MAURITIUS


A


s scenic wonders go, Morne Brabant is up there with the best. Rising in the southwest corner of Mauritius like a giant


and stubborn molar, its steep, forested y>nkà >Ài Ìhi n`i>n "Vi>n½Ã >nÃÜiÀ Ìo ->inÌ ÕVi>½Ã iVoniV *iÌonð


There’s no doubting that aerial shots of


this World Heritage-listed landmark, ringed with shimmering turquoise waters and a lacy reef, inspire British travellers to visit the balmy ÌÀo«iV>l iÃli°


Ûin ÌhoÕ}h i̽à > lon}iÀ yi}hÌ


than the Caribbean (12 hours rather than nine), we instantly warm to its friendly and diverse culture q Ìhi Àollin} wil`à ov ÃÕ}>À cane and craggy volcanic peaks, the splendid beaches and apricot sunsets. With English Ìhi ovwVi>l l>n}Õ>}i >n` driving on the left, it’s easy to feel at home here. Throw in the fact Mauritians love a cup of tea and it’s almost a home-from-home – only with much better weather. Conveniently, Morne Brabant is fringed ÜiÌh wni ÜhiÌi-Ã>n` Li>Vhià >n` Üin`à robust enough to make it a top spot for kiÌiÃÕÀwn} LiÌÜiin Ƃ«Àil >n` "VÌoLiÀ° 7hin Ì>ki mÞ wÀÃÌ `i« in Ìhi Ãi> LiÃi`i JW Marriott Mauritius Resort – in my view the best stop on this peninsula – >m >m>âi` Ìo wn` Ìhi hoÀiâon wlli`


`


I am amazed to find the horizon filled with a colourful aerial ballet of


watersports-lovers leaping and soaring above the waves


with a colourful aerial ballet of watersports- lovers leaping and soaring above the waves. While the adventurous can climb to the 1,820ft summit of Morne Brabant, a tough four-hour round trip, I opt for a leisurely circumnavigation by e-bike. My young guide, >ÌÌhiÜ on>Ã] ià vÀom Ìhi ni>ÀLÞ wÃhin} Ûill>}i of Le Morne. He points out a memorial to the runaway slaves who took refuge in its heights in the 18th century, before we freewheel along a palm-lined coast where migrating humpback whales pass by between June and October. Then the modern world returns in the shape of a massive construction site for an all-inclusive Riu resort due to open in the summer with more than 300 rooms. It’s no surprise hoteliers want to be in this cherished spot. “Morne Brabant is like a country within a country,” explains Mathieu de Tonnac, who manages three Marriott resorts along the west coast. This side of the


island is arguably the most attractive as it has more sun, less rain and catches the sunset. With most guests coming from the UK and Europe, there’s a healthy competition between high-end properties that leads to a steady stream of improvements, with owners seemingly happy to make costly, transformational changes.


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OPPOSITE: FIRST ROW: Traditional entertainment on the beach; Sunrise at Lux Belle Mare SECOND ROW: Kitesurfer; writer Nigel Tisdall; Sugar Beach Mauritius THIRD ROW Sugar Beach Mauritius FOURTH ROW Jetty dining; Le Morne Brabant peninsula PREVIOUS PAGE: Aerial view of JW Marriott Mauritius Resort Credits: Jean-Bernard Adoue; Backlight Studios; Shutterstock/dibrova, ohrim


46 ASPIRE JANUARY 2024 aspiretravelclub.co.uk


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