Le Morne Brabant, Mauritius
It’s hard to find a more iconic image of Mauritius than Le Morne Brabant surrounded by a spectrum of crystal blue waters. The 556m tall monolith stands out in Mauritius’ south westerly lagoon, and attracts adventure and nature lovers from all over the island. The summit has a strikingly beautiful view of the island, and just turn your gaze southerly out to sea to view the endless Indian Ocean — it feels like a front row seat to the edge of the world. Mauritius has a fusion of identities, with people settling on the island from Haiti to India. The flora of the island is equally diverse and is best admired from up above. Jagged peaks that formed from volcanic eruptions 8–10 millions years ago abruptly carve through rolling hills of green, never ending miles palm trees, tea plantations, baobabs and ebony trees just to name a few. The palm trees give the island a feel of Sri Lanka, the fields of sugarcane Barbados. But wherever you feel you are, maybe it’s just Mauritius, it’s safe to say that with its giant growing foliage, Mauritius’ landscape is extraordinarily similar to the wildness of Jurassic Park.
Despite all its beauty, Le Morne has a sinister side. Officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, it stands as an everlasting beacon of hope for the tragedies of slavery. Not dissimilar to other African nations, Mauritius became a focal point in the slave trade. Many indigenous people and Indians from the subcontinent were transported to work on the sugar cane and tobacco plantations that dominate the hills of Mauritius and neighbouring Madagascar. Le Morne Brabant is a great lookout over the island. It’s abundant with steep cliffs, caves and dense forests, so naturally developed into a hideout for runaway slaves, who were known as Maroons.
In 1835 the abolition of slavery eventually reached Mauritius, and the Maroons, some of whom had been living on the mountain for decades, unknowingly found their freedom. Officials in full uniform approached the mountain to pass on the good news, but unfortunately the Maroons feared that the approaching soldiers were going to recapture them into slavery. Preferring freedom in death over slavery they jumped from the cliffs. There is a small cross sat at the highest point of Le Morne in memory of the struggle of slavery and those who lost their lives on the mountain.
To enjoy these breathtaking views on foot requires 3–4 hour of hiking, a 7km round trip. The hike is better suited for those physically fit, the last third being particularly steep and challenging — requiring a great deal of scrambling. Those who pass the dangerous climbing warning are rewarded with a view so spectacularly stunning it could have only been sculpted by something heavenly.
READ MORE — HIKING LE MORNE BRABANT, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
