KCR Winter 2025 2026 Mag V3 FINAL - Flipbook - Page 81
o昀昀 easily. There are tennis courts, padel courts and a 昀椀tness centre with
personal trainers. We even went for a hike up La Pouce mountain, from
whose summit we could see most of the island and marvel at its emerald
forests and sugar cane 昀椀elds, the rugged peaks of dormant volcanoes
(Mauritius was formed from a massive volcanic eruption) and crater
lakes, while a 昀氀ying fox soared on the thermals below us.
All the water sports at the hotel are complementary, so I made the most
of them, paddle-boarding, snorkelling, and swimming in the warm, limpid sea, with breaks to slurp a cocktail or coconut on the sun-lounger. I
hadn’t water-skied for nearly forty years, but the water sports sta昀昀 were
brilliant instructors so, to my amazement, I got up 昀椀rst time and stayed
up, zigzagging Grand Baie delightedly.
As well as the sea, there are four lovely swimming pools with sumptuous
beds and loungers, and a spa with products by the Swiss luxury skincare
brand Valmont with every conceivable treatment on o昀昀er. I went home
looking toned, tanned, refreshed, rejuvenated and eager to return as
soon as possible to this oasis of tranquillity, luxury, and warmth – from
the sun, the sta昀昀, and the friendly ambience of Mauritius itself.
As Mark Twain was informed by a local, when he visited in 1896: ‘Mauritius was made 昀椀rst, and then heaven; and heaven was copied after
Mauritius.’ It’s hard to disagree.
Annabel Venning
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KENSINGTON & CHELSEA REVIEW
