My Graced Journey: Honeymoon at Preskil Beach Resort

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

Honeymoon at Preskil Beach Resort

Seven days & seven nights

Mahebourg, Mauritius

July 2015

Preskil Beach resort marina jetty and beachfront - Blue Bay, Mahebourg, Mauritius

Seven years after we got married, we were able to have the honeymoon we always wanted. We could only afford it after working for 6 months in Saudi Arabia, earning very good money. So I booked a full 7 day, 7-night hotel package for us at the four stars Preskil Beach resort in Mahebourg, Mauritius through Flight Centre. It cost R40 000 for the two of us after we calculated all the hidden expenses and the extra things we did. We spent time on the beach at the hotel, but like the explorers we are, we were not content sitting still.

So we rented a white little Hyundai i10 car and took day trips all around the island. This island has such a rich culture and various ethnic, cultural and religious groups make up the population of the island. There are also a huge amount of expats, especially South Africans who have made this compact tropical island their home. Even though it is not a big island, it will probably take a year just to get a taste of everything and visit all the places. Pristine beaches to the exterior and sugar cane fields with beautiful mountain scenery make up most of the island. I took more than a thousand photos, which I will only post the best here. This photo expose will hopefully paint a picture of our experiences on this beautiful island.

The turquoise lagoon at Preskil Beach Resort

About Mauritius

Mauritius (French: Maurice), officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 kilometers off the southeast coast of the African continent. The country includes the islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues [560 kilometers east of Mauritius], and the outer islands (Agaléga, St. Brandon and two disputed territories). The islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues form part of the Mascarene Islands, along with nearby Réunion, a French overseas department. The area of the country is 2,040 km2. The capital and largest city is Port Louis. Formerly a Dutch colony (1638–1710) and a French colony (1715–1810), Mauritius became a British colonial possession in 1810 and remained so until 1968, the year in which it attained independence. The government uses English as its main language.

The people of Mauritius are multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multicultural and multilingual. The island's government is closely modeled on the Westminster parliamentary system, and Mauritius is highly ranked for democracy and for economic and political freedom. Along with the other Mascarene Islands, Mauritius is known for its varied flora and fauna, with many species endemic to the island. The island is widely known as the only known home of the dodo, which, along with several other avian species, was made extinct by human activities relatively shortly after the island's settlement (Wikipedia).

Dining room and swimming pool with beach front in the background

About Preskil Beach Resort

Preskil Beach Resort is situated on Pointe Jerome in Blue Bay, on a private peninsula along the south-east coast of Mauritius, near the village of Mahébourg. The resort borders a lagoon of crystal clear blue waters which leads to the Blue Bay Marine Park. It’s the only hotel in Mauritius on a private peninsula. It has approximately 750 meters of beach and a breath-taking turquoise colored Vieux Grand Port lagoon. This luxurious and elegant 4-star hotel is not intrusive but rather blends harmoniously with the typical Creole architectural style of Mauritius. Across the lagoon from the Preskil beachfront is the I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve, a protected island to which one can paddle boat.

Our chalet

View of beachfront - taken from our chalet balcony

On our chalet balcony overlooking the beachfront

View of beachfront and Vieux Grand Port Lagoon

- taken from our chalet balcony

View of beachfront and Vieux Grand Port Lagoon

- taken from our chalet balcony

View of beachfront - taken from our chalet balcony

View of Vieux Grand Port Lagoon - taken from our chalet balcony

View of beachfront - taken from our chalet balcony

Our chalet balcony

Hotel facilities

The dining room where we could eat 3 buffet meals every day

The outside seating area of dining room complex next to the pool

Birds eating crumbs on the table - Outside seating area of dining room complex next to the pool

Ansu in the outside seating area of the dining room complex next to the pool

Pool with the beachfront area in the background

On the left the dining room & bar complex with the beachfront to the left

Beachfront deck chairs and coconut juice bar

Jetty walkway to the jetty veranda

Jetty veranda from where water sports take place

Beachfront & lagoon

Chalets

Chalets and lawn near the beachfront

Chalets

Our chalet top left and surrounding garden

Chalets

Garden walkways between the different chalets

Resort drop-off point - Overwhelming chirping of birds in the tall trees

Ansu on the walkway between drop off and resort reception

The post box in the reception area

Resort reception area decor

Drop-off point and resort reception area

Garden veranda resting spot

Spa reception & garden

Spa garden seating area

Hotel dining

Buffet dessert

Ansu at dinner

Ansu during lunch buffet

Dining room with the buffet in the background

Lobster for dinner - last night in Mauritius

Ansu in the dining room

Waitress & Preskil Colada

Buffet

Having coffee

Buffet salad

Preskil Colada
Pina Colada without alcohol

Hotel beach & marina

Beachfront, jetty and lagoon

Deck chairs on the beach

Beachfront, jetty and Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Beachfront, jetty and Vieux Grand Port lagoon......and my feet

The view above.....

Ansu relaxing on the beach

Water sports equipment on the beach and Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Jetty & Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Enjoying coconut juice
from a REAL coconut

Jetty & Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Ansu and I enjoying coconut juice

from a REAL coconut

Jetty & lagoon....and my feet

Dhow in the Vieux Grand Port lagoon....from the jetty veranda

Preskil Beach

Preskil Beach with jetty and Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Preskil Beach and Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Coconuts on palm trees on the beach

Preskil Coladas on the Beach

Windy beach

Jetty and Island Hopper Catamaran

Preskil beach

Preskil beach taken from a paddle boat in Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Coconut juice for our thirst....complete with an umbrella

Ansu - Our first morning on the beach

Our first morning on the beach

View of lagoon and Preskil beach from the jetty veranda

View of Preskil beach and hotel from the jetty veranda

View of Preskil beach and water sports center from the jetty veranda

Water sport in the lagoon - taken from the jetty

Beachfront - taken from the hotel

Ansu on a deck chair on Preskil beach

Deck chairs - Preskil beach
Red and green flags to message waiter

On the beach with Preskil hotel behind me

On the lagoon corniche with the lagoon behind me

Panorama - Preskil beach, jetty & lagoon

Vieux Grand Port Lagoon

Vieux Grand Port Lagoon from lagoon side chalets

Vieux Grand Port lagoon from lagoon side chalets

Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background

Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background
with the lagoon corniche at Preskil resort on the right

Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background

The clear and turquoise waters of the Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background

Windsurfer - Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background
Taken from Preskil Beach

Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background

View of Preskil beach and Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Kayaking on the Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Rowing towards the beach

At the beach in my kayak

Dhow in Vieux Grand Port lagoon with I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve island in the background

Preskil beach resort jetty & Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Windsurfer - Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Paddle boat trip to I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve

Ansu and I rented a small paddle boat to paddle across the Vieux Grand Port Lagoon to the I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve, a small island protected by the government. I snorkeled a bit near the island, while she enjoyed the sun and took pics. After about an hour we paddled the 700 meters back to Preskil Beach resort.

About Ile aux Aigrettes

Ile aux Aigrettes is a small (27 ha) island situated in the Mahebourg Bay, about 850 m off the south-east coast of Mauritius. Ile aux Aigrettes is made up of coralline limestone, unlike the mainland which is of volcanic origin. It is home to the last remnants of dry coastal forest, once found around most of Mauritius. Ile aux Aigrettes was affected by tree logging and land clearance, and the introduction of exotic animal and plant species almost destroyed the native fauna and flora. In 1965 the island was declared nature reserve.

Paddling on the Vieux Grand Port lagoon towards I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve

Ansu - Paddling on the Vieux Grand Port lagoon towards I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve

Paddling on the Vieux Grand Port lagoon towards I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve

I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve

Paddling on the Vieux Grand Port lagoon towards I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve

Clear turquoise waters of Vieux Grand Port lagoon

I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve

Snorkeling near I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve

Preparing to snorkel

Snorkeling near I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve

Ansu on I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve 'beach'

Clear turquoise waters of Vieux Grand Port lagoon - paddling back to Preskil

Snorkeling in the Vieux Grand Port Lagoon

I paid a local Mauritian about R1000 to take me on his speed boat on the Vieux Grand Port lagoon to do some sightseeing and snorkeling for a couple of hours in the late afternoon.

Clear turquoise waters of Vieux Grand Port lagoon

My guide

Clear turquoise waters of Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Beach side residences - Vieux Grand Port lagoon

Clear turquoise waters of Vieux Grand Port lagoon

I'lle aux Aigrettes nature reserve

The guide threw bread crumbs in the water to attract fish...I saw beautiful fish...including a lionfish. The corals, however, have degraded and died in many places probably due to the 'footprint' left by excessive tourism.