La Vanille Nature Park
Discover giant tortoises, crocodiles, and a vast insect collection at La Vanille Nature Park, a family-friendly gem in Mauritius.
Highlights
Must-see attractions

Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Popular for local families
La Vanille Nature Park
Best Time
Popular for local families
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Discover giant tortoises, crocodiles, and a vast insect collection at La Vanille Nature Park, a family-friendly gem in Mauritius.
"A total underrated highlight of the complete island Mauritius! A wonderful gem for every animal lover!"
🚗 Road to the Park
Be prepared for potentially rough road conditions leading to the park for a smoother drive .
🐢 Feed the Tortoises
Purchase leaves at the park to feed the giant tortoises – a highlight for kids and adults alike! :leafy_green:
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Giant Tortoise Feeding
Tortoise Enclosure
Feed giant tortoises with leaves bought at the park for an unforgettable experience for all ages.

Crocodile Feeding Show
Crocodile Enclosure
Witness the thrilling spectacle of crocodiles being fed, a highlight for many visitors.

Insectarium
Insectarium Building
Explore one of the world's largest insect collections, a fascinating exhibit for nature enthusiasts.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Planning Your Visit
Plan Your Visit to La Vanille
Best Value & Experience
Best Times
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
🚗 Road to the Park
Be prepared for potentially rough road conditions leading to the park for a smoother drive.
🐢 Feed the Tortoises
Purchase leaves at the park to feed the giant tortoises – a highlight for kids and adults alike! :leafy_green:
What places are open on Saturdays for activities in Mauritius?
🐊 Don't Miss the Show
Check the schedule for the crocodile feeding show; it's a must-see event! :crocodile:
👨👩👧 Family Fun Guaranteed
This park is highly recommended for families, offering a safe and educational experience.
Tips
from all over the internet
🚗 Road to the Park
Be prepared for potentially rough road conditions leading to the park for a smoother drive.
🐢 Feed the Tortoises
Purchase leaves at the park to feed the giant tortoises – a highlight for kids and adults alike! :leafy_green:
🐊 Don't Miss the Show
Check the schedule for the crocodile feeding show; it's a must-see event! :crocodile:
👨👩👧 Family Fun Guaranteed
This park is highly recommended for families, offering a safe and educational experience.
💰 Affordable Entry
Enjoy a great value experience with reasonable entry fees compared to other attractions.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
La Vanille Nature Park is a highly recommended, family-friendly destination offering unique animal encounters at an affordable price. Visitors rave about feeding the giant tortoises and the thrilling crocodile shows, though some note the roads leading to the park could be improved and suggest updates to exhibits.
"We visited La Vanille Nature Park as a family and had a wonderful time! Here’s a quick breakdown of our experience:
✅ Welcoming Personnel – The staff were warm, friendly, and always ready to assist.
✅ Spacious Parking – Plenty of space, easy access, and well-organized.
✅ Animal Encounters – Amazing to see crocodiles, alligators, monkeys, and many more fascinating creatures up close.
✅ Family-Friendly Experience – Safe, enjoyable, and educational for both kids and adults.
✅ Affordable Entry – Very reasonable price compared to some other park with ridiculously high fees.
✅ Delicious Food – We tried three different meals at the restaurant, and they were all fresh and tasty.
❌ Road Condition – The road leading to the park could definitely be improved for a smoother drive.
🌿 A must-visit place if you’re looking for a fun, educational, and memorable outing with your family in Mauritius."
Tahir Hussen Pirbhay
"This is definitely a total underrated highlight of the complete island Mauritius !
This great animal park contains a wide spectrum of different animals, but the absolute highlights are the crocodiles and the giant turtles. Especially the big feeding area, in which every visitor is able to feed the giant turtles with leaves you can buy at the park, is definitely a highlight for big and small people. I have to add, that the feeding show of the crocodiles it’s also a visit worth, it takes place at 11:30 and also another time in the afternoon.
We have visited many zoos in our lives, but the crocodile section and the giant Turtles were a unique experience for all of us.
Also, very positive with the fact, that they were not as many visitors as in other parks of equal size. We own three travel guides for the wonderful island in Mauritius, but this park mentioned only in one of them..
So a wonderful gem for every animal lover!
We recommend this animal park with an underlined 5 star rating 😍"
J&J Finest
"Still a wonderful Nature Park to visit with water ways and lots and lots of different trees!
Yes, the park has one of the biggest insects collection in the world! Unbelievable.
We also have some whale bones and skulls.
And the owner deer looks old now, seen him again (2025/08) after 10 years!
The animals featured unfortunately have not changed or improved for many years! The maintenance costs could be high but I believe a lot could have been done to improve the visitors experience or even to expand the park.
Watching crocodiles being fed, feeding giant turtles and for kids to hold baby crocodiles is an amazing feat!"
Muzafar Hussein Rusooly
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
🚇 🗺️ Getting There
La Vanille Nature Park is accessible by bus, making it a cost-effective option for visitors.
While specific routes can vary, it's a popular destination for local activities, so public transport is generally available.The road leading to La Vanille Nature Park can be a bit rough and could use improvement for a smoother drive.
It's advisable to be prepared for this.Yes, there is spacious and well-organized parking available at the park, making arrival easy.
🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry
The entry fee for La Vanille Nature Park is considered affordable and offers great value for the experience provided.
While specific discount information isn't detailed, the park is described as family-friendly and educational, suggesting it's geared towards all ages. The overall entry fee is noted as reasonable.
Yes, La Vanille Nature Park is a popular option for activities on Saturdays, often visited by locals.
Specific opening hours are not provided, but the crocodile feeding shows are scheduled for 11:30 AM and again in the afternoon, indicating the park is open during these times.
🎫 🧭 Onsite Experience
You can see a wide spectrum of animals including crocodiles, giant tortoises, alligators, monkeys, lemurs, iguanas, and a large insect collection.
Yes, you can feed the giant tortoises with leaves purchased at the park. Visitors can also hold baby crocodiles.
Absolutely! The park features a popular crocodile feeding show, typically at 11:30 AM and again in the afternoon.
Yes, it's a highly recommended family-friendly experience, offering safe, enjoyable, and educational encounters for kids and adults alike.
The park also boasts beautiful tropical plants, waterways, whale bones and skulls, and one of the world's largest insect collections.
🍽️ 🍽️ Food & Dining
Yes, there is a restaurant at La Vanille Nature Park that serves fresh and tasty meals.
The restaurant offers a variety of meals, with some visitors trying and enjoying dishes like crocodile meat.
📸 📸 Photography
Great photo opportunities include close-ups of the giant tortoises, the crocodile feeding show, and the diverse insect collection.
Yes, visitors have the opportunity to hold baby crocodiles for photos.
For Different Travelers
Tailored advice for your travel style
👨👩👧 Families with Kids
Parents will appreciate the park's commitment to being family-friendly, with a safe environment and helpful staff. The affordable entry fee makes it an accessible option for a full day of fun and learning. Don't forget to try the restaurant for a convenient and tasty meal during your visit.
Budget Travelers
Beyond the affordable admission, you can further enhance your experience by participating in activities like feeding the giant tortoises, which incurs a small additional cost for the leaves but provides immense enjoyment. The park's restaurant also offers a good dining option, potentially saving you money compared to eating elsewhere. Plus, it's a destination that can be reached by bus, further reducing transportation costs.
Deep Dives
In-depth insights and expert knowledge
Encounters with Wildlife
The park also boasts a unique insectarium, which is noted as one of the largest collections in the world. This exhibit provides an in-depth look at the fascinating world of insects, from vibrant butterflies to intricate beetles. For those interested in natural history, the park also displays whale bones and skulls, adding an educational layer to the visit. The presence of the 'owner deer,' a long-standing resident, adds a touch of personal history to the park's charm.
While the park offers a rich biodiversity, some reviews suggest that the animal exhibits and overall park maintenance could benefit from updates to enhance the visitor experience further. However, the unique opportunities to interact with and observe these animals, especially the tortoises and crocodiles, remain a significant draw for visitors seeking a memorable nature experience.
A Family-Friendly Gem
The welcoming and friendly personnel contribute significantly to the positive family atmosphere. Staff are often described as warm and ready to assist, making the visit smoother and more pleasant. This, combined with the affordable entry fee, makes La Vanille a great value outing for families looking to explore Mauritius without breaking the bank. The park's restaurant also offers tasty and fresh food, ensuring that family meal times are covered during your visit.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit