Mauritius in September: weather, whales, festivals and tips
September closes the southern winter: days get warmer, rain stays rare on the west coast and the trade winds still blow. The whales are still here and the European summer holidays are over. Here, based on our 2011-2025 averages (ERA5 reanalysis), are the weather by coast, the sea, the month's activities, the September 2027 festivals and our verdict.
Average weather: September
| Area | High | Low | Rain | Gusts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North (Grand Baie) | 26 °C | 21 °C | 17 mm | 30 km/h |
| West (Flic en Flac) | 27 °C | 20 °C | 14 mm | 27 km/h |
| East (Belle Mare) | 24 °C | 20 °C | 53 mm | 28 km/h |
| Central plateau | 22 °C | 16 °C | +++ | 26 km/h |
Sea: 24 °C
2011-2025 averages (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). The central plateau (Curepipe, Black River Gorges) is much wetter than the model shows.
September weather, coast by coast
Our 2011-2025 averages give about 27 °C by day and 20 °C at night on the west coast, 26 °C and 21 °C in the north, and 24 °C and 20 °C in the east. The central plateau (Curepipe, Black River Gorges) stays clearly cooler and wetter, around 22 °C by day and 16 °C at night.
It is one of the driest months on the coast in our data: about 15 mm of rain in the west, 17 mm in the north and around 50 mm in the east, which is more exposed to the trade winds. Mornings are cool, afternoons pleasant.
The sea and the wind
The sea stays around 24 °C, as in August, so a shorty wetsuit is advisable for diving. The trade winds barely ease, with maximum gusts of 27 to 30 km/h in our averages: Le Morne remains a top kitesurfing spot.
What's best in September
Humpback whale watching from Tamarin and Black River: a local operator gives late July to early November as the season, and the law requires keeping your distance without swimming with them, with trips from 6am to noon. The Tamarin dolphin trip also leaves at dawn.
Hiking is still ideal: Le Morne Brabant, Le Pouce, the Black River Gorges. In the south-east, Île aux Aigrettes and the Blue Bay lagoon, less windy than the east coast, are in good shape. In the north, catamarans to the islets enjoy often clear water.
September 2027 festivals
Ganesh Chaturthi, the Hindu festival honouring Ganesh, falls on Sunday 5 September 2027; Monday 6 September is also a public holiday under the Public Holidays Act as amended in 2026. On 8 and 9 September, the pilgrimage to Père Laval's tomb at Sainte-Croix, near Port Louis, draws large crowds every year: expect heavy traffic in the area.
Our tips and verdict
With schools back in Europe, crowds drop clearly compared with August, and prices often follow. Stay in the west for sunshine and boat trips, or in the north for lagoons and restaurants. Keep a fleece for evenings and the uplands.
Verdict: one of the best months to combine whales, hiking, dry weather and peace and quiet. The only catch is a still cool sea for those who like long swims.
Places in this guide
An open-sea trip beyond the reef from Tamarin: migrating humpbacks July-October, resident sperm whales visible year-round thanks to the west coast's deep drop-off.
A world-class spot: waist-deep turquoise lagoon for beginners, the legendary One Eye wave for experts, wind 300 days a year. Several schools right on the beach.
A 556 m basalt monolith and UNESCO World Heritage site, refuge of the maroon slaves whose symbol it became. The climb (3-4h return) rewards you with dizzying views over Mauritius's most photogenic lagoons.
Every morning, pods of spinner and bottlenose dolphins come to rest in Tamarin and Black River bays. The dawn boat trip, sometimes with a swim, is the west coast's signature experience.
The island's third peak (812 m), shaped like a raised thumb and once climbed by Charles Darwin. An accessible hike (2h30-4h return from La Laura) ending in a short rocky scramble and an unforgettable panorama.
Mauritius's largest national park: 6,574 hectares of primary forest, 60 km of marked trails and the last refuges of the pink pigeon and kestrel. The 10 km Macchabée trail from Pétrin to the visitor centre is a classic.
A coral islet and nature reserve, open-air laboratory of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation: pink pigeons, kestrels, day geckos and giant tortoises in Mauritius's last intact coastal dry forest.
A protected marine park in fifty shades of blue, rated the island's best snorkeling spot for its corals and multicoloured fish. The public beach, lined with casuarinas, gets lively at weekends.
The west coast's longest beach: 8 km of white sand lined with casuarinas along a reef-protected turquoise lagoon. Grand sunsets, easy snorkeling and a local weekend vibe.
From the Grand Baie jetty, sail past Coin de Mire and its tropicbirds, then anchor between Flat and Gabriel Islands: crystal-water snorkeling and BBQ on board.
Frequently asked questions
Is September a good month for Mauritius?
Yes: dry weather on the coast, 26-27 °C by day in the west and north, whales offshore and fewer visitors than in August. The sea is still cool, around 24 °C.
When is Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius in 2027?
On Sunday 5 September 2027, with Monday 6 September also a public holiday, according to the list noted by Cabinet on 28 August 2026.
Can you still see whales in September?
Yes, September is in the middle of the humpback whale season off the west coast, which runs from late July to early November.