Le Morne Brabant is a peninsula on the south-western tip of the island of Mauritius. It is a basalt monolith rising 556 metres above the Indian Ocean. Le Morne is known for its rich history, particularly as a refuge for escaped slaves in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Le Morne Mountain was a place where runaway slaves, known as maroons, found refuge in hard-to-reach caves and forests. Due to its isolation and steep slopes, Le Morne became a symbol of the struggle for freedom and survival. In 2008, Le Morne was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a cultural landscape, highlighting its historical and cultural significance.
We tried to climb Le Morne mountain three times before we finally succeeded on the third attempt. The previous two days were full of challenges as the weather was not favourable to our plans. Rain and storms made the climb too dangerous, forcing us to postpone our plans.
Every time we had to retreat, we felt a mix of disappointment and determination. However, on the third day, when the weather finally improved, we set off with renewed energy and managed to reach the summit. The view from the top was absolutely incredible and made up for all our previous difficulties.
Climbing Le Morne is a challenge, but it rewards you with beautiful views of the surrounding lagoons and ocean. The route takes you through shaded forests, and then becomes steeper, offering magnificent panoramas from the very top. Just see for yourselves.
This photo does not capture the whole situation, but we were climbing a very steep, vertical wall. The route was really difficult.
