Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
sights. The area's best features lie elsewhere; turn your attention from the coast and plant
it firmly on the cooler recesses of the hills and valleys to the west. The Rivière des Mar-
souins valley in particular is a delight, with its plunging waterfalls and luxuriant vegeta-
tion. Small wonder that Réunion's best white water is found here.
Sights
Forêt Ste-Marguerite
( 9am-4pm Tue-Sun)
For a complete change of pace and atmosphere, consider spending
some time in the protected 159-hectare Forêt Ste-Marguerite, way up in the hills. Fans of
flora will get their kicks here; there are over 150 indigenous species of plants. A network
of easy walking trails snakes through the quiet forest.
Take the RN3 in the direction of Plaine-des-Palmistes until you reach a roundabout at
Chemin Ceinture; Forêt Ste-Marguerite is signed on the left.
FOREST
Takamaka Viewpoint
North of St-Benoît the D53 strikes southwest, following the Rivière des Marsouins 15km
upstream to end beside the Takamaka viewpoint. Be prepared to fall on your knees in awe:
despite a small power plant near the viewpoint, the overwhelming impression is of a wild,
virtually untouched valley, its vertical walls cloaked with impenetrable forests. Here and
there the dense green is broken by a silver ribbon of cascading water.
LOOKOUT
Grand Étang
Around 12km southwest of St-Benoît along the road towards Plaine-des-Palmistes, is the
3km road to Grand Étang (Big Pond). This pretty picnic spot lies at the bottom of an al-
most vertical ridge separating it from the Rivière des Marsouins valley. Most people
simply walk around the lake, following a well-defined path. It's muddy in places, but
shouldn't take more than three hours from the car park, including a side trip to an impress-
ive
waterfall
.
LAKE
