Otentic Eco Tent Experience Review: Glamping in Mauritius with Kids
- minna
- 3 hours ago
- 6 min read
By the end of our two weeks in Mauritius, we had stayed in six different places. We tried a self catering apartment in the north, an eco lodge in the mountains, a full all inclusive resort, and a transparent bubble on a private island. All of them were fantastic, but none of them felt quite like Otentic Eco Tent.
It is hard to pinpoint exactly what made it so special, but I think it comes down to the atmosphere. It felt like an authentic community with the best food of the whole trip, staff who quickly felt like friends, and a setting that completely immerses you in nature.
Otentic Eco Tent Experience is a gorgeous glamping lodge on the east coast of Mauritius. It is set right on the bank of the Grand River South East in a small village called Deux Frères. You sleep in safari tents on raised wooden decks, surrounded by coconut palms and the soothing sound of the river. There is a swimming pool, a games room, kayaks, archery, an honesty bar, and an evening bonfire. The incredible food comes directly from the kitchen gardens on site. The whole place runs on a beautifully simple and community focused ethos. It is the kind of place that makes you feel very quickly that you made the right choice.
Getting There and the Basics
Otentic is located about 25km from the airport. From central Mauritius, it takes around 45 minutes by car. There is free parking on site, but it is worth noting that the car park is located at the top of the property so you cannot drive your car right down to the tents!
One very important practical note before you book is regarding their age policy. The official listing states children over five are welcome. We visited with our three year old daughter and we made sure to contact them and confirm this was okay before booking. The team are wonderfully responsive and accommodating, and they made us feel so welcome throughout our stay.
The tent sleeps a family comfortably with one king bed and two single beds. There are no cots available, so this setup definitely works best for children who are past that stage.
Rates start from around £140 per night which includes your breakfast and all the brilliant activities listed below. Just keep in mind that lunch and dinner are an additional cost, though they are completely worth staying on site for.
Inside the Safari Tents
The safari tents are built on raised wooden decks and are far more comfortable than the word "tent" might suggest. Each has a private bathroom with a shower, a comfortable king bed, two single beds, and a terrace overlooking the palm garden. They also feature a plug in fan to keep the air moving in the Mauritian heat.
One rule worth knowing upfront is that food is not permitted inside the tents. Because this is an eco property surrounded by nature, the no food rule keeps the tents clean and free of unwanted wildlife! However, there is a very handy shared fridge available in the communal area, so we happily kept a stash of familiar snacks in there for our daughter.
The Incredible Food
Everything here is cooked on site from scratch using fresh herbs and vegetables from local produce. Meals are served buffet style in the communal dining area, which really adds to the social feel of the place. You can either sit at your own tables or alongside other guests, and we ended up having some lovely conversations with the people staying next to us.
The dishes were authentically Mauritian. They were fresh, fragrant, and bursting with flavour. Breakfast is included in your stay and features a gorgeous spread of fruit, bread, eggs and local produce (my favourite was the pineapple jam). Lunch and dinner change daily and were without question the best food we had on the whole two week trip, and we ate very well everywhere!
The kitchen staff deserve a special mention. They were incredibly welcoming, and by the end of day one they were basically best friends with our daughter because they kept sneaking her fresh fruit and extra snacks to munch on.
Activities and Entertainment
The activities are all included in your room rate, available whenever you want them, and never feel like a rigidly organised programme. You simply wander over, pick up some equipment, and go. On the day we arrived, they organised some night kayaking to see the moonrise on the water, which the rest of the group raved about the next morning.
Kayaking to the GRSE Waterfall
Otentic is positioned on the river roughly halfway between the waterfall and the lagoon of Île aux Cerfs, meaning you can easily paddle to both. The waterfall is about a 15 minute paddle upstream along a wide, calm river surrounded by lush vegetation. It was the first time we had taken our daughter kayaking and it was so much easier than we expected. Kids lifejackets were available, the water is flat, and the beautiful waterfall at the end is worth every single paddle stroke.
On the way back we drifted a bit too close to a group of monkeys on the riverbank, and a large male made it extremely clear we were not welcome. We definitely paddled a bit faster after that! Luckily, our daughter thought this was the funniest thing that had ever happened.
Archery and Badminton
Both are completely free to use and available throughout the day. Our daughter intently watched my husband use the bow, eagerly waiting for her turn to pretend to be Merida from Brave! There is also a badminton net set up in the garden, which is great for burning off that last bit of toddler energy before dinner.
Swimming Pool and Games Room
There is a clean, well maintained outdoor pool in the garden that provides the perfect escape during the hottest part of the afternoon. As there are so many trees around, there are pockets of shade so you can still be in the water while not being completely exposed to the direct sunlight.
The games room has an eclectic mix of different board games and toys for kids and adults, which my daughter loved exploring. There are comfortable sofas so you can sit down and have a drink from the honesty bar while letting the kids play.
Physio and Massages
One detail I had not expected was a physiotherapist with a studio right on site. During our stay, guests were offered a free taster massage which we eagerly accepted. At six months pregnant and after two solid weeks of carrying a toddler, the timing could not have been better!
The Evening Atmosphere
The atmosphere completely transforms once the sun goes down. The communal area is strung with twinkling fairy lights, soft music plays in the background, and there is a crackling bonfire most evenings. The whole property takes on a really warm feeling.
You share dinner with the other guests, grab a drink at the honesty bar, and suddenly realise you have been talking for two hours without anyone reaching for a phone. Our daughter sat by the bonfire mesmerised for as long as we would let her, then went to bed reluctantly and slept beautifully.
Practical note for families: While there is communal mosquito spray available around the lodge, I highly advise packing your own strong repellent. It is vital on the east coast of Mauritius, particularly in the wet season, and you do not want to rely solely on the communal bottles.
The Île aux Cerfs Connection
Otentic operates a free shuttle boat to the famous Île aux Cerfs beach every morning, with a return trip at lunchtime. The crossing takes about 20 minutes. This means you can spend your morning on one of the most beautiful beaches in Mauritius and be back at the lodge for an incredible lunch at absolutely no extra cost.
We actually combined our Otentic stay with checking into the Bubble Lodge, so we did not end up using this specific shuttle ourselves. However, for a guest staying two or three nights, it is an exceptional bonus. You can read more about our night on that magical island in our Bubble Lodge Île aux Cerfs Review.
Is It Right for Families with Young Kids?
Yes, and even more so than you might expect from a glamping property.
The food was deliciously homemade here and the buffet style meant we were able to try a bit of everything without worrying about ordering something a toddler might reject. The activities are incredibly low pressure and always available, so you do not need to plan your days rigidly in advance. For example, we just waited for clear skies and a passing storm to finish before jumping in the kayaks. Above all, the staff are exceptionally warm and naturally brilliant with children.
We left on the morning of day eleven, took the boat over to Île aux Cerfs, and checked into the Bubble Lodge for the night. That combination of jungle glamping followed by sleeping on a private island is a magical back to back itinerary if your budget allows for it. If you want a stay that feels authentic, welcoming, and deeply rooted in nature, Otentic should be at the very top of your list.
For everything else we did during our trip, read our full 2 Weeks in Mauritius with Young Kids itinerary. If you need help planning the rest of your accommodation, our Where to Stay in Mauritius with Kids guide covers the best family hotels across the north, south, east, and west!
