You are currently viewing Reawaken Your Senses in Reunion {Part One}

Reawaken Your Senses in Reunion {Part One}

I have always had a love affair with islands. Perhaps it is because I am a “water baby” and have loved swimming and splashing around in the waves since I was a little girl. Sun-kissed skin, the scent of the ocean mingled with sunscreen, sand between my toes, ice-cream cones melting in the hot sun (cocktails feature more as an adult) were all part of my life growing up in the seaside city of Port Elizabeth in South Africa.

Dive right in at the beach in St-Gilles-les-Bains.

While I will always be fascinated with visiting and exploring contrasting destinations around the globe, islands hold a special place in my heart. I’ve been fortunate to travel to many islands, and even lived on one for four years in my twenties. Now that was living it up island style!

It should come as no surprise that when the opportunity came along to join a media trip to an adventurous and exotic location, I accepted with much excitement and anticipation. I was thrilled to dust off my passport and pack my bag for a thrilling tour of Reunion Island!

Lush scenery as you travel along the N2 highway on the South East coast.

Even though the island is a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean, South African passport holders do not require a visa for short stays (up to 90 days) when travelling as a tourist. We all know how costly it can be to apply for holiday visas, so add this to your list of reasons why you should visit Reunion.

Choose Your Own Adventure

Reunion offers something different for each traveller. There is no shortage as to what you can see, sip, taste and experience here. This exotic, volcanic island is filled with a variety of virtually endless adventures.

Adventure junkies can experience thrilling and adrenalin-pumping activities such as mountain biking and climbing the island’s rugged and mountainous terrain.

Potholing allows you to safely explore the underground lava tubes with expert guides. Water-based activities include canyoning which can be enjoyed year round, white-water rafting, deep-sea fishing and kite-surfing, just to name a few.

Prefer a more laidback island holiday? No problem! The island’s West coast is the perfect location for a relaxing beach holiday with family or friends while soaking up the sun. The crystal clear turquoise waters are protected by a 30km stretch of coral reef along the coast which allows you to swim in safety in the serene lagoon. Indulge your inner foodie by trying traditional Creole cuisine at sustainable farms, restaurants and markets around the island.

Calm lagoon waters at sunrise.
Tropical fruits galore and more at the popular St-Paul market .
Spice it up with Curcuma (Turmeric) which is widely used in Creole cooking.

Immerse yourself in the wonders of nature with the diverse landscape of the island. You will have a field day exploring over 200 microclimates in this natural paradise. The rich fauna and flora contained within the three cirques (craters) of Cilaos, Salazie and Mafate alone, confirm that Reunion is one of 34 hotspots of global diversity.

This wildly beautiful and diverse island is a marvellous melting pot of cultures, cuisines and natural landscapes that one can experience within a few days. We traversed the island in just four days and experienced an astonishing array of exciting activities and breathtaking landscapes in each area.

Breathtaking vistas along the winding road from St-Louis to Cilaos.

Boasting spectacular natural eye candy from North to South and East to West, no two areas are the same. The volcanic island is 63km long, 45km wide and covers an area of 2 512 square km. A staggering 40% of the territory is classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.

A mere four hour flight from Johannesburg, the #UltimateIsland should be on everyone’s travel list. While it isn’t possible to tell you about every single gem we discovered, allow me to share a few of the phenomenal places, spaces and adventures we experienced and why Reunion Island should be your next holiday destination.

Try An Authentic Cookery Workshop And Agricultural Tour

For a memorable food experience, book a tour to explore Philippe Morel’s sustainable farm, AVPPHSM (Association for the Promotion and Preservation of the Heritage of the Sainte Marguerite Highlands) in the hills of Sainte-Anne on the East coast.

His family originates from Normandy in France, and when asked how long his family has been farming, he smiled and simply said “Forever”. While Philippe does not speak English and I, along with most of our group, do not speak French, we would have been lost in translation had it not been for our experienced guide, Sully Chaffre.

Warmly welcomed upon arrival, we were treated to a vibrant spread of fresh fruit, including fresh clementine juice and pineapple slices with salt. This may seem like an unusual combination, but the balance of salty versus sweet was refreshing and so tangy. 

A brilliant Vitamin C boost! All fruits are grown on the farm.

I was thrilled to spot some coffee as my body needed a serious jolt of caffeine. The famous local coffee, Bourbon Pointu, derived from the Arabica cultivar and considered by connoisseurs to be among the finest in the world, is caffeine-free and served without milk. So no caffeine boost, but I was rewarded with a delicate aroma and taste which was quite fruity and truly exceptional.  Don’t be surprised if you are met with somewhat surprised looks when you ask for milk with your coffee in restaurants and cafés.

Bourbon Pointu, the famous local coffee.

The cookery class gave us a chance to learn more about traditional Réunionese cuisine. Chef Philippe showed us how to make flavourful dishes such as spicy fish sausage, rice and papaya fritters, all cooked on a wood fire in his rustic kitchen, and often served on banana leaves. Rice features in most meals, even breakfast, as this high carbohydrate food gives farmers the strength to work in the fields for long hours.

An insightful tour of his lush farm and sugarcane fields was a highlight as he showed us how they live a sustainable lifestyle. Sugar cane is harvested from 1 July to 1 December and after tourism, the sugarcane industry is the primary source of export income. This labour intensive work is done by hand and he says that it isn’t always easy to find migrant workers who are willing to work hard and do the job properly.

No pesticides have been used since 2006 due to French law. This had a large impact on farming as he produced fewer crops than before. Philippe maintains that while there was a profit loss initially, it wasn’t about the money but a responsibility towards the people and their health, as well as the environment. 

This is testament to his beliefs and ethics as he and other farmers received no compensation from the government for their sustainable farming practices. The main goal, he says, is to live off the land with zero wastage.

Philippe is charismatic and a born storyteller, but he is also a businessman. For around 10 years, Philippe has welcomed guests to the farm to share his passion and dedication to preserving Reunion’s cultures and traditions and introducing them to traditional Réunionese cooking methods and dishes, in turn supplementing his family’s income.  

We ended our time at the farm with a delectable lunch of traditional Creole dishes (|I lost count as to how many courses there were!), homemade by Philippe and his wife. I simply couldn’t resist a sweet treat and thoroughly enjoyed a slice of Creole sweet potato cake – simply luscious!

Notre-Dame-des-Laves Church

Whether you are a spiritual person or not, you simply must stop at the Notre-Dame-des-Laves Church in Sainte-Rose. The pastel yellow and blue colours of the building really stand out amongst the dark lava rocks.

The church was surrounded by lava during the eruption of Piton de la Fournaise in 1977, yet miraculously escaped damage with no lava entering the doors. Entrance is free.

The “Lava Road” In The East

As Reunion is a volcanic island, you will soon get used to seeing former lava flows along the stretch of road known as the “Lava Road”. Passing by the Piton de la Fournaise leading to the wild South, I was mesmerized by the power of Mother Nature when viewing and walking on former lava flows.  Some are still exposed, while others are covered with vegetation. Take a walk across the road to see where the lava flow meets the ocean.

Le Cap Méchant

I could have stayed at Le Cap Méchant for hours. The fishing village of L’Étang-Salé has a black sand beach thanks to lava flows and is a popular surfing and diving spot. A short walk through the vacoa tree forest takes you to the rugged basalt cliffs of Le Cap Méchant.

Eroded by the sea over time, they shoot impressive sprays of water high up into the air at various points. Listening to the raw power of the mighty ocean as waves crash against the cliffs is truly awe-inspiring.

Experience Lunar Landscapes at Piton de la Fournaise

If you are in luck, Piton de la Fournaise may be erupting while you are on the island. Though it is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, the frequent, powerful eruptions pose no threat to the people.

We began our day along the coast in the popular beachside village of Saint-Pierre, winding our way up the high-altitude plains that soon gave way to mountain peaks and forests reminiscent of the Alps. The natural landscape is so diverse that you may think your mind is playing tricks on you. But believe me; what you see is very much real.

A gentle soul, Claire is passionate about sharing her knowledge of meditation and hiking.

We met up with Claire, a meditation and hiking expert, beside one of the viewing spots, the spectacular Vallée de La Rivière des Remparts. A deep, lush valley with a river that flows from North to South over 23km long and lined with ramparts (steep rock wall) up to 1 000m in certain places, you will be blown away by the jaw-dropping beauty before you.

From lush valleys and forests, we quite literally found ourselves in another world soon thereafter. A lunar-like landscape with orange and brown scoria, eerily quiet yet utterly beautiful at the same time, take your time to view the expansive wilderness of La Plaine des Sables. As luck would have it (or not!), our walk to Le Formica Leo (about a one hour return walk) had to be cancelled as Piton de la Fournaise was erupting!

La Plaine des Sables.

Claire took us through a gentle and calming meditation session amongst the mystical and magical lunar landscape. Meditating on a volcanic plain? Yes! This can be done in Reunion. It was a first time experience for me and one that I can highly recommend. I certainly felt more calm and present after this very special experience.

This sign gave us the giggles.
The volcanic wilderness has to be seen to be believed.

Immerse yourself in the amazing world of volcanoes at the La Cite du Volcan. Ideally located on the road which leads to Piton de la Fournaise, the Volcano Centre is a modern museum where you have the opportunity to learn about Reunion’s fascinating geological heritage. With new technology that includes a 4D cinema and volcano observatory to view the volcano’s smallest tremors in real time, this edutainment centre appeals to both adults and kids.

La Cite du Volcan, Does the building look familiar to you?

But wait! I have more to share with you, so stay tuned for Part Two of my Reunion Island adventure coming soon.

If you enjoyed reading this article, please let me know in the comment section below. You can also hit the Like button and share it with your family and friends on Facebook and Twitter. Follow me on Instagram too. Want to read more about my travel, food and wine adventures? Head on over to my website and subscribe for blog updates (no spamming, I promise).

Yours in Travel
xoxo

For more information, contact the Reunion Island Tourism Board South African Office on +27 10 205 0201/reunionisland.za@atout-france.fr, or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Disclaimer: A special thank you to Reunion Island Tourism Board for hosting my trip to Reunion Island. Merci beaucoup for the memories #Hosted

This Post Has 5 Comments

  1. Jeff S

    Wow, stunning post Nadine. It makes me want to visit and explore Reunion even more. Next time take me with in your carry on.

    1. Nadine Carroll

      Thank you Jeff. Reunion Island is filled with adventure, diverse natural beauty and so much more. I highly recommend that you add this amazing destination to your travel list. Ha ha 😉 I’ll think about it.

  2. Pat

    It looks and sounds fabulous and a short flight and no visa just pumps it up to the top of the bucket list

  3. Nadine Carroll

    The short flight and no visa is an added bonus, especially for South African passport holders. A truly unique and wildly beautiful island that offers so much to each kind of traveller. Reunion Island is a must to add to your travel bucket list!

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