Kitesurf at Le Morne

We have all seen at least once a photo of this large wooded rock that emerges from the water and overlooks the turquoise lagoon, at the Southwest tip of Mauritius. (It can be clearly seen when arriving by plane)

It is no coincidence that Le Morne is home to the majority of the island’s kite spots: in fact, the spot benefits from 5 to 10 knots more than the other spots in Mauritius thanks to an acceleration of the wind due to the mountains when the wind blows from the southeast. The windy season is also longer than in the east, lasting until December or even January.

The lagoon and the school area

Le Morne is simply a large turquoise flat to choppy lagoon and therefore offers an ideal playground for freestyle/freeride. You can kite on the spot called “La Pointe”, in front of Club Mistral, south of Le Morne. It is a flat/choppy area (depending on the wind) for independent riders. The lagoon is huge, and you can take long rides with side-on wind. You must be independent because you will not touch the bottom past a certain distance.

Beginners, on the other hand, can learn at the Kite Lagoon spot, slightly southeast of La Pointe, which is formed by a nearly closed bay, ideal for learning. You will have ground everywhere and the wind ensures safety. However, be careful of the crowd, as schools are present and the spot can be crowded.

Waveriding at Le Morne

Wave enthusiasts will not be disappointed either: there are three reef waves near Le Morne, on the coral reef barrier (west of the lagoon):

– Little Reef (or Inner Reef) just in front of the Mistral center, behind the flat area of La Pointe: a forgiving wave but not to be underestimated when there is a big swell.
– One Eye (further north), a world-class wave renowned for its tubular waves, a fast wave that breaks on the reef, only for experienced riders.
– Manawa (further south), a wave that can be impressive in size, breaking quite far from the shore. It looks like a big swell breaking quite gently, unlike One Eye.

And Bel Ombre?

Bel Ombre is a kite spot located 25/30 minutes east of Le Morne. It is a great spot if you take lessons with a school on-site as they take you out by boat and you enjoy a nice secure space. Very shallow water and ultra-flat conditions are waiting for you. The beach is beautiful (there are several resorts on-site).

Most kite schools are located at Le Morne, and it is also in this area that you will find shops (such as the 2 Kite Spirit shops, run by Henri Grim, one in La Gaulette, and the other in Tamarin). Note that equipment in Mauritius is often a bit cheaper than in France, and you benefit from a 15% tax refund when leaving for France. The shops will give you a paper and a number to give to customs at the airport on the day of departure.

As for accommodation, since Le Morne is a protected area, most accommodations are located in La Gaulette, which is a 10-minute drive away.

Pros: large playground – turquoise water – reliable wind – surfing atmosphere
Cons: high season crowds – no kiting at low tide

Attention: Le Morne is impracticable for one to two hours around low tide, depending on the coefficient. Wave enthusiasts, wait for the wind to be well established before heading to the reef, and be aware that the currents are very strong offshore.