Lakaz Chamarel Exclusive Lodge

We went there for our 30th wedding anniversary- 1st time to Mauritius. We took the Suite Piton Canot as it had its own pool and fabulous views of the sea. We were pleasantly surprised as the place punches way above its weight, delivers above our expectations. Great place, great location, good food but, above all....amazing people & service. They could not do enough to help our stay be amazing. Taxi Allen took us everywhere with wise recommendations as to where to go....we did not drive which was a good thing in view of the way locals drive. Much safer to be driven by an expert. On the property you have Yoga classes, a small gym- went once, and an afternoon bar where Camille and team make you laugh and serve you rum infused cocktails. Breakfast was varied and included in price as was dinner, which changed every day. Music every Thursday when you can practice your dance moves....we had a great time and would strongly recommend it to all.

This was our first stop on our honeymoon, 2 nights, and it was perfect. We had a seaview villa with private pool which had stunning views and an amazing room with outdoor shower. The View Bar was fantastic to watch the sunset from and the staff were very friendly and welcoming. Lovely to be in a setting of lushious greenery and vibrant wildlife. And we loved the yoga settings!

An exceptionally welcoming place in an exceptionally beautiful setting. A wonderful spot to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. We loved seeing so many birds and fruit bats up close. The staff were very kind and friendly, the food was delicious, the accommodation outstanding - and the massage with Kareshma was a real treat. I have been woken by shoulder pain every night for a long time, but after Kareshma’s massage I had an unbroken night’s sleep.

It is hard to describe just how beautiful this place is. Peaceful, tranquil, calm. For much of the stay, apart from at mealtimes, we were under the impression that we were the only people there, it is so totally quiet. Sitting on our veranda, next to our private swimming pool, we could just as easily have been in the midst of the jungle. Palm trees, bougainvillea, beautiful little birds, huge fruit bats and the occasional sound of ice clinking in a glass all add to the sense of utter tranquility. The staff are exceptional, kind, friendly and always helpful. Everything is done with a smile and every action is followed up with 'is there anything else I can do to help?' Food was very very good indeed, dinner in particular was of a very high standard. I had the best piece of seared Tuna I have ever eaten. Drinks are not cheap but the wine list was very good. A trip to the sunset bar at the top of the estate is a must - make sure you time it to get there 20 - 30 minutes before sunset as it gets busy but, boy, is it worth the walk up the hill to get there. The views are superb as the sun goes down behind the mountains and paints the sea a hundred shades of orange and red. Having a car could be quite useful as the place is quite remote and not very close to any amenities really. We borrowed bicycles from the hotel and cycled around the area, using them to visit the geopark and to get to the Chamarel waterfall, the seven coloured earths etc and that worked out very well. The rooms are well kitted out, the huge beds very comfortable indeed. The outdoor shower is delightful. We had a room with a private pool and that was just wonderful. If we had just one slightly negative point to make it would be that, despite the numerous fans available in the room, the lack of air-con in the rooms at night made sleeping a bit difficult at times. It got extremely hot in the room, once the doors and windows were closed against the threat of biting insects. However the bed is very well equipped with huge mosquito nets and so we could have probably risked leaving some windows open. Overall, I would highly recommend Lakaz Chamarel and we definitely hope to return there in the future.

Don’t go here for high tech entertainment and cable TV and a fast pace. Go here to soak in the nature, treks, a slower pace, wonderful views, the sounds of the jungle and wonderful, friendly staff who really care. Totally recommend going here - it’s just so different to the five star chain resorts we stayed at on the same holiday - we will definitely be back. Food Amazing palm heart salad A la carte menu is great Special days food menus (Indian and so on) weren’t brilliant sadly - not so much variety and lacking somewhat Facilities and entertainment Cold water pool - refreshing Sunset bar - viewpoint stunning The lounge was small but great - our boys played chess a lot, and the guitar and other things and loved it. Amazing and varied entertainment - African dancers and regular pianist are wonderful Room Loved it. So much space for all four of us and it was lovely and relaxing with a good outdoor lounging area at the front overlooking our shared pool. Hard at night without air con - the fan helped but not brilliant when it was so hot at night Loved the outdoor shower and bath Wish we had got a room with air con - that would’ve helped to be honest. Staff Vijay (waiter) was amazing Taxi is brilliant - didn’t realise in Mauritius most drivers are assigned to hotels/lodges so we had the same driver for 3 days and he would help plan our days and wait for us hours when we were doing different activities. Wildlife and trips We saw snails as big as your hand - so lovely! The shrews/mouse in the room was most annoying. It was a nature holiday by choice but having asked for this to stop pooing in all our backpacks nothing happened over 2-3 days. The Ebony Forest is totally worth a visit. We pre-booked a guide for a long trek and she was great and explained everything. We did the same with the Black River Gorges walk that was also wonderful.

Lakaz Chamarel is hidden away in a secluded valley high up in the mountains on the edge of the Black River National Park, in the South-East of the island. There is a lot to see and do in that part of the island - more than we could explore in our 10-day stay there. Our little lodge had its own small swimming pool, surrounded by the beautiful tropical gardens of the property - quite idyllic and secluded. Quiet little footpaths winding through the gardens lead you to the pretty restaurant and bar - little buggies provide transport on call whenever required. The Seaview Bar has the perfect setting for cocktails at sunset, with spectacular views of sea and mountains to the west. The food is excellent. Most importantly, the a**osphere is warmly welcoming as all the staff are lovely, kind and helpful at all times. Hope we'll make it back there again, one day!

The location is amazing, the team superb and the accommodation lovely. it is a great place to base oneself, walking and hiking easily accessible, the coloured earths close by and plenty within a short drive. We felt well cared for, and will hopefully be back.

As a place to unwind after a gruelling flight from London, Lakaz Chameral is as good as it gets. Spectacular location, wonderful staff, amazing wildlife, excellent food and wonderfully private accommodation all make for a truly memorable experience. We stayed for 4 nights before heading for the sea and will always remember it as one of the most extraordinary places we’ve ever stayed.