Complete guide to Gris Gris Mauritius including how to find the beach caves, viewpoints, and hidden waterfalls!
Most of the beaches in Mauritius are world-renowned for their calm turquoise water flanked by soft white sand but nestled deep in the south of Mauritius are untamed beaches with rugged landscapes that provide the most scenic views.
Gris Gris Beach is the perfect example of that! Due to the lack of coral reefs, it’s one of the best spots to witness the wild side of Mauritius.
Think strong waves crashing against the jagged cliffs, natural pools with crystal-clear water, secret caves, viewpoints, and hidden waterfalls. There’s clearly plenty to see around Gris Gris Beach.
So, keep reading to find out how to visit Gris Gris Mauritius, and make sure to read till the end for a map with the exact location of each waterfall.
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Read more about Mauritius:
- Ultimate guide to hiking in Mauritius
- Mauritius waterfalls guide: 18 amazing waterfalls to see
- Most beautiful roads in Mauritius
- 24 Most beautiful viewpoints on Mauritius Island
Where is Gris Gris Mauritius?
Gris Gris Beach is situated in the village of Souillac, about a one-hour drive from Port Louis, 40 minutes from Mahebourg or 45 minutes from Le Morne.
Read more: Hiking in Mauritius: Top 29 hikes for all fitness levels
How to get to Gris Gris?
If you’re on a tight budget, you can get to Gris Gris by bus from different parts of Mauritius (you can check out this website for more details).
A bus ticket will set you back about USD 1 per trip, making it the perfect budget option. The bus stop is located about 1 km from the beach, which is about a 15-minute walk.
Alternatively, you can rent a car for about Rs 1,000 (USD 21) per day (read my tips for driving around Mauritius Island and my Mauritius car rental guide for more details).
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A RENTAL CAR
There’s only a small parking lot which usually fills up quickly, so make sure to get there early if you’re arriving by car.
Tip: If you’re traveling by car, you can also visit Pont Naturel which is located about 40 minutes away.
Related post: Top tips for driving in Mauritius
What to expect?
As soon as you take a few steps from the parking lot, you’ll be greeted by the strong and salty ocean breeze.
The beach isn’t protected by coral reefs unlike most of the beaches in Mauritius, so you’re guaranteed to see huge waves crashing against the cliffs at Gris Gris.
The waves can sometimes go up to five meters, providing the most spectacular views!
Read more: Complete guide to Cascade 500 Pieds in Mauritius
Gris Gris Beach
The main beach area is made up of a large green field overlooking the cliffs and gigantic waves.
There are also a few benches and a little gazebo where you can relax while enjoying the view.
On the left side, you’ll find a concrete staircase leading down to the beach.
It’s absolutely not recommended to swim here as it’s very dangerous!
The waves are very strong and can swipe you up in no time! Instead, take a stroll along the beach until you reach a small cave at the very end.
Secret Caves at Gris Gris
Apart from the cave located on the far left side of the beach, you’ll also find two other beach caves at Gris Gris. They are more difficult to get to since you’ll have to climb down a cliff and walk through the water.
I don’t recommend going all the way down since the water level can change at any time and the current is usually too strong.
That being said, if you want to see the secret caves at Gris Gris, make your way towards the edge of cliffs located directly across the parking lot. Once you get there, only climb down about halfway through and you’ll be able to see the caves on your right.
Again remember that going inside the cave could potentially be dangerous if the water level rises!
Read more: Exactly how to get to Cascade Leon
La Roche Qui Pleure
La Roche Qui Pleure or the Weeping Rock is a huge rock formation that has been eroded by the strong waves and thus slightly resembles a man’s face.
As the waves crash against the rock, this creates the illusion of tears falling down.
The waves here crash with extreme force against the cliffs, spit out of the rock crevices and create huge water sprays just like a blowhole.
It goes without saying that you should be extremely careful and avoid standing too close to the edge.
About 100 meters before La Roche Qui Pleure, you’ll find a narrow path on your right that leads down to a viewpoint.
To get to La Roche Qui Pleure, take the path opposite the staircase leading down the main beach. The trail will lead you through the pine forest where you’ll come across several viewpoints.
If you don’t want to walk, you can return to the main road and turn right at the first roundabout until you find another parking lot just a few meters away.
Read more: A visit to the idyllic Eau Bleue Waterfalls
Hidden Waterfalls and Tide Pools
What most people who visit Gris Gris Mauritius don’t know is that there are actually three hidden waterfalls here, two of which flow directly into the ocean.
To get to the first waterfall, follow the path from La Roche Qui Pleure along the cliffs’ edge.
After about 300 meters, you’ll see a small wooden ladder further down on your right.
Here, you’ll find several natural pools that are fed by sea water. During the hot summer days, it’s the perfect spot to cool off.
Take the left and walk along the beach until you get to a river. The river isn’t too wide or deep, so it’s easy to walk across, and in a few minutes, you’ll reach the first waterfall.
Read more: Hiking guide to Tamarind Falls
To get to the second waterfall (known as Cascade Mamzelle), make your way back up and keep walking through the pine forest until you reach a spot with a bird’s eye view of the river that you previously walked across.
Continue along the path on your left that leads to a sugarcane field. Turn right at the intersection and walk for a few minutes until you hear the sound of the waterfall.
To get to the bottom section of Cascade Mamzelle, walk across the river and then a few meters on your right until you see a steep path leading down to the waterfall.
There’s also a smaller waterfall here but it just looks like a trickle most of the time.
It’s now time to make your way to the third waterfall. This is also my favorite part of the hike since the trail boasts some of the most beautiful viewpoints in Gris Gris.
Along the way, you’ll find a large dam covered with water lettuce. Don’t take the path on the left but instead walk across the bridge and continue along the trail until you reach a large green field.
The third waterfall is found along the edge of the cliff and isn’t noticeable unless you get really close to the edge.
Needless to say, the view of the ocean from up there is breathtaking!
You can also get to the bottom of the third waterfall by walking from the natural pools mentioned above but make sure to do so only during low tide as the strong waves can crash onto the path.
Read more: How to visit the Eureka Waterfalls?
Bonus: Seneville Waterfall
If you don’t mind adding an extra hour to the hike, you can keep walking to Seneville Waterfall.
The hike isn’t particularly strenuous as the trail is mostly flat but keep in mind that you have to walk across another river once you get close to Andrea Lodge.
Additional tips and things to know before visiting
- Visiting Gris Gris Beach is completely free.
- Don’t forget to bring mosquito repellent. You won’t need it if you stick to the beach but if you’re visiting the waterfalls, you better come prepared!
- Wear appropriate hiking shoes if you want to go down to the waterfalls.
Where to stay near Gris Gris Beach?
Andrea Lodges
Located on the cliffs of Souillac, Andrea Lodges offers a total immersion in nature. Each room features a double bed and a private bathroom.
The best part is that you get to enjoy the pool with an incredible view of the cliffs and ocean.
Check prices and availability for Andrea Lodges here
Let me know in the comment below if you found this guide helpful and don’t forget to check out this map to find the exact location of each attraction mentioned.
More hikes in Mauritius:
- Complete guide to Eau Bleue Waterfall
- Hiking Tamarind Falls in Mauritius
- The most scenic hike to Pont Naturel
- How to visit Eureka Falls?
- Everything you need to know about hiking Le Pouce Mountain
- How to hike Le Morne Brabant?
- Cascade 500 Pieds: Guide to the tallest waterfall in Mauritius
- Visiting Le Souffleur and Savinia Beach
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10 comments
You really nailed the southern part around Gris gris (which means black magic) and La roche qui pleure or also known as Capri (maybe reminds one of Capri island). The second waterfall, serene and pretty, is commonly called Cascade Mamzelle. In the olden days, the slave women used to come here for bathing. If you go further up the river you’ll come across the old railway bridge which sadly is now in derelict. Thank you so much for the trip. Makes me want to visit these places again. BTW, i’ve never heard of the third waterfall. So i need to make haste and follow your guidelines to this secret place!
Hi Bashir! Thanks for reading the article, I’m really glad you enjoyed it! Yes, I’ve heard that the second waterfall is called Cascade Mamzelle and sometimes Cascade Madame as well. I’ve never been to the railway bridge before, I guess I have to go next time, so thanks for the tip! Hopefully, you’ll be able to visit the third waterfall soon! If you keep walking along the cliffs in the direction of Senneville, you’ll also find another waterfall there.
Your tips are so helpful, thank you so much for all the these information, highly appreciated. Stay safe. Stay blessed. Take care
Thank you for reading the blog. I’m glad you find the information helpful! Take care!
Approximately how many kilometres the gris gris please?
Hi Ally, the hike is around 5 km round trip.
Hello Steph
I just wanted to visit the Natural pool near gris gris beach – wanted to know if it is difficult to reach to it.
Hi Susheel. It’s easy to get the the natural pool. There’s just one section where you’ll have to climb down a small ladder but it’s nothing too strenuous.
Bonjour Stéphanie, merci pour tout votre partage.
Si on fait toute la marche jusqu’à la troisième cascade, le retour se fait il par le même chemin, existe t il une alternative ou un bus pour le retour SVP?
Bonjour. Oui il faut faire le même chemin pour la troisième cascade. Pour la quatrième, vous pouvez continuer jusqu’au village de Rivière des Anquilles et prendre un bus pour retourner à Gris Gris