Tree Lodge Mauritius

Tree Lodge Mauritius is a small lodge for couples and independent travellers who would rather wake among trees than in a standard hotel block. The setting is rural Belle Mare, with tree-top accommodation, a garden and a swimming pool forming the centre of the stay. It is a place with a clear sense of character, and very little interest in pretending to be a resort city.

The Tree Hut gives you the most distinctive version of the experience: a bungalow raised on wooden stilts above the garden, with views towards the pool. If you are travelling with a larger group, the Four-Bedroom House provides a completely different scale, with several bedrooms, terraces and three bathrooms. Children are not allowed, so the atmosphere is aimed firmly at adults.

You are in Belle Mare, in the countryside around Centre de Flacq rather than directly on the coast. Centre de Flacq is about 2 miles away, while Belle Mare Beach is roughly 2.5 miles from the lodge by the direct distance shown for the area. A car is useful here; the beach is not a quick stroll in flip-flops after breakfast.

Belle Mare Beach is about 4 miles away by road, with Long Beach and Solana Beach around 5 miles away. Several restaurants are close by, including Le Safan Restaurant at about 1 mile and Place A Pat at roughly 1.5 miles. For a change of scenery, Lerique natural park is around 3.5 miles away, and GRSE Waterfall is about 6 miles from the lodge.

The smaller accommodation suits couples who want a memorable room rather than space for a suitcase parade. The Tree Hut is the obvious choice if the raised wooden setting matters to you; the Explorer Room offers a king-size bed, while the Baobab Room has twin beds. These rooms are compact, and the rooms inside the villa use a shared bathroom, so check the layout carefully if privacy matters more than the novelty of the setting.

The Four-Bedroom House is the practical choice for a group, with room to spread out and three bathrooms. Its terraces give you somewhere to sit before the day starts or once wet kit has been put away, while the garden views keep the surroundings in sight. The smaller rooms also have terraces, and outdoor furniture makes them more useful than a room with only a bed and a door.

Air conditioning and a fan cover the hot Mauritian nights. There is also an electric kettle for the first cup before anyone has properly started speaking, daily housekeeping, linen, towels and a hairdryer. WiFi is free throughout the property. The Tree Hut has the strongest visual identity; the larger house wins on space and shared living.

Breakfast is served in the garden, which gives the first meal of the day a more useful setting than a fluorescent dining room. You can take your time with it, listen to the garden wake up and make a proper start before heading towards the coast or an activity.

Dinner can be arranged on request, so you have an evening meal option without needing to turn the lodge into a full restaurant complex. The available information does not set out a cuisine style, a bar service or an all-inclusive arrangement, so the sensible plan is to treat the lodge as a garden-breakfast base with dinner organised when required.

For other meals, restaurants in the surrounding area include Le Safan Restaurant and Place A Pat, both within about 1.5 miles. KFC is also around 1.5 miles away, because even Mauritius cannot be expected to abolish the laws of post-travel hunger.

The outdoor swimming pool is the natural place to cool down without making another expedition of the afternoon. Sun loungers and beach chairs are available around it, while the tropical garden and sun terrace give you room to read, sit in the shade or simply allow the day to become less ambitious. Massage is available on site.

The activities listed for the surrounding area include tennis, windsurfing, snorkelling, horse riding, fishing, canoeing, hiking and bowling. These are off-site activities, with some arranged at an additional charge, so they are best viewed as options for a day away from the lodge rather than facilities waiting outside your room.

For couples, the appeal is the choice of pace: a swim and a garden seat when the body has had enough, or a drive towards the beaches and nearby natural sites when it has not. Free private parking makes having a car easier, and car hire is available through the lodge.

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport is about 25 miles away, with a driving time of roughly 37 minutes. An airport shuttle is available and should be arranged with the lodge. Car hire is also available, and free private parking is provided on site without the need to reserve a space.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 19:00, and you need to tell the lodge your expected arrival time in advance. Check-out is from 07:00 to 10:00, which suits an early departure but leaves little room for a leisurely final breakfast. WiFi is available throughout the property and is free.

Daily housekeeping is included. Laundry and ironing services are available at an additional charge, and a safety deposit box is provided. Pets are not allowed, and children are not allowed; cots and extra beds are not available. Keep cash with you for extras during the stay.