Kayaking, Kitesurfing And Big Game Fishing
Adventure Sports At Grand River South East, Ranked By Adrenaline
Grand River South East (GRSE) sits where a 30-kilometer river meets the Indian Ocean lagoon on Mauritius’s east coast, and that combination, a tidal gorge plus a reef-sheltered bay, is what drives every adventure sport worth doing here.
4. Deep-sea big game fishing Chartered sport-fishing boats run out through the reef passes into open ocean water after blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dorado. Season runs October through April, and this is real open-water fishing, well outside the calm of the lagoon, which earns its ranking on conditions alone.
3. Parasailing and tubing at Île aux Cerfs A short boat ride from GRSE across the lagoon, Île aux Cerfs runs tandem parasail flights over the reef and river mouth, plus high-speed tube rides across flat lagoon water. Quick adrenaline, minimal skill required, good for a first-timer.
2. Kitesurfing the east coast lagoon The stretch between Trou d’Eau Douce, GRSE and Palmar catches steady side-onshore trade winds over shallow, flat water, ideal for beginners and intermediates alike. May through October is peak wind season, and the lagoon here has enough uncrowded space that you’re not dodging other kiters on every run.
1. Kayaking or SUP to the GRSE waterfall This is the one that actually defines the destination. Paddle upstream along the estuary, past mangroves and volcanic rock faces, straight to the spray of the GRSE waterfall. Guests at the Otentic Eco Tent Experience in Deux Frères get free kayaks and paddleboards, so this doesn’t need to be booked as a separate activity at all. Go at dawn if you can; the gorge is at its best before the day’s speedboat traffic starts up.
Safety realities that matter None of this is risk-free, and treating it that way is how people get hurt. The plunge pool directly beneath the GRSE waterfall hides submerged boulders and strong eddy currents, so it’s a place to admire from a boat or kayak, not to swim in or jump into from the rocks. Cliffside troops of crab-eating macaques live along the gorge; don’t feed them, since it breeds aggressive begging behavior around boats. Mauritian flying foxes roost in the canopy above the river, so skip the air horn and the engine revving near their colonies.
The verdict: if you only have time for one adventure sport at GRSE, make it the dawn paddle to the falls. It’s free if you’re staying at Otentic, it’s the activity that most defines this stretch of coast, and it’s over before the crowds and the heat both arrive.
One concrete tip: peak trade winds for kitesurfing run May to October, which is also the cooler, drier season generally, so pack a wetsuit top if you’re planning long snorkeling sessions on the same trip.
For the wildlife you’ll spot along the way, from flying foxes to reef turtles, see animal activities at Grand River South East .