October 15, 2024

Beautiful Deux Mamelles: Celebrating My Birthday with an Epic Hike

What better way to celebrate another trip around the sun than by embarking on an epic hike?

This year, I decided to swap my birthday cake for hiking shoes and explore one of Mauritius’ beautiful and easiest trails—Deux Mamelles.

Why easiest? My 35 year old self was wise enough to know that my lazy behind could tackle it and enjoy the trail at the same time.

Nestled in the heart of the island, the Deux Mamelles hike offers not only breathtaking views but also a chance to reflect on life’s journey when making your way through the lush greenery. So today, I’ll take you through my birthday hike, sharing the stunning scenery unveiled by our local guide Jah and the challenges we faced (someone lost both shoe soles along the way)!

About Deux Mamelles Hike

Deux Mamelles is a distinctive twin-peaked mountain nestled between the villages of St Pierre and Nouvelle Decouverte.

Mauritius being well-known for its quirky names, this hike does it solid justice! Deux Mamelles can be translated to Two Tits, referring to the two summits that this particular mountain features! They are both accessible with a moderate climb, although the east peak (which we did) is a little easier to climb than the west peak.

The trail is generally easy to navigate, which makes it a great family-friendly hike too. Although it is a short hike, it offers beautiful panoramic views and unexpected features such as a stairway, bridge, and a small stream.

Preparing for the Birthday Hike

So why choose an early morning climb to celebrate? This past year was a roller-coaster, with challenges ranging from the health of close family members to the wild journey of being an entrepreneur. This birthday hike felt like the perfect way to reset, reflect, and find peace in nature after such a demanding year. I also knew I could go back to this experience with gratitude if things got rough again.

Jah, our guide shared the essentials to pack with us for the trail. We had water, coffee, nutritious snacks, sunscreen, comfy clothes, a solid pair of shoes with a good grip, my favorite pair of Helios Eyewear, and a light jacket in case it would rain or get windy (thankfully we were blessed with a beautiful sunny day!). We reached our meeting point at 8 a.m. on a Wednesday, and Jah briefed us about safety and what to expect from the hike.

He explained how to safely make our way on the rocky pathways and taking time to enjoy the trail, not just the peak. From that, I knew he was the right guide for us.

The Hike Experience

The beginning of the trail was clear. We walked through wildflowers, tall growing guava trees, and came along majestic bamboos covering the pathway. We started talking about the importance of disconnecting and taking more time as islanders to explore Mauritius instead of just working the grind. I was awed that we were only a few meters from the morning rush of the motorway, and yet we could hear only nature around us.

When we started taking on the steeper slopes, I had a hard time catching my breath, so we paused along the way to do some breath work and sip some water. What helped a lot was the trail of tree branches towards the peak. Guided by Jah, it was easy to make our way up by holding on to these branches. The soil was relatively dry with some slippery stones here and there, but I recommend not doing this when it gets rainy as the trail might become more arduous.

Now coming to those infamous shoe soles, they slowly ripped off from my husband’s shoe along the climb. Desperately trying to catch your breath and hearing your husband screaming that he might reach the peak shoeless demanded an extra effort for me not to collapse in laughter. So always double check your shoes before heading for a hike!

Reaching the Summit

Since the trail towards the summit was covered with tall trees and bushes, we were protected from the sun, and it was quite nice. Sometimes we would take a peek of the view, and we got back in the bushes, making our way through the rocky slope. When we reached the peak, it was all about finding the right balance to get to the top. The view was incredible.

From there (and thanks to the sunny and clear weather), we could see Trois Mamelles, Montagne Rempart, Montagne Bambous, le Chat et la Souris, le Pouce, Pieter Both, and even Le Morne Brabant!! It reminded us how small (yet mighty) Mauritius is.

As we took our backpacks off and settled for a relaxing sip of coffee, Jah treated us to a Tibetan singing bowl meditation. We focused on the sound and vibration of the bowl. The sounds were so soothing, it immediately calmed our bodies from the hike and set a serene mood going forward.

Post-Hike Feels

I personally felt a deep sense of accomplishment and peace from this birthday hike at Deux Mamelles. It reminded me how important it is to move our bodies, embrace new challenges, and take time to appreciate the natural beauty around us.

Thank you, Jah, for making this hike memorable, and a special thanks to Zil Escapade, who planned this experience, transforming the idea I had for a birthday hike into a reality that I can cherish for many years to come.

If you’re looking to experience Mauritius, get in touch with Zil Escapade below for tailor-made activities:
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📧[email protected]

And follow Jah as he keeps on chanroing:
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