Mauritius
Gris Gris beach, located at the southern tip of Mauritius in the village of Souillac, in Savanne, is a wild spot surrounded by basalt cliffs. Unlike most Mauritian beaches, it has no coral barrier, offering an impressive sight with waves crashing directly onto the shore.
It is a popular spot for intermediate and expert kitesurfers due to its shallow, flat water with small to medium waves, and its consistent trade winds. The launch area is narrow, surrounded by rocks, which requires a good understanding of one's limits.
Close to attractions like Roche Qui Pleure or Mamzelle waterfall, the spot combines navigation and nature discovery in a less touristy atmosphere.
The wind data shown here comes from ERA5 (via Open-Meteo) over 4 years, reprocessed to reflect realistic conditions.
👉 Average wind has been calibrated to avoid the usual underestimation of models.
👉 Gusts have been corrected by a median ratio to avoid unrealistic extreme values.
👉 Each day is summarized by the median wind (P50) observed during useful hours (8am–8pm), then classified into wind ranges.
👉 The weighted mode mixes average wind and gusts to best reflect felt wind.
chop
flatThe dominant wind comes from the SE, blowing side-onshore relative to the south-facing beach, which provides good power for riding without too much drift. The trades are consistent from June to October, with strengths of 15-25 knots, sometimes more during cyclone season. The navigation area is shallow with a flat bottom at the start, ideal for freestyle or freeride, but small to medium waves form further offshore.
Launching and taking off occur on a narrow small beach, surrounded by rocks with no other exit possible, so maximum vigilance is required for launching and landing. Prefer high tide when the water rises over the shallow reef and facilitates access; at low tide, the rocks emerge and make navigation technical. The water state is generally flat to choppy near the shore, with side-shore waves building according to the southern swell.
Local peculiarity: direct exposure to the Indian Ocean without a lagoon, which generates quick chop and powerful waves during large swells, but perfect for dynamic sessions when the SE wind is well established.
Ideal conditions are a SE wind of 15-25 knots at high tide, providing side-onshore power and navigable water without too many exposed rocks.
The water state varies from flat to choppy near the shore, with small to medium waves further offshore. Without a coral barrier, the southern waves can reach several meters in swell, creating a rough and powerful ocean.
Currents are strong due to direct exposure to the ocean, particularly near the cliffs and with the tides. The tides are moderate but strongly influence access to the reef; avoid swimming or kiting without supervision.
Opt for sizes from 9 to 12 m² in standard trade wind of 15-20 knots, and go down to 7-9 m² when it strengthens to 25 knots or more.
The wind regime is dominated by southeast trades, which blow regularly from June to October at 15-25 knots. During cyclone season, the SE can strengthen several days a week, making the spot very reliable. The SE direction is the most favorable, side-onshore on this southern beach.
The climate at Gris Gris is tropical, with mild temperatures year-round between 22 and 30°C. The southern winter from June to October is the dry and windy season, ideal for kiting, while the summer from November to April is warmer and more humid, with a risk of cyclones but frequent strong winds.
The depth is shallow with a shallow reef and rocks, possible to stand at the shore at low tide. The bottom is rocky with sandy areas, gradually progressing towards the open sea.
The water temperature ranges from 24°C in winter (June-October) to 28-30°C in summer (November-April), comfortable in lycra year-round.
