Ebony Forest Reserve Chamarel: Endemic Birdwatching Guided Tour
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
• Private guided visit to the bird release aviaries to see the rare Pink Pigeon and Echo Parakeet feed in the wild
• See some of the world’s rarest birds and wildlife: Mauritius Kestrel, Pink Pigeon, Echo Parakeet, Mauritius Flycatcher, Black Bulbul, Grey white-eye
• Experienced and passionate guides
• Spot White-tailed tropic birds, Mascarene swallows, Mascarene swiftlets and Mauritius flying foxes soaring in the air
• Enjoy a selection of local drinks and Mauritian snacks at the breath-taking Sublime Point
• Bespoke tour to accommodate your needs. You can hike or drive different sections as you choose
• Visit the museum, written and illustrated by British palaeontologist, bird expert and artist, and critically acclaimed co-author of Lost Land of the Dodo, Dr Julian Hume.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Prepare for a very special and unique birding experience among one of the most magnificent ebony forests and few places in Mauritius where six of the nine remaining endemic birds call home. On your 3-4 hour guided tour in this Important Bird Area, as listed by BirdLife International, you will have the opportunity to spot some of the World’s rarest birds, such as the Pink Pigeon, Echo Parakeet, Mauritius Paradise Flycatcher, Mauritius Black Bulbul (also known as the merle), Mauritius Kestrel, and Grey-white eye. Your 3-4 hour guided bird watching tour starts with a brief visit of the museum and an exclusive visit of the bird release aviaries to spot the wild Echo Parakeet and Pink Pigeon. Discover how Ebony Forest is committed to saving endemic birds and observe the forest restoration efforts to recreate large areas of native forest. Walk or use the safari jeeps to visit the Flycatcher Raised Walkway and Sublime Point. Savour Mauritian delights at Sublime Point while your guide highlights the mountains and rugged scenery of the wild south. A minimum of 2 adults is required to carry out the activity.
What‘s Included
Binoculars
Snacks and drink
Camera
Options
Ebony Forest Reserve Chamarel: Endemic Birdwatching Guided Tour
Reviews
50 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Hidden Gem!
jacquifryer83,Apr 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I went on the Bird Watching Tour at Ebony Forest. It was fantastic. Our guide Damien was very knowledgeable and accommodating. I learned a lot about the history of Mauritius especially in regards to the biodiversity & endemic birds. It was a bit of a tough hike as you go up the mountain to try & get best views for the Mauritian Kestrel but worth it at the top. Just need good fitness. There are surprises along the way! Chamarel Waterfalls are also just nearby! Highly recommend if you are in Mauritius!
Very nice project....
20111E,Apr 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We arrived late, we came from the north of the island, but Brice , our Mauritian baby guide, was waiting for us...with a smile. A beautiful discovery in a wild forest , in protection and reconstruction... A.view of the Gaulette and the breathtaking Grand Mirne....
Magic Walk
73rachaelh,Apr 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband (who is 85) is a keen bird watcher and I was concerned about his ability to do the entire walk; however our guide Johanna, was not only patient but fully understanding and in the end we completed everything that we wanted to do and saw just about all the species that we wanted to see (we dipped on the Kestrel). We cannot praise our guide nearly enough, and we would thoroughly recommend this walk (with Johanna) for those birders wishing to see those Mauritius endemics (we had 8 in 3 hours plus White Tailed Tropic Bird). The scenery and views are stunning too.
Great bird watching experience (if you're fit!)
Anne-marie28,Feb 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00As avid bird watchers, we booked this trip. We were there with one other couple. The guide Damien Lecordier, was amazing. He did his best to bring the birds in closer by mimicking their call as we went through the dense forest, and it brought results as we managed to see six out of the seven birds. The boardwalk under the trees gave us a bit of respite and we learnt about the trees and rodent control. Unfortunately, we chose a very hot and humid day and I struggled towards the end as it was very steep in some areas. It was worth it though as when we reached the top, we had amazing views, and they supplied refreshment ready for the journey down. My fitbit clocked nearly 6 miles and it took 5 hours (not the 3-4 hrs). Thank you Damien for a wonderful experience - and for being patient towards the end when I was struggling!
Great tour with knowledgeable guide.
Richard S,Dec 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Fantastic trip with some wonderful views and great birdlife. Our guide was very informative and knowledgeable. We started with a litlle talk about the evolution of Mauritius, explaining how the island was formed and about the endemic species on the island. We saw the work the Forest Reserve are doing to re-establish endangered birds and then walked around the forest. It's not for the 'unfit' as we did about 5 miles - mostly it seemed uphill! Flycatchers were abundant and very curious. Other wildlife included Geckos, bugs and snails. Great views at the final stop. We would do the trip again without question.
Informative, pleasant tour in the forest
nandhd,Nov 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a very informative and pleasant tour through the Ebony Forrest reserve in Mauritius. The tour was part of a day trip with Kreola Tours. Our guide Damien was pleasant and knowledgeable. We learned some interesting facts about the island and the ebony grown there. One thing to remember - bring insect repellent to keep the mozzies away!
Best bird watching trip ever
cazzerr94,Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We booked onto the bird watching tour and had the most amazing day ever! We visited on 16th October 2025. Unfortunately we did not catch the name of our guide, however we would like to say a huge thank you to him for the most amazing experience. He taught us so much about the history of Mauritius, the Flora and Fauna and of course, the birds! We were the only two on our tour and it was very comfortable to walk around and chat with our guide as he showed us all of the birds. We saw all the birds we had wanted to see and more! Including the Mauritius kestrel, pink pigeon, echo parakeet, paradise flycatcher and olive white eye! We are both love birds and bird watching so this was the perfect experience for us. We even saw 3 of the 13 giant tortoises and plenty of geckos! It was a 4 hour hike, so you need to be prepared with plenty of water and fitness but the guide will let you have a break when you need one (which I needed lots of!!!) If we had the time on our holiday, we would come back again because bird watching never gets boring. Thank you to all of the staff at Ebony forest, and our wonderful guide, for such a special experience.
Outstanding Birding Experience
Adamevekeyshiaroxy,Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Incredible experience. Saw Mauritius Kestrel, Pink Pigeon, Olive White-eye, Mauritius Bulbul, Mauritius Paradise Flycatcher. The walk was fantastic ... needs fitness. The reserve is outstanding! What people are doing to preserve and rehabilitate natural forest is exemplary. Our bird guide was EXCELLENT!!!
Great overall impression
AndriesCombrinck,Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We visited the Ebony Forest for a birdwatching tour. Unfortunately we didn't get to see all the birds we were hoping, but that is just how nature works. Our guide (unsure of the spelling, Johanna?) was excellent and her knowledge of both the fauna and flora enlightened us. The guys at Ebony Forest seem like a passionate bunch who are trying to restore nature to its original state. Well worth visiting, guided tour recommended.
Best tour done on Mauritius
Katie R,Sep 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a wonderful 4hours walking round the forest with Damien teaching us all about the fascinating flora and fauna of this gorgeous island. His enthusiasm for his surroundings and commitment to giving us the best experience possible was unparalleled and we loved getting to know him as much as getting to know the forest. With odds stacked against us due to noisy renovations ongoing in the aviaries we still got to see the very rare Olive White-eye up close due to his dogged determination and understanding of this very special little bird. Would come back and do it all again tmrw. Thanks so much for giving us such an entertaining and memorable tour Damien.
From €51.95
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Operated by Ebony Forest Chamarel