Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion
Ginger plant in flower

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion
The terminator - shadow of the sun - is creeping down the opposite side of the Salazie crater

Arduous hike out from the village of Hell-Bourg in the Cirque de Salazie (volcano crater). Hard going, both the sun and thirty degree heat but mainly the steep tracks. The “reward” is hiking through tropical farming, flowers and forest, glimpses of highly-coloured song birds and hearing them calling and singing. Though there’s drought everywhere in this crater, so a lot of dust. GR R1 means Grande Randonné 1 de la Réunion, it’s the long distance route equivalent to the UK Pennine Way.

Markers noting these fields were tilled by slaves for the sugar cane crop. Current farmers use 4WD pick-ups, animal transport with carts must have been even more perilous on these steep tracks.

Turnaround at Le Grand Sable (1051 m.), site of a village devastated by storm floods in 1875. A bivouac has been constructed there, it’s still a place that looks a pleasure to camp in the jungle... in fine weather.
The dusty track down seemed even hotter than climbing up, the heat reflecting off the mud, temperatures well in to the thirties in the shade; I was encouraged that the others (of half my age) who parked up at the trail-head at the same time as I had, 0800 or so, also hiked for about the same time and were also similarly hot. Also the group who had been canyoning. But we all shared a certain bravado at having done our hikes in the hot season.


Bridge over the River Mat

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion
Gorge of the River Mat

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion
Piton d'Anchain (1356 m.)

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion
Le Piton des Neiges (3070 m.)

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion
Bivouac at Le Grand Sable (1051 m.). Note the sleeping plinth at high level.

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion
Ford

Tropical jungle hike GR R1, la Réunion