Hiking Le Morne Brabant in Mauritius: a guide

Veröffentlicht: 15. Juli 2022, 22:44 Uhr

Aktualisiert: 09. Juni 2025, 22:54 Uhr

Von: wom87

A leader for hiking in Le Morne Brabant on Mauritius, including a card for the start of the path and our hard -earned tips and reservations

I wasn't worried about hiking Le Morne Brabant on Mauritius. After climbing the Nevis Peak in St. Kitts & Nevis and navigated by steep rock sections on the Spencer Trail in the USA, I thought that hiking in Le Morne Brabant would be easy. I certainly hadn't expected to stop a few meters in front of the tip ...

with 556 m (1,825 ft), Le Morne Brabant should not be a deterrent for the average hiker, but what he lacks in height adds through sheer mass.

The mountain rises above the peninsula next to an "underwater water case" that can be seen from the sky (an optical illusion caused by the drainage of sand and silt). From a distance, the mountain is reminiscent of childhood stories by Peter Pans Nimmerland.

alt = "aerial image of le Morne brabant"> dream time peninsula le Morne 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 escaping slaves that settled in the caves on the summit. Protected by the forested cliffs of the mountain, the slaves lived on the mountain for years.

it is said that when slavery was abolished in Mauritius in 1835, the viewpoints on the mountain discovered the approaching British, which caused some refugees to overthrow themselves from the mountain and prefer the death of slavery. Tragically, they were not aware of the upcoming news of freedom.

Today Le Morne Brabant is a symbol of the struggle for freedom of the slaves, characterized by a monument at the foot of the mountain.

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

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

The hike started light enough with a well shaded path that was wide and flat. Of course we often stopped to enjoy the breathtaking view of the island's lagoon.

alt = “Early views of our hike by Le Morne Brabant”> Atlas & Boots Early views of our hike by Le Morne Brabant

The path was relatively quiet in view of our early start (8 a.m.) and we continued to hike in silence. After about an hour we reached a plateau with a large yellow shield that warned the inexperienced climber against it.

I hiked all over the world, but I would definitely not call myself a climber, so I asked Peter whether we should continue.

he, typically cavalier, said, of course we should - and so on. The path was clearly shaped and we hiked until we reached a number of green gates. There was no obvious way forward, but we discovered a few hiking rocks around and over the barriers. We followed him to join the path again. The way to the summit was previously closed to the public and the gate is probably a remnant of this fact.

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

Not long after the green gate the path became steeper ... and steeper ... and steeper. Soon I climbed up on my hands and knees. I started to understand why this section had been closed to the public for a long time.

parts of the hike resembled the climbing of a ladder, which would not be so scary if the mountain wall was not so bloody exposed. There were no treetops like on the Nevis Peak; It only took you to take a look behind to see the yawning abyss.

alt = "Views of le Morne Brabant"> Atlas & Boots Views of Le Morne Brabant

"I think I stop," I said to Peter. "Are you sure?" He asked, visibly torn between encouragement from my comfort zone (as always) and actual security. "Yes, I think so," I said, even though I hate to stop. "Okay," he replied. "Stay here, I'll get you on the way back."

he went and I was sitting on the wait on a dizzying bar. After a few minutes I discovered a approaching hiker, a maurite, whose name I didn't understand. He asked if I was doing well and I told him I had stopped. In contrast to Peter, he had no responsibility for my security and therefore encouraged me to continue. I hesitated and then gave in. I had come that 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 hurry to reach the summit cross was only exceeded by the view, which was of course extraordinary. As with most of the challenges, everything was worth it in the end.

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hiking map Le Morne Brabant

Enter "Le Morne Trail Entry" in Google Maps to find the way to the foot of the mountain.

hike Le Morne Brabant: The essentials

was: hiking on Le Morne Brabant on Mauritius.

level of difficulty: medium (partly climbing on exposed rock sections)
Distance: 7 km (4.3 miles) return trip
duration: 3-4 hours
Highest reaching: 490 m (1,607 ft)

Where: We stayed in the Hotel Riu Le Morne, a hotel for adults on the Le Morne peninsula. Riu lies on a pretty beach section and offers all the amenities you could need on vacation: spacious rooms, four Restaurants, five bars, a freshwater pool, a spa and a salon as well as many chillout areas where you can enjoy television.

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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 your arrival, as the places fill up quickly.

The hotel offers numerous water sports such as windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling and paddling. There is also a diving shop in the sister hotel next door and a kiosk for booking boat tours to the ILE AUX Benitiers - worth 12 USD per person.

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

like: We rented a car with a local named David (+230 59 5125 65) at a price of $ 800 /25 per day. Ask for air conditioning!

Enter "Le Morne Trail Entry" in Google Maps to find the way to the foot of the mountain. Near the area near the area to brown signs to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Le Morne, which you lead to the base via an unpaved road. You can park your car at the provisional visitor center, where there are relatively clean toilets and a logbook in which hikers can sign up and deregister.

Update June 2018: A reader reported that he was stopped and he was told that he needed a guide to get to the summit. We inquired about the Le Morne Heritage Trust Fund and we were told: "You can climb on the summit of the mountain yourself, but by first signing a reliability form that is normally available from the security officer at the viewpoint." Therefore, we recommend asking for a form in the provisional visitor center or for security officers who stop on the way.

practice common sense while hiking in Le Morne Brabant: go early in the morning to avoid the stronger sun, hike with a partner, apply a lot of sunscreen, avoid hiking on rainy days because the path is slippery and take a lot of water with you (1.5 liters a day). Person).

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

We had a long stopover before our connecting flight from Kuala Lumpur, so we settled in a private resting suite in the Plaza Premium Lounge in the airport for the night - a stroke of luck when you consider that Peter recovered from a Burmanic virus and the alternative would have been eight long hours on uncomfortable chairs.

Mauritius is flown by several international airlines. Book at skyscanner.net at the best prices.

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Lonely Planet Mauritius, Réunion & Seychelles is a comprehensive travel guide for Mauritius, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights and take the less busy road.