Ilot Gabriel Nature Reserve
Mauritius
The Ilot Gabriel Nature Reserve is relatively flat and consists of open grasslands, with the soil being coralline sand. Much of the original vegetation remains in the form of open scrub with Psiadia arguta, Pemphis acidula, Suriana maritime and Scaevola taccada present. A large part of the island is also covered with the native grass Zoysia tenuifolia. The fauna consists of endemic reptiles including the Day gecko and the Bojer, Bouton and Orange-tail skinks.
The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden is the oldest botanical garden in the Southern Hemisphere. It is populated with more than 650 varieties of plants among which are the famous Baobabs, the Palmier Bouteille, the ineluctable Giant Water Lilies, dozens of medicinal plants, a large spice garden and many more. One of the main attractions of the botanical garden is the large collection of 85 different varieties of palm trees brought from different corners of the world.
