The Ultimate Guide to Mauritius and Villa Charlotte
Known as the Hawaii of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is a subtropical island less than 600 miles off the eastern coast of Madagascar with a diverse population group of French, Indian, African, and Chinese. This makes it one of the most distinct and diverse countries in the Indian Ocean. It’s known as a getaway for the jet-set crowd for its private, upscale resorts and residences, sandy beaches, and unique nature.
Maison Benjamin is excited to announce our new partnership with the Richstone Collection, which has the inimitable Villa Charlotte, a one-of-a-kind home nestled within a lush garden and just moments from the beach. With extensive knowledge of the island and its offerings, we are able to arrange tailored experiences for our members, as well as book a stay at Villa Charlotte.
Villa Charlotte is a contemporary villa in Mauritius.
Through Maison Benjamin’s partnership, allow us to arrange a stay at the six-bedroom, 9,730-square-foot contemporary home. Situated within the Anahita Golf and Spa Resort (also home to the Four Seasons), the tropical estate has panoramic views of the nearby mountains, the Indian Ocean, incredible golfing, and near-total seclusion. Richstone’s properties, including Villa Charlotte, is fully serviced with a hand-selected staff that is akin to superyacht-standard service on land.
Located on the island’s eastern coast, the home features a contemporary island design with architecture that prioritizes indoor-outdoor living. Villa Charlotte’s many amenities are connected via lush, landscaped walkways that lead you to covered pavilions, the grassy lawn, and a jaw-dropping 82-foot pool. Other amenities include a circular alfresco lounge pit with a fire pit and barbecue, a spa, gym, entertainment suite, staff quarters, biometric pergolas, and a separate catering kitchen. As for the design? Each room features bespoke, locally made furniture and decor. In addition to access to Anahita Golf and Spa Resort, guests also have access to Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita. There is a bevy of wonderful amenities and service, including the spa.
Natural Wonders
One of the most famous sites in Mauritius is the underwater waterfall, located off the coast of Le Morne mountain in the southwest region. Technically an optical illusion, the sand and silt cascades underwater in a way that appears to be a subaquatic waterfall. While it’s not visible from a boat in the ocean, there are helicopter tours that can be specially arranged to view this phenomenon from a bird’s-eye view. Our helicopter operator of choice? Corail Helicopters, which offers private tours over the island—including an epic heli-golf flight.
Chamarel must also not be missed. This village is known for its scenic nature attractions, like the Chamarel Falls and the Seven Colored Earths, a geological formation with seven colors of sand that look like a painting come to life. Alexandra Falls is another can’t-miss attraction in the Black River Gorges National Park that stands nearly 2,300 feet above sea level.
Mauritius is also home to great diving and snorkeling. Allow us to arrange a private charter to take you to some of the most coveted spots, including Blue Bay Marine Park, a nature preserve with 1,000-year-old brain coral. There is also Pointe aux Piments, a peaceful and quiet coastline for swimming and snorkeling, as well as Île aux Cerfs, a privately owned island off the coast of Mauritius with the largest lagoon in the island country and more than 214 acres of preserved, lush land and white, sandy beaches.
Just when you think the natural landscape can’t get more diverse, Mauritius is home to a dormant volcano called Trou aux Cerfs, which created the island millions and millions of years ago. The large crater is uniquely surrounded by a lush forest, pine trees, and ferns.
Activities
Maison Benjamin can arrange tours of everything on the island. There’s so much history on Mauritius to explore, including Mauritian tea. Book a visit to Bois Chéri Tea Factory, founded in 1892 as the first tea plantation on the island. It’s the first and biggest tea producer with some of the oldest tea plants on the island. There’s also incredible beaches, ripe for wind and kite surfing. Spend the day lounging or on the water at Le Morne Beach, also great for snorkeling, and Tamarin Beach, a volcanic, black-sand beach.
Mauritius is also home to fabulous golfing just nearby Villa Charlotte in the Anahita community. Guests who stay at Villa Charlotte have access to all of Anahita’s golf amenities and spa. There are two, 18-hole championship golf courses set along the water: Anahita and Île aux Cerfs.