AllWays Traveller Features
Move Mauritius
Getting out into nature is the best way to unplug. You might be without Wi-Fi, but you can 'find better connection'.
Repeated visits to Mauritius fuel my desire to become a destination expert because here I have the opportunity to indulge both my passions – dancing (to world-class musicians) and sailing.
I've added hiking to that list since climbing Le Morne Brabant, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for the shelter it provided runaway slaves in the 18th and 19th centuries, in the southwest, and discovering La Vallée de Ferney (Ferney Valley) in the southeast.
La Vallée de Ferney, the Ferney Valley is about an hour's drive from Long Beach Golf and Spa Resort on the Mauritian east coast, my hotel for this trip.
I was part of a select group of media invited to run, walk and hike through intersecting routes of the annual Ciel Ferney Trail in September 2017, easily the single largest sporting event on the island by number of participants, playing host to 3 200 trailers.
This included about 30 handicapped people who completed the course under the supervision of Inclusion Mauritius group NGO volunteers and Ciel staff.
Among them was the physically handicapped 12-year-old Ethan, who was carried by a team of volunteer trailers for the entire Nando's 10km track in a special chair usually used on the Rod Trail on nearby Rodrigues Island.
A sanctury
The Ferney Valley is a beautiful 200ha sanctuary for a variety of rare or endangered indigenous species including the Mauritian falcon known as the kestrel.
A public-private partnership between the Government of Mauritius and Ciel Group ensures the restoration and protection of this part of the island's rapidly diminishing heritage – less than two percent of the indigenous ecosystems on Mauritius are still intact.
Among the plants, Ferney is the first site where the critically endangered Pandanus iceryi and Pandanus macrostigma were rediscovered after being thought extinct, as well as a couple of Eugenia bojeri.
Most of the other plant species are classified endangered or vulnerable. In addition to the 15 pairs of Mauritian kestrel that make the forest their home there is also a population of Mauritian fruit bats (Pteropus niger), the only living native mammal of the island.
The white-tailed tropic bird
The site is frequently visited by the white-tailed tropic bird (Phaeton lepturus) and there are plans to reintroduce the pink pigeon to the area.
Our itinerary included a pre-race recce so that we could experience the views as the routes climbed higher into the forests and some of the tracks – ranging from dry open dirt road to narrow shady routes muddied by recent rain that took us through the forest canopy and past pretty waterfalls.
On race day, call time at the hotel was 3am to be sure we made the pre-sunrise start of the more technically challenging Mauritius Union 50km race that would give the competitors the opportunity to reach Lion Mountain by dawn.
This is a race for tough competitors, encompassing a 2 500m vertical drop and very difficult passages through the mountains of this southeastern part of Mauritius.
Tackling the summit of Lion Mountain and Gingembre Mountain require good preparation and experience.
After watching staggered starts for the 20km, 10km and Sun Resorts 4km category for younger trailers, we went out on the course again, splitting up to pursue different angles for photographs and drone footage.
The resident buck hid high up in the trees, and we could catch sight of them sometimes darting across open spaces, one at a time.
What an incredible experience to spend the better part of two days in this peaceful environment where mobile phone reception was almost non-existent.
The weather gods were kind – race day turned out sunny but not unbearably hot and less windy than the previous day.
This edition was themed 'Bouze Moris' (Move Mauritius) as Mathieu Razé, Head of Communications for Ciel Group, says 'it is important for us that every citizen becomes aware of their capacity to build the Mauritius of the future, with respect for each other and the environment.'
The event raised Rs 400 000 (R160 000), all of which will be shared between Inclusion Mauritius and the Vallée de Ferney Conservation Trust.
Resort breakaway
Watching the race finishers queue for their free massage, courtesy of the Fortis Clinique Darné team, while attendees enjoyed the entertainment in the Race Village, made me rather envious.
Having notched up 32 000 steps over the two days, according to my mobile phone, my body craved similar pampering.
After returning to Long Beach resort, I was lucky to get a booking at the Cinq Mondes Spa tucked away in a haven of greenery away from the bustle of the hotel.
I opted for the 'deep-relaxing Balinese massage', keen to experience the ancestral rituals of gentle Thai stretching and traditional smoothing movements.
The combination of the tranquil environment, practised hands and fragrant Tropical Nuts Melting Body Balm soon had the desired effect.
The hotel was full and it was reassuring to see the strong support by the guests for the evening entertainment programme. The outdoor stage is well positioned so that the sound doesn't disturb guests who want to retire early.
I managed to catch the last hour of the Clarisse Sisters, twins Véronique and Annick and elder sister Dominique.
Their illustrious careers span almost three decades, with the twins singing backup for Basia and Erasure, and Dominique performing with Chris de Burgh and Whitney Houston, among others.
They are now all based in Mauritius and focused on recording new music with their special mix of jazz and soul.
How to get there
Effective March 2018, Air Mauritius will be upgrading their Cape Town flight schedule and aircraft.
Flight times on their Airbus A340-300 aircraft with 264 seats in economy class and 32 lie-flat business class seats have been adjusted to an overnight operation from Cape Town International Airport and a late afternoon departure from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Mauritius.
Air Mauritius also operates regular flights from OR Tambo International airport in Johannesburg. Check the flight schedule.
Where to stay
World Leisure Holidays are the exclusive distributors of accommodation for Shangri-La's Le Touessrok Resort and Spa in Trou D'eau Douce, as well as Long Beach Golf and Spa Resort in Belle Mare, both on the east coast.
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