combined with Black River Gorges National Park.
Colours that never mix.
The island's highest.
In the park.
Chamarel, south-west Mauritius, about 20 km from Flic en Flac
Yes, it covers the coloured dunes, the Chamarel Falls viewpoint and the tortoise park, per visitor guides.