After the sandy beaches of Blue Bay, Le Chaland and La Cambuse, the coast becomes more and more wild and rocky, the climate more and more breezy. There is nothing between the shores of Antarctica and Mauritius and although the harsh winds soften considerably before they hit Mauritian shores, their impact is still strong. The high plateau abruptly breaks off and its remains are criss-crossed with streams and rivulets tumbling down green slopes to be swallowed up by the Ocean: the south is the most dramatic part of Mauritius. Its green fields, which are moderately flat around l’Escalier, become steeper and steeper towards Riviere des Anguilles and around the backdrop of the Savanne Mountain Range around Chemin Grenier and Chamouny.
Rain is frequent in this part of the island and so are the cascading waters that travel down the picturesque landscape, deeply cutting into the soft soil and thus forming canyons where hiking, canyoning and other nature activities thrive.
The coastline is dominated by black basalt rocks, providing breathtaking sceneries and great views, especially around the region of Souillac. There the most famous coastline is located at Gris Gris, and serves as inspiration for generations of artists; amongst them native poet Sir E. Hart whose house, which has been turned into a museum, is perched on top of the cliff. So steep and wild is the coast, that the road cannot follow it and meanders further inlands, thus forcing the visitor to pass by tiny villages such as Trois Boutiques, Malakoff or Benares, where time seems to be standing still. As some of the names indicate, many of the people living there are descendants of the indentured labourers once brought in from India.
On one side, the high plateau is linked to the South by the road that descends through Chemin Grenier, which is the main village in this region and lies on the slopes of Mount Savanne. Souillac is certainly the southernmost point of Mauritius and located at the mouth of two small rivers. It is also the historically most interesting port in this part of the island; where big ships once anchored to take up the sugar cane from the fertile fields and noblemen and pirates lay buried in the ancient churchyard side by side. Around the bend, the coast becomes friendlier, with spots of sand turning into beaches; and 5 star hotels starting to occur. The area around Bel Ombre is especially pretty, and wonderful for pick nicks by the Ocean as its grassy slopes reach right down to the beaches.
Shortly before Baie du Cap, the mountains approach the ocean again, creating dramatic sceneries such as Maconde, where the winding road seems to be glued onto the cliff by sheer magic. Once around the edge, the stunning view of the angular peninsula with Le Morne Brabant Mountain in its centre greets the astonished visitor; prelude to the western part of Mauritius. In the shade of Le Morne, picturesque Creole villages lay scattered and silhouetted against the sparkling and pristine waters of the vast lagoon.