Natural History Museum Travel Guide: Top Sights in Mauritius, Tours &

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Natural History Museum- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Historical & Cultural; Mauritius; 5 Reviews

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Suggested Duration: 2 hours

The Natural History Museum in Port Louis is located in the historic Mauritius Institute Building, which dates back to 1884. As the oldest museum in Mauritius and one of the oldest in Southern Africa, it holds a significant place in the study and preservation of the island's biodiversity. Originally founded in 1826, it has evolved into a hub for the documentation and research of the fauna and flora of Mauritius and the Mascarene Islands. The museum's collection includes marine fauna, birds, and other local species, with the most notable exhibit being the most complete dodo skeleton, discovered in 1904. The museum was declared a National Museum in 2000, further cementing its role in preserving Mauritius's unique natural heritage.

Operators offering tours in Mauritius

Attractions in Port Louis

Aapravasi Ghat

Mauritius Postal Museum

4.8

Photographic Museum

4.8

Jummah

Blue Penny Museum

4.6

Caudan Waterfront

4.6

Citadel

4.4

Central Market

4.2

Reviews of Natural History Museum

Beverley Woozageer

4
Reviewed: 2024-09-11

Absolutely amazing experience. Loved it
Kellyn Botha

4
Reviewed: 2024-08-20

A small space that really ought to have better funding given the unique flora and fauna of Mauritius, but still a nice informative space. Great for kids and one of the few places in the world to see a complete Dodo skeleton. The surrounding area also has some fascinating parks and statues to get to know the history of Port Louis better
Anna Levina

5
Reviewed: 2024-07-11

It is a small museum, but very nice. A lot of information about Dodo bird. As the museum was free of charge when I was there, it was worth to take a visit.
Majid Khan

5
Reviewed: 2024-06-30

Fantastic place to visit in the capital city. Ground floor has a very nice souvenir/gift shop. All the native animals, extinct or otherwise are on the ground floor and the Dodo has a room for itself. The upper level is mostly WW2 memorabilia with very little of Mauritius and mostly the British. I'd walk faster on the upper level and spend time on ground floor more
Molly and Harlequin

5
Reviewed: 2023-10-12

This is a fabulous and seriously underrated gem of a museum. And it's free! Yes, it's small (as noted by the guide books) but packed full of amazing birds, fish, shells, insects, and of course, The Dodo Gallery. Everything you could ever want to know about this quirky, extinct bird and the only complete unique skeleton of it in the world. Would highly recommend for a 30 - 45 minute viewing if you are visiting Port Louis, or Mauritius in general.