Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
peaks, giddily deep ravines, thick forests and a sprinkle of tiny
écarts
where time seems to
have stood still.
Apart from its grandiose topography, what sets the Cirque de Mafate apart is its relative
inaccessibility, despite being very close to the coastal fleshpots. There are no roads that
lead into the Cirque (although a
route forestière
runs right up to the pass at Col des
Bœufs), so the villages that are scattered in this giant extinct volcano are accessible only
by foot.
Unsurprisingly, the Cirque de Mafate is a walker's paradise, with a good network of
paths connecting the villages.
The Cirque was named after a runaway slave, the chieftain and sorcerer Mafate, who
took refuge among its ramparts. He was tracked down and killed in 1751 by a hunter of
runaway slaves.
Sights & Activities
Despite its remoteness and seclusion, the Cirque de Mafate is populated. In the valleys,
plateaus and spurs that slice up the jaw-dropping terrain are scattered discreet little Creole
settlements that retain a rough-diamond rural edge. Not much happens in these villages
but it's hard not to fall under the spell of their phenomenal setting. They provide a few
trappings of civilisation if you're walking through the Cirque.
The southern part of the Cirque is called Haut Mafate (Higher Mafate) and receives the
bulk of visitors. It comprises peaceful
Marla
, the highest hamlet of the Cirque at an alti-
tude of 1621m;
La Nouvelle
, dubbed the 'capital of Mafate' and one of the main gateways
to the Cirque, perched on a plateau at an altitude of 1421m; and
Roche-Plate
, at the foot of
the grandiose Maïdo.
The northern part of the Cirque is called Bas Mafate (Lower Mafate) and is considered
even more secretive than Haut Mafate. It comprises
Îlet à Bourse
,
Îlet à Malheur
,
Aurère
,
Grand
Place
,
Cayenne
,
Les Lataniers
and
Îlet des Orangers
. Aurère is perched Machu Picchu-like above
the precipitous canyon of the Bras Bémale. The two tiny communities of Grand Place and
Cayenne lie above the rushing Rivière des Galets near the Cirque's main outlet.
Mafate offers some of the most inspirational
hiking
trails in Réunion, so pack your
sturdy shoes and delve into the Cirque - see
Click here
for more information. If you'd
prefer to take it easy and see all this fantasyland from the air, book a helicopter or an ultra-
light aircraft tour(
Click here
)
.
