Natural History Museum & Mauritius Institute

Port Louis


The major attraction at this small museum – which was closed for much-needed renovations when we visited – used to be the famous reconstruction of a dodo. But with the museum closed, the dodo has been moved to Mahébourg's National History Museum where it may very well remain. What form the museum will take when it reopens remained unclear at the time of research.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Port Louis attractions

1. Jardins de la Compagnie

0.04 MILES

Jardins de la Compagnie is the city's most attractive garden, with its vast banyan trees, huge number of statues, quiet benches and fountains. During the…

2. Government House

0.06 MILES

Government House is a beautiful French-colonial structure dating from 1738, although it was added to in later years. Outside it stands a typically solemn…

3. Place d'Armes

0.08 MILES

The city's most imposing boulevard, Place d'Armes is lined with royal palms and leads up to Government House, a beautiful French-colonial structure dating…

4. Photography Museum

0.1 MILES

This small but engaging museum, down a cobbled lane opposite the Municipal Theatre, is the labour of love of local photographer Tristan Bréville. He's…

5. Mahé de Labourdonnais Statue

0.15 MILES

At the quayside end of Place d'Armes, the best-loved statue in the city has become its emblem throughout Mauritius.

6. Central Market

0.19 MILES

Port Louis' rightly famous Central Market, the centre of the local economy since Victorian times, is a good place to get a feel for local life, watch the…

7. Mauritius Postal Museum

0.23 MILES

This interesting museum beside the Central Post Office houses a mishmash of commemorative stamps and other postal paraphernalia from around the world. One…

8. St Louis Cathedral

0.28 MILES

The slightly austere St Louis Cathedral dates from 1932 and is popular with the Chinese community.