Until recently, it was quite possible to make your way down the Moka/Mount-Ory Road without suspecting that one of the most magically beautiful sites in Mauritius was tucked away below the roadside. Now there is a sign inviting people to visit ?Le Ravin?. Intriguing?

As soon as we cross the stylish wrought-iron gates, we are over-whelmed by the greenery. Tall trees encircle the gravelled parking space levelling down to a restaurant. Suddenly the traffic from the road, only a few metres away, cannot be heard anymore. The wind rustles the leaves and the sound of water beckons us? Welcome to another world.

As owner of this magnificent property, Jacques de Maroussem invites us to sit on wicker armchairs on the terrace of the restaurant shaded by a luxuriant Badamier, all the hassles of everyday life are left behind. ?Le Ravin was opened in 2002, after a long and strenuous clearing up of the place?, he recalls. He explainins further: ?Other projects are slowly taking shape such as guest houses for people who want to stay and a spa near to the waterfalls?. But let?s continue our discovery.

Mouth-watering details

The restaurant, run by Jacqueline Dalais, is in a spacious and rustic building. All doors and windows are very wide so that the people can enjoy the wonderful view over the riverbank from their tables. The architecture also includes massive stone pillars and metal arches supporting the roof, which adds a special atmosphere to the hall. This restaurant is open to the public everyday, except when reserved for special events, such as this coming Saturday for St Valentine?s. The menu is very appealing and varied. Some mouth-watering dishes proposed for St Valen-tine?s day include an aubergine dip with a slightly sharp chervil cream and braided lamb tenderloin accompanied by an infusion of morel and stuffed vegetables? Sounds absolutely scrumptious!

Down the steps to the riverbank, a patio with tables and sunshades is an open invitation to picnickers. The river slowly flowing by is crystal clear. A few fish swim lazily around, inviting anybody with a full stomach for a snooze! At the start of the walk along the narrow trail following the river down to the ravin itself, there is a sudden drop ? the first of the many waterfalls, each one more spectacular than the other? From a little wooden bridge, water cascading down metres of rock can be admired. A sudden urge to touch that cool water leads us further down the trail, which twists and turns along the river bank.

The cool breeze is refreshing, the singing of the birds and the humming of the insects gets louder as well as the buzzing of mosquitoes! The mixture of noises is hypnotizing. All around, the tall trees and bamboo bushes could make any visitor feel as if he was in some truly exotic location! Ferns thrive here, obviously in their natural element. The sun dapples the water through the overhanging trees. It really is magic!

Unfortunately, on the top left hand side of the riverbank, some land has been sold and parcelled out to build houses. The splendour of the place is somewhat spoilt by a grey concrete house in construction. Although Jacques de Maroussem admits ?having built a wall and bamboos to hide this eyesore?, it is impossible not to notice the big structure. At least this house can only be seen from certain angles, so that it is not always looming over you from the treetops.

The big jump

As the trail joins the river, a natural pool about 30 metres long can be seen. How to resist jumping in, even though the drop is rather terrifying? (Indeed, don?t forget your swimsuit if you go there on a nice sunny day). Take a deep breath, a few big steps and jump. The trees flash in slow motion, the sensation of fright instantly gives way to an exhilarating feeling of complete freedom. Suddenly you hit the surface of the water: the resistance of the water is quite comforting after the feeling of nothingness in mid air. What must have been a few seconds felt like minutes. An energetic swim across the pool followed by a natural massage under the waterfall is so awakening that you feel ready to face anything afterwards!

The refreshing dip was needed, because the trail taken to join ?Eureka?, the colonial house attached to ?Le Ravin?, is upward sloping! After a rather hard walk, the black and white wooden house is in view. Apart from its interest from a historical point of view, ?Eureka? is also attractive because of its restaurant and guesthouses. The perfect outing for this weekend...