Rochester Falls

Rochester Falls drops around ten metres on the Savanne river a short way inland from Souillac, and what distinguishes it is the rock: the basalt has fractured into vertical square-sided columns that give the cliff face a blocky, almost built appearance quite unlike the smooth rock of most Mauritian falls. The pool below is deep enough to swim in and local boys jump from the ledges, usually for tips. Reaching it means leaving the road at Souillac and following a rough track through sugar cane, then walking the last section, which is muddy after rain. It is one of the more visited spots in the south, and informal guides and parking attendants operate at the trailhead.

What you actually see

• The columnar basalt - the square-cut blocks forming the cliff face.
• The plunge pool - the swimmable basin below the drop.
• Cliff jumping - local divers leaping from the ledges.
• Sugar cane approach - the track in through the fields.

When to go

May to December for the drier weather and safer access; the falls run stronger in the summer wet season from January to April, when the track becomes very muddy and the current strong. Mornings are quieter.

Honest expectations

The access track is rough and often impassable to ordinary cars, so the last part is walked. Informal charges for parking and guiding are pressed on visitors. The pool is not supervised and the rocks are slippery. Flow drops considerably in the dry months.

Nearby

Gris Gris lies south at Souillac; La Vanille park is east.