Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden: Travel Guide
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, also known as Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, is a top attraction in Mauritius you must visit while exploring this tropical paradise. Our guide includes tips on how to get to the gardens, information on entrance fees, what to expect, and where to stay.
Have you just arrived in Mauritius, and cannot wait to start exploring the beautiful island boasting with incredible landscapes and plenty of things to do?
Well, we have a great tip on where to start. It is a place conveniently located only about 12 kilometers from the capital Port Louis.
We are talking about one of the must-visit places in Mauritius, a beautifully laid out botanical garden.
The full name of this stunning place is Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, but it's widely known as Pamplemousses Botanical Garden or shortly SSR Botanical Garden.
Pamplemousses Botanical Garden
The botanical garden in Pamplemousses was renamed in the late 80s after Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who was the leader of Mauritius' independent movement, and later on, became the first prime minister of Mauritius, and it has been known by that name ever since.
Founded in 1736 as a small garden and plantation to cultivate plants by a French horticulturist and botanist Pierre Poivre, this place evolved throughout the centuries into one of the most interesting botanical gardens in the Southern hemisphere.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Located in the town of Pamplemousses, the SSR Botanical Garden is home to many native plants and trees you won't see anywhere else.
It's rightfully among the top places in Mauritius that every visitor should see and totally worth a visit.
With an area that approximately covers around 37 hectares of land, this botanical garden is quite large, and you can easily spend there a few hours.
Leave your flip flops at hotel room, and wear comfortable sneakers. Also sunscreen and straw hat will help to protect you against the sun.
Undoubtedly, the main reason to visit this incredible botanical garden for us was the astonishing Victoria Amazonica, also known as giant water lilies.
We've never seen them before, and they are really beautiful and photogenic.
They say that the leaves can hold a small person, the flowers have a snow-white color and bloom only at night.
But that's not the only shining star in the pool.
You will see more interesting flora and fauna in the gardens such as Baobab trees, Geiger trees, dozens of palm trees, wild plants and spices, deers, turtles, or even fruit bats.
DO YOU NEED A GUIDE?
Although you can walk around the gardens without a guide, it might be a good idea to take a guided tour for 100 MUR at the entrance of the botanical garden.
The tour takes about an hour, and a knowledgeable and informative guide will help you to get the most of your visit. You will learn a lot about native plants and trees, something you probably wouldn't if you wandered around this place by yourself.
Of course, you can walk around the garden with your private guide, if you've arranged the tour somewhere else.
In case you take a tour, don't leave right away after the tour has finished.
As the tour covers only a small part of the botanical garden, take your time and walk around the complex by yourself to explore further.
ENTRANCE FEE
Currently, the admission to the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden is 300 MUR for an adult foreign visitor.
Local residents pay significantly less, only 25 MUR.
Opening hours are from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
HOW TO GET TO PAMPLEMOUSSES BOTANICAL GARDEN
Pamplemousses Botanical Garden has a central location in the north part of Mauritius, and it's very easy to get there by rental car.
There is a big parking lot in front of the entrance, and you shouldn't have a problem to find an empty spot when you arrive there by car.
Also, you shouldn't have a problem to catch a public bus from Port Louis, which stops on the main road near the botanical garden, and then you need to walk for about 10 - 15 minutes to get to the entrance.
Other popular places such as Grand Baie, Cap Malheureux, or Trou Aux Biches are covered by local buses too, although it's going to take much longer, and they don't run that frequently.
The problem we see with getting around Mauritius by bus is that public transport is not very efficient, and you will lose your precious time, especially if you want to cover more than just one place in one day.
We love getting around by public transport and used it on many occasions in countries such as Peru or Malaysia, but this time we opted for a rental car.
Taxi is another way to get to Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, but it's usually very expensive, so it's better to share the cost of the ride with your friends or family members.
Pamplemousses Botanical Garden is one of the most popular places in Mauritius and is often included in guided tours. Ask at your hotel or look for the tour online.
That is to say, Pamplemousses Botanical Garden is often included in tours that visit Port Louis and other top places.
Look into these two interesting tours and choose which one suits you the best - Mauritius: Dodo Trail or Port Louis, Mont Choisy and National Botanical Garden.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
WHERE TO STAY
North part of Mauritius offers an incredible range of accommodation.
Especially the northwest part is very popular with tourists, and you will have plenty of options to choose from.
Although we included one hotel in capital Port Louis, we probably wouldn't stay there more than one night as we would rather continue our journey towards the north the next day. The same goes for Pamplemousses.
Except for the botanical garden, there is nothing else to do, and you sure came to Mauritius for beaches, so look somewhere else.
We've included all types of accommodation, from budget hostels to luxury resorts, hotels in Mauritius will cater to all your needs and requirements.
Here are our top hotel picks in popular Mauritius' resort towns.
Trou aux Biches | Voile Bleue Boutique Hotel - Cozy hotel with modern studious offers air-conditioned rooms with kitchenette, outdoor swimming pool, and private parking.
Grand Baie | Le Pole - This is the most economical hotel on our list, and it's a perfect choice for backpackers and budget travelers. Le Pole has an excellent location close to the beach and grocery store, the rooms have an air-condition, there are an onsite restaurant and outdoor pool.
Balaclava | The Oberoi Beach Resort - Treat yourself and book a room in this luxury resort, which is one of the top hotels in Balaclava. The location is very quiet, and the facilities include a spa, wellness center, and a gym. Rooms are very spacious and airconditioned, and the attentive staff will make your stay in Oberoi Beach Resort unforgettable.
Port Louis | Le Suffren Hotel & Marina - This modern hotel offers everything you need - from airconditioned rooms to great location right on the waterfront, impeccably clean rooms, or an excellent onsite restaurant. Enjoy one of many treatments in the spa center or hit a fully equipped fitness room.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
