Balfour Garden | Beau Bassin

Information

Landmark: Balfour Garden
City: Beau Bassin
Country: Mauritius
Continent: Africa

Balfour Garden, Beau Bassin, Mauritius, Africa

Balfour Garden is a public municipal park located in the residential district of Beau Bassin, within the Beau Bassin-Rose Hill township of Mauritius. It is situated on the edge of a plateau overlooking the Grand River North West gorge.

Visual Characteristics

The park features landscaped lawns, endemic trees, and flowering shrubs, with paved walking paths throughout. The primary visual highlight is the vantage point at the western edge, which provides a direct view of the deep river gorge, the Balfour waterfall, and the Moka mountain range in the distance. The grounds include a colonial-era pavilion, a dedicated children's playground with colorful plastic and metal structures, and a stone-walled turtle enclosure.

Location & Access Logistics

The garden is located at 24 Shand Street, Beau Bassin, approximately 8 kilometers south of Port Louis. Access is via the A1 Main Road, followed by a turn into the residential streets of the Balfour area. The Beau Bassin Metro Express station is located 1.2 kilometers to the east, and local buses stop along the nearby main road. On-site parking is limited to a small paved area at the entrance and along the adjacent residential roads.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The site was established as a public space during the British colonial period and is named after Sir Andrew Balfour, a prominent figure in tropical medicine. The park’s geography is defined by the basaltic cliffs of the Grand River North West, which were formed by volcanic lava flows during the island's formative geological periods. Ecologically, the garden serves as an urban green space and a sanctuary for local bird species, featuring several mature specimens of native Mauritian trees.

Key Highlights & Activities

Observation of the Balfour waterfall and the river gorge is the primary activity, facilitated by a secure viewing platform. The park is a popular venue for low-impact exercise, specifically jogging and walking along the perimeter trails. Family-oriented activities include using the playground facilities and viewing the giant tortoises kept within the park’s enclosure.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The park is equipped with public restrooms, multiple shaded wooden benches, and several kiosks that provide shelter from the rain. 4G and 5G cellular coverage is consistently strong across the entire park area. Lighting is provided for early morning and evening visitors, as the park is open daily from 05:00 to 20:00. There are no formal food vendors inside the garden, but small shops and bakeries are located within 300 meters in the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Best Time to Visit

The best time for photography is in the early morning (07:00–09:00), when the sun illuminates the Moka mountains and the waterfall without the afternoon haze. The cooler months of May to October are ideal for visiting the open lawns. For those seeking quiet, weekdays are preferable, as the park experiences high foot traffic from local families during Sunday afternoons.

Facts & Legends

A local historical oddity is the presence of the historic "pavillon," which was once used for municipal receptions and colonial gatherings. The garden is also known for its "quiet zones," where local students and residents have traditionally gathered for study and meditation, taking advantage of the site's separation from the busy commercial center of Rose Hill.