Le Morne Brabant
A 556-metre basalt cliff, a refuge for runaway slaves and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 3–4 hour hike to the summit rewards you with views over the lagoon, the kitesurfing bay and the “underwater waterfall” illusion.
Le Morne Brabant is a free-standing basalt peak 556 metres high at the southwest tip of Mauritius, with the sea on three sides. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was a hiding place for runaway slaves (Maroons). A legend tells of enslaved people who, believing soldiers had come to capture them during the 1835 abolition of slavery, leapt from the cliffs together. In 2008 the mountain was inscribed as a World Heritage Site as a symbol of slave resistance, and at the foot of the mountain stands a memorial for the International Slavery Museum route.
The hike begins at the car park at the foot of the mountain (Le Morne Trail entrance, free of charge). The first half follows a wide dirt track through scrubland and takes about an hour to reach a midway viewing platform at 300 metres above sea level. From there you can see the lagoon and the full panorama of the Le Morne peninsula. Those with limited stamina can turn back at this point. The second half requires scrambling over rocks with hands and feet, and takes about another hour to reach the summit. At the top stands a cross, and from there you can see the whole southwest lagoon, the kitesurfing bay on the Le Morne peninsula and the 'underwater waterfall' illusion in the distance. The round trip takes 3–4 hours. Bring 2 litres of water, sun protection and hiking boots. A guide is recommended (about MUR 1,500–2,500 per person, including transfers), or at least go with a companion. You must start climbing between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m., and there is a ranger at the trailhead.
The public beach at the foot of Le Morne is one of Mauritius' most beautiful, and it is also a world-class kitesurfing and surfing spot (the One Eye break). You can take lessons at the surf schools. The peninsula is home to luxury resorts including LUX, St. Regis and Dinarobin. Watching the sunset fall behind Le Morne from the beach is a classic scene in the evening.
Opening hours
Hikes start 07:00-14:00; foothill beach open all day
Nearby sights
- Underwater Waterfall
- Île aux Bénitiers & Crystal Rock
- Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth
- Chamarel Waterfall
- Rhumerie de Chamarel
- Black River Peak
- Black River Gorges National Park
- Tamarin Bay (Dolphin Watching)