Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort

Bel Ombre

Although the north coast of Mauritius has the greatest concentration of the island’s beach resorts and hotel infrastructures which attract an enormous number of tourists annually, the southern coast has a totally different appearance. It is picturesque and wild. The southern region has conserved its original character thanks to its customs, traditions and natural landscapes. Harvesting sugar cane and tea for example, are still carried out by hand and by women wearing saris. There are a great many traditional Creole houses with their colorful facades in villages with equally colorful names like Bois Chéri - Dearest Wood, Rose Belle - Beautiful Rose, or Riche en Eau - Rich in Water. Intact and for the time being, preserved from mass tourism, the landscapes of southern Mauritius possess a varied palette of colors and textures including ocher earth, vast stretches of woods and domains rich in flowers, creating a aroma filled atmosphere. Very few hotel infrastructures are present in this wild and natural expanse. A notable exception to this rule is the Bel Ombre domain, located near the small village of Baie du Cap, in the most remote part of the region. Out of this former sugar plantation, the Mauritian authorities decided to create a luxury tourist complex. Five upscale establishments, a gastronomic restaurant and an 18-hole golf course have already been built over 250 hectares of natural reserve.

A getaway with delicate hints of Africa

Staying at this resort with African overtones is like delving into the origins of Mauritian culture that of the first slaves transported from Madagascar and continental Africa by Dutch navigators. At the southern tip of the island, near the edge of the vast Bel Ombre domain, Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort places the accent on the island’s Creole culture without neglecting its colonial past. The décor contains tropical and African nuances including sculpted wood, ocher and beige tones and ethnic objects, giving the place the feeling of an African farm as described by Danish writer Karen Blixen in her novel, “Out of Africa”.

The 162 elegant and warm rooms open onto the immensity of the property and the banks of the lagoon. A 19^th century chateau, 9 restaurants including the highly sophisticated La Compagnie des Comptoirs opened by the Pourcel brothers with three stars in the prestigious Michelin Guide, an 18-hole golf course designed by architect Peter Matkovitch and a 3,000-square meter spa called the Seven Colors, are all invitations to participate in the various activities offered by the resort or take advantage of the beautiful surroundings and simply relax and enjoy doing nothing at all!

The pastry chefs of the Heritage Awali created a wedding cake that was cited in the Guinness Book of Records for its enormous size. As Gilles Refloch, the head pastry chef of the Heritage explains: “This year we wanted to honor the island of Mauritius and all the couples who come here either to get married or for their honeymoon.” Le Matinal