AN INDIAN OCEAN
Waving palm trees and golden beaches lined by cor forests which are home to exotic animals su
It’s not often you visit an island to see a volcano, but on the isle of Réunion the Piton de la Fournaise, the Peak of the Furnace, more than lives up to its dramatic moniker. This active volcano – the last eruption was in mid-2017 – is an unlikely star of this Indian Ocean island; adding a fiery day trip to Reunion’s famed beaches and mountain trails. Réunion owes its dramatic topography to volcanic activity. Lush mountains rise steeply from the coast, topping out at 3 000 metres on the summit of Piton des Neiges, the Peak of Snow, just 20 kilometres away. That’s a bit like driving out of Durban and cresting Sani Pass just past Pinetown. It’s a dramatic landscape that demands at least a week, and a hire car, to explore properly. A ring road encircles the island, making self-drive holidays a breeze. Start with some R&R at the stylish beach resorts of St-Gilles-le-Bain or Boucan Canot in the northwest, but don’t get too comfortable. There are
Fforest trails in Bélouve above the cirque of Salazie in the east, and paragliding above the seaside village of St Leu in the west.
Want to get wet? Try kayaking down La Rivière des Marsouins, or snorkelling with dolphins in the north of the island.
There’s no shortage of adventure, but you’ll find homely guesthouses and delicious Creole cuisine across the island.
An excellent hideaway is the remarkable mountain town of Cilaos. Encircled by the craggy ridges of an extinct volcano, it’s a charming village that appears lifted from the Alps and plonked down in the Indian Ocean. Switchback trails in the surrounding mountains have made this a hot destination for mountain bikers and trail runners alike. From baguettes in the corner boulangeries to a warm bonjour in the waves, Réunion is a slice of France cast away in the Indian Ocean. Happily, no visa required.
en.reunion.fr ew islands in the Indian Ocean deliver unfiltered tropical paradise quite like the Seychelles. This archipelago of 115 islands a stone’s throw south of the equator is almost impossibly photogenic, from the palm trees and powderwhite beaches to its ancient forests filled with endemic birdlife.
Mahe is the largest island, home to the international airport and the quaint capital of Victoria. It’s well worth spending a few hours discovering the colourful stalls of the Sir Selwyn Clarke Market, and the colourful Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Hindu Temple across the road. Up in the hills, make time to visit the restaurant and historic gardens of Jardin du Roi. Panoramic views are a bonus.
An hour’s ferry ride away you’ll find the charming island of La Digue. Here the pace is slower and most visitors get around by bicycle or oxcart. L’Union Estate is a popular drawcard, with its vanilla plantations and collection of Aldabra giant tortoises. You’re also just a short walk from the most famous beach in the Seychelles: the impossibly gorgeous Anse Source d’Argent.
The island of Praslin, a short boat ride away, is something of a Goldilocks option. There’s a better spread of hotels and guesthouses, but with the same laid-back charm as La Digue.
The ancient forests of the Vallée de Mai, one of two World Heritage Sites in the Seychelles, are a must-visit. Walk the shady trails quietly and you may spot endemic Black Parrots in the high boughs of the famed Coco de Mer palm trees.
On the north coast the sands of Anse Lazio are simply made for Instagram, while the beachside restaurant of Bon Bon Plume is famous for its fragrant Creole-style prawn curry.
While the Seychelles is certainly an expensive island escape, it doesn’t have to break the bank.
Self-catering cottages are available, with supermarkets in most villages for buying the basics. Dining at laid-back local-friendly restaurants will save you plenty, while opting for a bike or local bus cuts down on expensive taxi fares.
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