Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LE MORNE: THE
MOURNFUL ONE
Although almost totally uninhabited by locals, Le Morne has a deep resonance in Mauritian culture. According to
legend, a group of escaped slaves fled to the peninsula in the early 19th century, hiding out on top of the moun-
tain to remain free. The story goes that the slaves, ignorant of the fact that slavery had been abolished just before
their escape, panicked when they saw a troop of soldiers making their way up the cliffs. Believing they were to be
recaptured, the slaves flung themselves from the cliff tops to their deaths in huge numbers. And thus the crag
earned its name - Le Morne means Mournful One. Although there are no historical records to substantiate the
story, it's an important tale for Mauritians and was critical in Le Morne being granted Unesco World Heritage
status in 2008.
Beaches
Although the area's upmarket hotels have gobbled up most of the peninsula's sand-front
property, the beaches themselves are still open to the public. Travellers not staying in one
of the local resorts can find several access points along the public roads.
BEST HIKES
For those interested in more than the usual beach activities, Mauritius offers some attractive hikes. Most are in the
areas where the Central Plateau meets the coastal plains. Many of the
domaines
in the southeastern part of the is-
land offer beautiful trails through the island's oldest forests.
A fabulous resource for independent hikers,
Fitsy
(
www.fitsy.com
) is an outstanding website with detailed
GPS and satellite imagery that maps out the course of each trail. We recommend, however, hiring a guide for any
of the island's major hikes. Apart from making sure you stay on the right trail, a knowledgeable guide provides
invaluable insight into the region's flora and fauna.
There are four main outdoor outfits on the island: Yemaya (
Click here
), Trekking Île Maurice, Vertical World
(
Click here
)
and Otélair (
Click here
)
. Trekking Île Maurice is the only company that has permission to ascend Le
Morne.
Although we haven't made the trek, locals assured us that it's possible to hike along the entire southern coast,
beginning with the stretch from Blue Bay to Souillac. Otherwise, our favourite hikes in Mauritius include:
»
Macchabée Trail, Black River Gorges National Park
»
Parakeet Trail, Black River Gorges National Park
»
Le Morne, Le Morne Peninsula
»
Le Pouce and Corps de Garde, Central Plateau
»
Vallée de Ferney, Southeast Mauritius
»
East Coast of Rodrigues
Activities
