Ile Maurice – IV

After leaving the coast and zigzagging on small winding mountain roads, we arrive in Chamarel… Arriving here is like arriving on another planet, the « stress-free » planet, that’s for sure!

With a Dodo on our backs, we let ourselves be moved by the beauty of the surrounding nature.

It is hot, even very hot, so what a pleasure to enjoy the coolness brought by the highest waterfall of the country, about 80 meters, it is « Chamarel waterfalls ».

Two rivers come together, and at the spillway, the water forms two impressive waterspouts which…

…are rushing into an abyss so deep that we cannot see the end.

A little further up the mountain, we walk without being able to imagine the wonders that this strange volcanic island of Mauritius has in store for us.

A few more steps, and suddenly a landscape is revealed that gives the sensation of having landed on another planet.

In a setting of greenery like no other, we finally discover this land that is the pride of Mauritians.

A variation of ochre colours are displayed there, in front of our amazed eyes – it’s well worth a little selfie in passing!

Soil rich in various minerals, which have the particularity of not mixing with volcanic ash.

The colour palette created by these soils is quite unusual… never seen elsewhere.

Gentle slopes, unctuous shapes… like a skin with completely surrealistic colours, but which gives a feeling of infinite tranquillity.

Our eyes struggle to detach themselves from the ground, fascinated by such peaceful beauty…

…but as if magnetized they keep coming back…

…there they are attracted by an area of small cracks like on an old master painting…

…here some gravel adds a little roughness…

…here the ribs become more pronounced…

…there are small valleys and rounded hills.

In the distance, the green mountains, remnants of the ancient crater.

Ochre cameo on green cameo.

Desert-like in the tropics.

A cosmonaut? No, the photographer in the picture!

What else ?

Nothing, instead happiness to discover these wonders and then we take another little selfie!

We turn around and our imaginations start to run wild again: are we on Mars? In an unknown part of the Sahara? An area of the Thar Desert? On the back of a giant lizard taking a nap under the vegetation?

Fortunately, a tourist restaurant is there to bring us back to earth… and rehydrate us if necessary!

To do this we have to cross a beautiful but hostile area. This refreshing drink has to be earned!

Little by little we progress… crossing valleys and hills.

The landscape is endless…

Then the oasis appears… we are almost there. We are going to leave this reverie with regret, but it will be to set out again to discover other wonders.

Par Nathalie et Jean-Yves