Insight Guides Mauritius, Réunion & Seychelles (Travel Guide eBook) by Insight Guides

Author:Insight Guides
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Travel, Mauritius
Publisher: Apa Publications
Published: 2019-03-20T16:00:00+00:00

Tourist offices in the Hautes Plaines area are located at: Maison du Parc National, (258 rue de la République, Plaine-des-Palmistes; tel: 0262 41 17 70; Mon–Wed and Fri-Sat 9am–12.30pm, 1.30–5pm, closed Thursdays and Sundays) or Bourg Murat. (160 rue Maurice et Katia Krafft, Plaines-des-Cafres; tel: 0262 27 40 00; www.tampontourisme.re; daily 9am–5pm).

Grand Etang riders.

Robert Harding

Horse riding and forest walking

To the northeast of Le Premier Village, a dozen gentle Merens horses wait at the Ferme Equestre du Grand Etang (RN3 Pont-Payet; tel: 0262 50 90 03; http://fermeequestredugrandetang.easyloisirs.com), to take even the most inexperienced rider for a pleasant half-day’s trek. A morning with Rico Nourry, a former farmer who turned his love of the outdoors into a going concern, should not be missed. His enthusiasm is infectious as he leads groups of riders along rocky narrow pathways to the stunning lake of Grand-Etang where the horses take a break and splash about in the cool water. The trek takes you along a nature trail, passing through a garden of traditional medicinal herbs and citrus orchards where you can help yourself to fruit without getting out of the saddle. Rico believes in giving all his clients a hands-on experience, so you’ll be expected to prepare the horses before the ride and hose them down afterwards. Four-day rides to the volcano can also be arranged.

For a gentle 2km (1-mile) walk, take the marked path from Le Premier Village, which passes through boulder-filled streams, leading to the 240-metre (787ft) high Biberon waterfall. There are a number of longer hikes through the Forêt de Bébour, noted for the endemic tree, tamarin des hauts (acacia heterophylla), which contrasts in height and huge girth with the indigenous bois de couleurs, or mixed evergreens, and imported cryptomerias. For an in-depth look at this forest, which merges with the silvery tamarind forests of Bélouve and the rain-soaked gorge of Takamaka to the north, you’ll need to spend a full day exploring the numerous trails and spend the night at the Gîte de Bélouve, about a two-hour trek uphill from Hell-Bourg in Salazie cirque (be sure to book well in advance at www.reunion.fr). Serious trekkers should equip themselves with the IGN 1:25000, 4405RT map.

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