Pont Naturel (Natural Bridge)
A dramatic volcanic rock arch on the wild south coast, carved by the sea over thousands of years.
Pont Naturel, the Natural Bridge, is a striking arch of volcanic rock on the rugged southern coast, spanning around two metres over a churning inlet of deep blue sea. It looks almost man-made, but it was shaped entirely by nature: centuries of pounding waves and erosion hollowed out the cliff until only this bridge of stone remained.
On a day with any swell, the sea surges into the cove beneath the arch and explodes white against the rock, and water forced up through small holes creates an eerie whistling sound the locals call 'le souffleur'. It is one of the most photogenic and raw corners of the island, best on a rough-sea day when the waves are at their most dramatic.
Getting there is part of the adventure: the last stretch is a bumpy dirt track through sugar-cane fields, so it suits Krishna's vehicle well. There is no swimming here and no safety barriers, so it is a place to admire from a respectful distance. It sits near Blue Bay and Gris Gris, so it slots naturally into a wild-south-coast day.
South Tours
Chamarel: 7 Coloured Earth & Waterfall
Dunes of red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow sand, plus the tallest single-drop waterfall on the island.
Vallée des Couleurs Nature Park
A 450-acre adventure park with 23-coloured earth, the longest zipline in Mauritius and a 350m Nepalese bridge.
Gris Gris & La Roche qui Pleure
The wild southernmost point of Mauritius, where open ocean crashes against black cliffs with no reef to stop it.