FAST FACTS
REUNION
Grand Anse beach
Piton de la Fournaise, the island’ s active volcano which translates to peak of the furnace, garners much attention. It’ s unique in that it erupts regularly, it last erupted on 11 September 2016, but can be safely viewed from lookout points or from the air on a helicopter flip. The volcano is located on the uninhabited southern side of the island, so during an eruption the lava flows into the ocean, posing no danger to people and creating granitic underwater caves that are popular among scuba divers.
The island’ s culinary delights, a mixture of French and rustic Creole flavours, will not disappoint as the cuisine is as diverse as the island’ s people. The boulangeries and patisseries( bakeries) are said to serve the best croissants outside of Provence! Try the local Bourbon beer, which the locals call‘ Dodo’ after the colourful extinct bird on its label. Also sample the many rum variants that are made in distilleries found along the western coast of the island.
So, if you’ re looking for a different kind of island getaway, come to Reunion for an Indian Ocean experience like no other. Charming, surprising and beautiful, Reunion Island will captivate your senses and leave you wanting to return time and time again. À bientôt!
FAST FACTS
• Air Austral flies from Johannesburg to Reunion and back twice a week, on a Sunday and Thursday. Flight time is only four hours.
• Reunion is two hours ahead of South African time.
• No visas are required for South African passport holders( for holiday stays up to 90 days).
• Reunion is a region of France and the currency used is the Euro. Banks and ATMs are available in all towns.
• French is the official language, but communicating in English is possible.
• There’ s a wide range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets.
• The average annual temperature is 24 degrees Celsius( but there’ s a sharp drop in temperature from the coast to the mountainous interior, take warm clothes for high altitude).
• There is no malaria and no travel vaccinations are required.
• Bring adaptors as all plug points are round two-point( European).
• An international driver’ s license is necessary for car hire. This is easily obtainable from the AA( Automobile Association of SA). The island is small and the distances short, but the roads do wind and so going slowly is the way to go.
CONTACTS Website: www. en. reunion. fr Blog: blog. welcometoreunionisland. com Facebook: Go to Reunion- SA Twitter: @ ReunionTourisme(# gotoreunion) Email: reunionisland. za @ atout-france. fr Air Austral: + 27( 0) 11-326-4443, email: johannesburg @ air-austral. com
PIC CREDIT: IRT EMMANUEL VIRIN
26 Travel Update | issue 9