Gabriel Island
Gabriel Island (Ilot Gabriel in French) is situated at a one and a half hours-distance by boat from the northern coast of Mauritius. Boats, catamaran or yachts are usually taken from Sunset Boulevard in Grand Baie. The island is 42 hectares in size and its highest point is 28 meters above the surface. You shall be greeted by the magnificent Coin de Mire (Gunner’s Quoin) on your way.
A mere distance of 750 meters separates it from Flat Island and many tours include visits to both. Gabriel Island has been declared as a wildlife sanctuary. Tourists especially love the place for its sand stretches, its turquoise sea, its serene atmosphere and its abundant ecosystem.
Plants and Animals
Some cruises include 45 minutes of trekking so as for you to be able to take a look at the endemic fauna and flora on the island. You will come across Beach Cabbage, known by the scientific name Scaevola Taccada. It yields flowers and fruits, the white colour of which contrasts perfectly with the plant’s bright green colour. Pemphis acidula or Shrubby Coral Pemphis also grow on the island. These are actually small-leaved mangroves with white or pale pink flowers. The dry climate of the Gabriel Island has allowed the white-flowered shrub Baume de l’île Plate to thrive healthily as well.
Its rocks and vegetation has become home to many indigenous reptiles, namely the orange-tailed skink and the Bojer’s skink. The Paille-en-Queue birds are often spotted flying over the island, going back and forth between Coin de Mire and Gabriel Island. Do keep your cameras handy. There are a lot of photos to click on the island.
Snorkeling in the waters of Gabriel Island
Do pack your snorkeling gear for your trip. Even if you don’t, some tours lend gear to their customers since the activity is most of the time included in the package. You would not want to miss the opportunity to observe marine creatures in their natural habitat, would you?
The eastern part of Gabriel Island is the best for snorkeling. You will find an intact oceanic floor, interspersed with Acropora. Fish that you are likely to spot in the waters of Gabriel Island include Flutemouth, Picasso and Titan Triggerfish, Moorish Idols, flamboyant Wrasses, Pufferfish and Humbug Damselfish. Keep an eye out for turtles and stingrays too.
An ideal place to unwind
Gabriel Island is often chosen as a stop for lunch by tour guides. Most tours light a barbecue on the beach itself.
The serenity that prevails on its immaculate white shores allow visitors to enjoy their meal properly. Compared to Ile aux Cerfs for instance, where there is much more noise, here you can listen to the melodies nature sings.
It is easy to blend and fit into nature here. It takes a stroll on the island or a mere gaze at the sea to clear one’s mind. The lukewarm water is so inviting that you will soon forget your worries and take a dip.
Gabriel Island stands out from the other northern islands around Mauritius. There is no manmade luxury here, no lighthouse, no golf course, no historical ruins, only nature prevails. The absence of the former is most probably what makes the island so fascinating. One can spend hours here, observing the wildlife, swimming and gazing at the marine creatures. We guarantee you would want to come back here over and over again.
