Hiking Le Morne Brabant in Mauritius: a guide

Hiking Le Morne Brabant in Mauritius: a guide

A guide to hiking Le Morne Brabant in Mauritius, including a map of how to start the trail and our hard-earned tips and caveats

I wasn't worried about hiking Le Morne Brabant in Mauritius. After climbing Nevis Peak in St. Kitts & Nevis and navigating steep rocky sections on the Spencer Trail in the US, I thought hiking Le Morne Brabant would be easy. I certainly didn't expect to stop a few meters from the top...

At 556 m (1,825 ft), Le Morne Brabant shouldn't be daunting for the average hiker, but what it lacks in height it adds in sheer bulk.

The mountain rises above the peninsula next to an “underwater waterfall” that can be seen from the sky (an optical illusion caused by the runoff of sand and silt). Seen from a distance, the mountain is reminiscent of childhood stories of Peter Pan's Neverland.

alt=“Aerial view of Le Morne Brabant”>DreamtimeLe Morne peninsula seen from above

Unfortunately, the true story of Le Morne Brabant is much darker. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, Le Morne Brabant served as a refuge for escaped slaves who settled in the caves at the summit. Protected by the mountain's forested cliffs, the slaves lived on the mountain for years.

It is said that when slavery was abolished in Mauritius in 1835, lookouts on the mountain spotted the approaching British, prompting some refugees to throw themselves off the mountain, preferring death to slavery. Tragically, they were unaware of the impending news of freedom.

Today, Le Morne Brabant stands as a symbol of the slaves' struggle for freedom, marked by a monument at the foot of the mountain.

alt="The Slave Route Monument in Le Morne Brabant">Atlas & BootsThe Slave Route Monument in Le Morne Brabant

With its exquisite views and fascinating history, Le Morne Brabant offers an irresistible hike, so we set off for the foot of the mountain early on a Thursday morning (see “Le Morne Brabant hiking map” below).

The hike started out easy enough with a well-shaded trail that was wide and flat. Of course, we stopped frequently to enjoy the breathtaking views of the island's lagoon.

alt="Early views of our hike from Le Morne Brabant">Atlas & BootsEarly views of our hike from Le Morne Brabant

The trail was relatively quiet given our early start (8am) and we hiked on in silence. After about an hour we reached a plateau with a large yellow sign warning inexperienced climbers not to continue.

I've hiked all over the world but definitely wouldn't consider myself a climber, so I checked with Peter to see if we should continue.

He, in typical cavalier fashion, said, of course we should – and so on. The path was clearly formed and we hiked until we reached a set of green gates. There was no obvious way forward, but we spotted a pair of hiker skirts around and over the barriers. We followed him to rejoin the trail. The path to the summit was once closed to the public and the gate is probably a remnant of that fact.

alt=“A sign in Le Morne Brabant warns against inexperienced climbers”>Atlas & BootsA sign in Le Morne Brabant warns against inexperienced climbers

Not long after the green gate, the path became steeper... and steeper... and steeper. Soon I was climbing rocks on my hands and knees. I began to understand why this section was closed to the public for a long time.

Parts of the hike resembled climbing a ladder, which wouldn't be so scary if the mountain face wasn't so bloody exposed. There were no treetops like there were on Nevis Peak; you only had to look behind you to see the yawning abyss.

alt="Views of Le Morne Brabant">Atlas & BootsViews from Le Morne Brabant

“I think I’ll stop,” I said to Peter. "Are you sure?" he asked, clearly torn between encouragement out of my comfort zone (as always) and actual safety. “Yeah, I think so,” I said, even though I hate to stop. “Okay,” he replied. “Stay here, I’ll pick you up on the way back.”

He left and I sat in wait on a dizzying perch. After a few minutes I spotted an approaching hiker, a Mauritian whose name I didn't catch. He asked if I was okay and I told him I had stopped. Unlike Peter, he had no responsibility for my safety and so encouraged me to carry on. I hesitated and then gave in. I had come so far.

The last 100 meters were hairy, but it was so much fun. After a short time I reached the summit and joined Peter, completely invigorated. The rush to reach the summit cross was only exceeded by the view, which was of course extraordinary. As with most challenges, it was all worth it in the end.

• alt=“Wandern auf Mauritius le morne“>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>

Le Morne Brabant hiking map

Type “Le Morne Trail Entry” into Google Maps to find your way to the base of the mountain.

Hiking Le Morne Brabant: the essentials

What: Hiking at Le Morne Brabant in Mauritius.

• Schwierigkeitsgrad: Mittel (teilweise Klettern an exponierten Felsabschnitten)
• Entfernung: 7 km (4,3 Meilen) Hin- und Rückfahrt
• Dauer: 3-4 Stunden
• Höchster erreichbarer Punkt: 490 m (1.607 ft)

Where: We stayed at Hotel Riu Le Morne, an adults-only hotel on the Le Morne Peninsula. Located on a pretty stretch of beach, Riu offers all the amenities you could need on vacation: spacious rooms, four restaurants, five bars, a freshwater pool, a spa and salon, and plenty of chill-out areas to watch the world go by.

• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>

The evening buffet is like a feast, but for a nicer ambience we recommend booking one of the restaurants (all included in the price). Make your restaurant bookings before you arrive as places fill up quickly.

The hotel offers numerous water sports such as windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling and paddle surfing. There's also a dive shop at the sister hotel next door, as well as a kiosk for booking boat tours to Ile aux Benitiers - worth $12 per person.

When: The best time to visit Mauritius is from October to April, when temperatures are hot, albeit humid and rainy. Note that hurricanes are possible from January to February. Winter on the island lasts from May to September. Temperatures are still warm, but the prevailing winds tend to blow across the island from the east and southeast.

How: We rented a car from a local named David (+230 59 5125 65) at a cost of 800 MUR / 25 USD per day. Ask for air conditioning!

Type “Le Morne Trail Entry” into Google Maps to find your way to the base of the mountain. Near the area, look for brown signs for the UNESCO World Heritage site of Le Morne, which will direct you to the base via a dirt road. You can park your car at the makeshift visitor center, where there are relatively clean restrooms and a logbook for hikers to sign in and out.

Update June 2018: A reader reported being stopped and told he needed a guide to get to the summit. We checked with the Le Morne Heritage Trust Fund and were told: "You can climb to the top of the mountain yourself, but by first signing a reliability form, usually available from the safety officer at the viewpoint." Therefore, we recommend asking for a form at the temporary visitor center or from security officers who stop you along the way.

Practice common sense when hiking in Le Morne Brabant: go early in the morning to avoid the stronger sun, hike with a partner, apply plenty of sunscreen, avoid hiking on rainy days as the trail is slippery, and take plenty of water (1.5 liters per day). Person).

Le Morne is 65 km from the airport. Transfers can be organized through your hotel or a local driver (approximately 1500 MUR / 45 USD). We recommend Stelio (+230 52 5084 97).

We had a long layover before our connecting flight from Kuala Lumpur, so we settled into a private relaxation suite in the Plaza Premium Lounge in the airport for the night - a godsend considering Peter was recovering from a Burmese virus and the alternative would have been eight long hours in uncomfortable chairs.

Mauritius is served by several international airlines. Book via skyscanner.net for the best prices.

old=““>

Lonely Planet Mauritius, Réunion & Seychelles is a comprehensive travel guide to Mauritius, ideal for those who want to both explore the main attractions and take the road less traveled.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

      .