Réunion - Réunion

The island Reunion is a volcanic island, hiking paradise and french Overseas department in Indian Ocean.

The rainbow over Cilaos is often a permanent guest even in dry winter
location
Reunion in France 2016.svg
flag
FranceFlagge Frankreich
Short dates
CapitalSaint-Denis
Form of governmentFrench overseas department
currencyEuro (€)
surface2517 km²
population821.000
languagesFrench (official), Creole
ReligionsCatholics 86%, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists
power grid220 V, 50 Hz
Phone code 262
Internet TLD.re
Time zoneCET 4h

Regions

Dynamic cards Dynamic cards
  • Reunion
  • Environment map

The island consists of the broad and densely populated coastal regions, they are the main settlement area of ​​the island. All in all, you feel like you are in a French provincial town.

From the mountainous interior of the island takes the extinct volcano Piton des Neiges (3071 m) with its three crater basins Cirque de Mafate, the Cirque de Cilaos and the Cirque de Salazie the slightly larger north-eastern part. The somewhat smaller south-eastern part of the interior of the island is occupied by the Piton de la Fournaise (2631 m), one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

The populated plateau with the island crossing lies between the two volcanoes Piton des Neiges and Piton de la Fournaise.

The Parc National de La Réunion (Réunion Natural Park) was only established in 2007 as the 8th national park in France, the inner zone of the park has been on the list since 2010 World Natural Heritage by UNESCO.

Cities

Locations and climates

in the north the island:

In the sunny West:

  • Saint-Paul on June 29, 1642 the place of the first landfall of the French and until 1738 capital
  • Saint-Leu - Place of pilgrimage for devout Catholics and surfers from all over the world
  • Saint-Pierre - third largest city on the island and largest town in the southwest

in the South:

In the warm and humid East:

in the Island interior:

  • Cilaos (1201 m), mountain town, wine village and health resort;

background

Réunion, earlier too Île Bourbon, remained as one of the few islands in the Indian Ocean with France after the lost Napoleonic Wars.

population

  • In the population group of Europeans a distinction is made between three groups:
  • The "Gros blancs" are the "great whites", the wealthy and influential descendants of the plantation owners and the upper classes.
  • The "Petits blancs des hauts" are the "little whites of the heights," descendants of the immigrant small farmers who withdrew from poverty to the high interior of the island.
  • The "Métros" or "Z'oreilles" are the immigrated French educated in administration and services.
With an estimated population of less than ten percent, the whites are the group on the island with by far the greatest economic and political power.
  • The Indians are divided into the subgroup of the “tamoul,” also “malabars,” who came to the island as workers from 1848 after the liberation of slaves, mainly from south-west and south-east India, and the sub-group of the fair-skinned “Z'arabes” with a Muslim background . The proportion of the Indian population is estimated to be around 25%. As everywhere in East Africa, they dominate retail trade.
  • The Africans are the descendants of the former slaves on the sugar cane plantations, who predominantly consist of Madagascar, Mozambique (East Africa) and the Senegal (West Africa) were brought to the island. Their share of the population is also around a quarter.
  • Chinese came to the island from 1860 and are mostly successful as small businesses such as Restaurant owners or traders, their share of the population is around three percent.
  • The Creoles of the island of Réunion (the term has different meanings in worldwide parlance) denotes skin color-neutral and general mixed race, with the focus on the European-Black-African-Indian population. Almost half of the population is counted among the Creoles.

An exact allocation and thus a more precise estimate of the different proportions of the population groups is not permitted under French law and is also difficult because of the mixing.

The diversity of ethnic groups is reflected in the Religions with approx. 85% Catholics, 7% Hindus, 2% Muslims and also Buddhists, many of the residents also have multiple faiths. The coexistence of the religious groups is considered exemplary because it is largely problem-free, many of the religious festivals are celebrated together. In addition, superstition is widespread among the island's inhabitants.

Volcanism

Piton de la Fournaise.

Geologically is the island and its main mountain Piton des Neiges around a huge shield volcano. It owes its formation to hotspot volcanism similar to that of the island Hawaii. Characteristic for this type of volcanism is deep and stationary thin-flowing lava rising from the earth, which then first cuts a hole in the earth's mantle like a welding torch from below and then creates a volcano from the sea floor. As the earth's mantle moves over the hotspot due to the continental drift, a chain of volcanoes in a row is created, the foremost of which is active. The Reunion hotspot, which is also responsible for the creation of Mauritius, Rodriguez, the Seychelles, the Maldives and a number of other undersea volcanoes is blamed, has created a huge basal ridge (hotspot swell) that extends as far as India and in the Himalayas is enough, its age is dated to at least 68 million years.

The rise of the Piton des Neiges volcano from the sea floor, and with it the birth of the island of Réunion, is estimated to have been around two to three million years ago, with the end of the volcanic activity of the Piton des Neiges around 12,000 years ago. Measured from the sea floor, the volcano has reached a height of approx. 7,000 m. The island's active volcano is now the one to the southeast Piton de la Fournaise (2,631 m).

fauna and Flora

Tec-Tec

There are no animals dangerous for humans on land, but there was a noticeable increase in shark attacks on humans in 2011-15. That is why the use of surfboards was generally prohibited.

Most noticeable in the Wildlife the island are the many up to palm-sized and completely harmless to humans silk spiders (Nephila inaurata, Silk spider) in the Cirque de Mafat: The spider web can be several meters in size and, with an extremely stable main thread, sometimes runs directly on or over the hiking trail. The male is significantly smaller than the female, also sits on the nest, but is easily overlooked.

The local one is also important Bird life: The most commonly seen is the Tec-Tec, a species of bird (whinchat) endemic to the island. The bird life also shows the greatest problem of the animal world on the island, namely the rats brought in by the Europeans, which are difficult for the young birds. Before it was colonized by humans, there were no mammals (except bats) on the island.

The most striking Plant shapes in the cirque are the tamarind forests and the agaves, which bloom loosely around ten meters high.

getting there

By plane

Roland Garros

The international airport for Réunion is Roland Garros at the capital Saint-Denis in the north of the island. The various travel options from Europe are described there.

The airport Pierrefonds is located in the south of the island near the city Saint-Pierre. From here there are regional connections to Mauritius and Madagascar. There are no direct connections to Europe.

By boat

The largest port on the island is Pointe des Galets. It is located on a headland in the northwest of the island and belongs to the port city Le Port, it is the elder west port and the naval port. The new east port of Le Port was built from 1982 to 1986 and is the passenger port and fishing port.

Yachts

Sea weather forecast and storm warning ☎ 836 68 01 01 or Météo France - outre mer.

According to the European level of development of the island, the best facilities for sailors in the eastern Indian Ocean can be found here. However, prices are higher than in Mauritius. You can fill up with diesel duty-free after clearing the vehicle.

The three main marinas are:

  • Pointe des Galets (1 Le Port). All boats must call at this port in order to complete the immigration formalities. The Doaune works Mon-Sat 5.00-20.00, you enter the EU, but not the Schengen area, so that the clearance for Europeans is problem-free. There are import restrictions for certain plants. Pets brought along must have an animal passport and a rabies vaccination certificate.
  • Saint Gilles les Bains has one 2 small marinawhich is shared with the local fishing boats.
  • Create in 3 Saint-Pierre is not that easy, you should also make sure in advance (☎ 262-32-32-67; VHF 16 or 9) that space is available. The first three days are free, there is a 25 t crane.
Îles Éparses

For visiting the various remote islands (Îles Éparses) special regulations apply. Usually you get one at least two months in advance Request at Siège des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises (TAAF), Rue Gabriel Dejean, 97410 Saint-Pierre (☎ 262 967 878).

mobility

Road bend the RN5.

The coastal strip is well developed by the circumferential coastal road and the RN1 (Route du Littoral on the steep bank of the north coast to the southwest of the island), which opened on March 5, 1976, and some of the mostly extremely winding roads lead from the coastal road into the interior of the island .

In the street

urban road traffic.

The most important means of getting around the island is by car. There are car rental companies at the airports and in all larger towns. It is billed according to the daily rate or kilometers, the gasoline prices are the same everywhere and are set by the island's prefecture.

Six of the global car rental companies are present at the airport. There are also other local car rental companies.

The traffic in the city centers is chaotic and chaotic, and traffic jams are always to be expected during rush hour on weekdays.

At the important entry points for the hikes in the interior of the island, there are usually parking spaces in the form of Picnic areas, as they are also found all over the island along the scenic road sections.

Many of the road routes are still today despite ongoing massive protective barriers such as High risk of falling rocks with safety nets. Especially for the more remote routes in the interior of the island, it is advisable to obtain information on the current road conditions before starting your journey after storms. Particular attention should be paid to the specially signaled ones in bad weather radiers submersibles. These are water crossings that can be flooded when there is heavy rainfall. Driving on such flooded sections is strictly forbidden and is subject to high fines.

Alcohol test: From July 1, 2012, all drivers of a motor vehicle should have an alcohol tester with them. This French law also applies to Réunion. Due to the inadequacy of existing devices, the regulation has not been strictly enforced since 2013, but the alcohol limit of 0.5 applies. Anyone who is on the road with up to 0.8 risks a fine of up to € 750. Above that it gets really expensive, theoretically two years imprisonment are possible.

Also carrying Safety vests is a legal requirement for drivers and passengers in Réunion.

Taxis can be found everywhere in the cities, but they are very expensive: the price per kilometer fluctuates between one euro and 2.50 €, which means, for example, a journey for a good 40 kilometers from Roland Garros to the seaside resort Saint-Gilles up to 80 euros.

central bus station in Saint-Denis

By bus

Réunion has a well-developed network of bus lines with modern vehicles, all major cities and places of interest to tourists in the coastal area can be reached, there are also some lines in the interior of the island. The main hub on the island is the bus station in Saint-Denis, it is located directly on the seashore a good 500 m east of the center.

The buses run approximately every hour and on weekdays very early, sometimes at before five o'clock until around 6 in the evening, on Sundays they start operating later. The prices are very cheap compared to German standards, and the vehicles are often quite well filled.

Tickets are purchased from the bus driver, at bus stations at the counter. Breaks in the journey are permitted. Two loud audible claps of hands counts as a stop request to the bus driver for the next stop.

CAR JAUNE stop

There are different Bus operator, The allocation of the stops (there are twice, once for each direction of travel) and buses to the operators is possible according to the identification color.

The most important operator is CAR JAUNE, Identification color yellow. CAR JAUNE operates the bus routes on the coast and the island crossing, important lines with the respective final destination are:

Further information: www.cg974.fr (French)

By train

There are no railway lines on Réunion: Several railway lines opened at the end of the 18th century have now all been shut down, the plans for the construction of a new railway line are still in the project stage.

Tourist Attractions

  • 1  "Piton de la Fournaise" volcano (Piton de la Fournaise) (Sentier dit «tour du sommet»). Vulkan „Piton de la Fournaise“ in der Enzyklopädie WikipediaVulkan „Piton de la Fournaise“ im Medienverzeichnis Wikimedia CommonsVulkan „Piton de la Fournaise“ (Q1049644) in der Datenbank Wikidata.The active volcano is in the south of the island. Even the approach via the Plaine de Sable (sand plain) offers many optical highlights. There is a parking lot directly below the crater rim with a magnificent view. From a safe distance, hikers can watch the activities of the fire mountain. Various agencies offer guided hikes to the best viewpoints on site. Tours at sunset are particularly fascinating, as the lava flows can then be seen particularly well in the dark. You should definitely not do these tours without a local guide, as the signs on these 4-5 hour hikes are sometimes very difficult to see. But even when the volcano is not active, hikes of different lengths along the crater rim or the descent into the crater floor offer fascinating views. For the descent, however, you should have a head for heights, as the path winds very narrow in a zigzag towards the ground. Once at the bottom you can admire the mini cone "Leo Formica" and walk to the "Church" (a colorful fault). If you have the time and stamina, you can also climb the highest point of the actual volcano, and from there you have a magnificent panoramic view of the various lava flows up to the sea. You should only do this when the weather is good and there is no volcanic activity (be sure to inquire at the information desk in the parking lot!). The weather changes very quickly and within an hour there can be such dense clouds that you can hardly find the way back. On the way back you should make a stop at the “Maison du Volcan” (house of the volcano): fascinating video images of the last major eruptions, lots of different information and activities on the subject of volcanoes are not only exciting for adults (you can hear, for example, what makes lava sounds underwater and much more).
  • The three basins "Les trois Cirques". The three basins Cirque de Mafate, Cirque de Cilaos and Cirque de Salazie are collapsed volcanic calderas that have got a very photogenic appearance due to erosion. They are a real paradise for hikers: from short trips to multi-day hikes with overnight stays, there are all variants. All three basins are full of wild orchids, waterfalls and the chirping of birds. The Cirque de Mafate can only be reached on foot or by helicopter. Its residents have to drag all the necessary things into their valley on foot for several hours. For hikes lasting several days, it is therefore absolutely essential to reserve accommodation and food in advance. Incidentally, sightseeing flights with helicopters or microlight planes are highly recommended.
  • 2  Jardin des Parfums et des Epices, 7 Chemin Forestier, 97442 Saint-Philippe. Tel.: 262 26237 06 36. Numerous types of plants grow in the 30 hectare garden, from which fragrances and aromatic substances can be extracted. This also includes spices, especially vanilla, cardamom and ginger. A shop with coffee and toilet belongs to the garden.Open: daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., guided tours by appointment.Price: adults € 5.50, with a guide € 6.20.

language

Is the official language French, Colloquial language is Creole.

English is occasionally spoken by the relevant groups of people, German-speaking locals are the rare exception.

Creole

The Creole language of the Réunionese is a highly simplified French with no gender or conjugation, which was then mixed with ethnic language elements of the former slaves.

to buy

Bank opening times: Monday to Friday 9 am-3.30pm.

Authorities opening times: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

money

The National currency in the French overseas department of Réunion is the euro. Withdrawals at ATMs are possible with the Maestro bank card, the Visa or Cirrus card and the Eurocard / Mastercard Euro.

Payment with credit cards (Carte Bleu, Visa, Eurocard / Mastercard, American Express, Diner's depending on the availability) is common.

opening hours

The usual lunch break for "southerners" applies on the island: the shops are open Mon-Sat. Open from 8.30 a.m. to noon and from 2.30 p.m. to 6 p.m., some grocery stores also on Sunday mornings.

activities

hike

at the Cirque de Mafate.

The entire island is a scenic and well-developed hiking area, it is criss-crossed by numerous hiking stages and multi-day routes in different route variants. The particularly interesting part is the rugged volcanic interior of the island with the two volcanic peaks and the three crater basins.

The multi-day routes through the interior of the island are:

  • The GR R2 is the crossing of the island from north to south in about 10 days, depending on the design.

The ONF is responsible for maintaining the road network (Office National des Forêts), that is the forest administration of the island. The hiking trails have various steeper passages with some spectacular views down below, but are nowhere particularly at risk of falling for "experienced" people and are generally well cared for. Destruction of the road network after storms cannot of course be ruled out, it is advisable to inquire with the responsible person before the start of the tour Maison de la Montagne in Saint-Denis.

The largest danger For hikers, in wet weather after rain, the greasy route and the then dangerously smooth basalt stones start out, but the routes also dry off quickly. Fog is easily possible, especially from lunchtime, but deviating from or even straying from the specified route is largely impossible due to the dense vegetation generally away from the hiking trail.

The conditions the circulation should not be underestimated because of the altitude and the warm and humid to humid air and at the same time, at least in the morning, sometimes quite strong sunlight.

  • Weather ☎ 892-68 08 08
  • State of the road network ☎ 262-37 38 39
  • Mountain rescue service ☎ 262-93-09-30

At equipment a rainproof overgarment with dry spare clothes is required, a waterproof nylon bag in the backpack does a good job here, as does a plastic bag to take your own rubbish with you in the backpack. Cream, sunglasses and a hat with neck protection are required for sun protection; a sweater is usually sufficient for thermal protection. However, it can get very cold on the mountain peaks at altitudes above 2000 m, especially in the months of May to November. Proper hiking shoes are particularly important for the rocky, often rain-damp, greasy and sometimes very sharp-edged stretches. Hiking sticks are very helpful, as well as mosquito repellent and a headlamp, also for the mountain huts: because of the proximity to the equator, it gets dark very early in the evening.

In addition to sufficient drinking water, provisions must also be carried on the multi-day tours: at the stage destinations in the interior of the island, water bottles (plastic) and bread are usually offered for sale, a selection beyond this cannot be expected.

For general information on equipment and behavior in the mountains, see the article Rockclimbing.

Maps see the relevant section at the literature.

Information about the Mountain huts see section accommodation.

Swimming

L'Hermitage beach at Saint-Gilles.

The most important seaside resort on the island with a long white sandy beach protected from shark attacks by a lagoon Saint-Gilles on the climatically more favorable west coast. Saint Gilles has an international audience and a well-developed infrastructure for everything that has to do with water, from snorkeling and diving to deep-sea fishing and whale watching and needs to be compared with other international bathing resorts in the region, for example the neighboring ones Seychellesnot to be shy. There are more sandy beaches in Sant-Pierre and in Sant-Leu, These places are also located in the west and south of the island, and sunshine all day is likely here too during the season. In the other regions, the coast of the island is predominantly dominated by the basalt rocks and is therefore quite inaccessible, on the north and east side of the island, fog is likely from the afternoon at the latest, even in the dry season.

Sharks: Shark attacks by the tiger and bull sharks, which are dangerous for humans, in the waters off La Réunion are not uncommon, but this mainly affects surfers who are in the deeper waters. According to statistics, five water sports enthusiasts were killed in shark attacks off La Réunion in the two years from 2011 to summer 2013, and the number of reports of shark attacks has risen sharply in recent years.

Shark attacks near the beach are rather rare, but cannot be completely ruled out. The authorities give the advice to follow the security personnel, to surf only at certain times of the day, to pay attention to the weather conditions and the swell and to only go into the water in the guarded beach sections. Any non-compliance will be punished in the future (as of 2013).

Lava tunnel

The liquid lava flows have formed numerous underground caves. When the lava solidifies, these caves become accessible and offer an indescribable backdrop. (Dripstones, large chambers, glass walls and much more).

Sightseeing flights

If you have the time and the opportunity, you should definitely not miss a sightseeing flight over the imposing backdrop of the island: The spectrum of aircraft offered by the organizers ranges from ultra-light aircraft for very direct flight pleasure to helicopters. Depending on the duration of the sightseeing flight and the intended destinations, around € 200 to 250 per person should be estimated for a sightseeing flight.

When booking, please note: The best time for a sightseeing flight is very early in the morning, when the fog has not yet impaired visibility.

The following is a selection of tour operators around the island, they usually also take care of the collective transport from the accommodation to the airport and back again.

  • Helilagon (Helicopter tours), 63 rue Marthe Bacquet - Cambaie: 97460 Saint-Paul (Location: Altiport de l’Éperon 97411 Saint-Paul). Tel.: (0)262 55 55 55. last change: Aug. 2018

kitchen

The Reunions kitchen reflects the diversity of the different cultures from Europeans, Chinese, Islamic Indians and Creoles.

The Fast food The island is based on the French model, the sandwich (around four euros) in all sorts of variants, which is offered in takeaways in the touristy places and beaches. There is also pizza in street vendors. Many small restaurants and bars also offer local dishes (see below, Creole cuisine), which are very cheap (6-8 € for a generous portion) and are also available to take away.

A specialty of the island are Samoussas, These are small dumplings filled with different kinds of meat and / or vegetables that can be bought as a snack anywhere (markets, snack bars, supermarkets).

Other island specialties are the Bouchons, these are bites of meat cooked over steam and the Candy piments, small, deep-fried, spicy dough donuts filled with pea puree.

"Dodo."

The island beer is that Dodo the island brewery Bourbon, it has its headquarters with its own brewery museum in Saint-Denis and belongs to the global Heineken group. The Dodo is available in the best hotel bars and also in the smallest mountain huts, in the mountain huts as a can and on various occasions also tapped (pressure). Even for spoiled German beer drinkers, the taste is not such that you have to get used to it and certainly no reason to be homesick, and since the “Dodo” is usually cheaper than wine, it is also the more popular drink among the locals .

Wine is made on the island in Cilaos cultivated, it is comparatively expensive. Otherwise there is a wide range of imported goods, mainly from metropolitan France.

The choice of Restaurants on the island ranges from the European-French to the Indian and Chinese cuisine, often mixed and often also with the dishes of the Creole cuisine. The island's fish restaurants are also recommended. For a menu in a normal standard restaurant you have to reckon with a price of around twenty euros (excluding drinks), the quality is usually good.

The somewhat stricter French dress code applies. Beachwear / shorts are rather uncommon in restaurants.

The upscale gastronomy is mostly led by the hotel restaurants.

Creole cuisine

Creole cuisine: "Carì."
Digestif.

The local Creole cuisine is rich in variety Carì, Derived from the Indian name curry: The focus is on the side dish, which is always a large pot of rice on the one hand, and the sauce made from "grains" on the other, which are boiled down legumes (beans or lentils). The sauce can turn out quite hot with yellow-coloring turmeric (false saffron) and other spices such as "rougail" (chili peppers).

As meat, there is a choice of finely chopped pork and chicken seared as a ragout or fish and shellfish, also always well seasoned. With “carì boucané” and “rougail saucisse”, the ragout is made from smoked pork or sausages.

Starters are usually not common in local cuisine, and there are often salads in restaurants. In the simpler cases, the starter is sometimes replaced by the local “punch” for tourists: Don't be fooled by the name, it is white rum mixed with fruit juice, the “perceived alcohol content” of which is higher than that usual in Central Europe Aperitifs or gastropods.

Dessert is also not really common in traditional Creole cuisine. For "guests" there are cakes or tropical fruits. And the “Rhum arangé” made from white rum with self-pickled, but not always easily definable and naturally “secret” contents of plant origin is often offered as digestive schnapps. Even if the shape and ingredients are reminiscent of one or the other glass container from anatomy, the taste of the digestif is still always recommended.

nightlife

The nightlife, which is interesting for island visitors, takes place predominantly in the tourist stronghold Saint-Gilles, in the capital Saint-Denis, in the old capital Saint-Paul and in the capital of the south Saint-Pierre from. In addition, the smaller cities also have various entertainment options, which are mainly interesting during the holiday season, but outside of the season it is less busy here without a special occasion.

accommodation

For individual accommodations see the respective locations.

Hotels

There are around sixty hotels on the island, most of which are in the capital Saint-Denis and in Saint-Paul and Saint-Gilles-les-Bains on the climatically favored west coast. The classification is based on the system of metropolitan France, a maximum of four stars up to unclassified are awarded.

The hotel prices are at the French level and are therefore, especially measured by the mostly quite simple sanitary standard, in some cases well above the usual price range in German-speaking countries, simple accommodations are around € 30, the top hostels are in the three-digit range.

Mountain huts

Caverne Dufour (Piton des Neiges).

The mountain huts (Gîte de Montagne) are with the simpler mountain huts in the European ones Alps comparable, people spend the night together in bedrooms similar to the alpine hut camp. Dinner is the same for everyone, with little choice, as a rule there is Creole cuisine in sufficient portions. Drinks such as water, tea, coffee, wine, the dodo (the local beer) and often bread can be bought in the hut or in the vicinity of the hut, but this is usually not available for other provisions (sausage, cheese, muesli bars, etc.) more secured possible.

The sanitary facilities are mostly simple, but available. Ebenfalls analog zur europäischen Umweltschutzregel sollten keine mitgebrachten Abfälle auf der Hütte zurückgelassen werden, eine hierzu mitgeführte kleine Plastiktüte ist hilfreich.

In den Berghütten Réunions ist eine vorherige Reservierung, auch wegen der hohen Belegungszahl, unbedingt Pflicht. Diese kann in Saint-Denis (auch über Internet) und in Cilaos getätigt werden:

  • Maison de la Montagne (Reservierungsbüro für die Berghütten), 2, rue Mac Auliffe 97413 Cilaos. Tel.: (0) 262 31 71 71, Fax: 262 31 80 54. Open: Mon.-Thurs. 9-17 Uhr, Fr. 9-16 Uhr, Sa. 9-12 Uhr, So. 9-13 Uhr.

Während der Hauptreisezeiten ist eine Reservierung mehrere Wochen im voraus erforderlich.

Learn

Die Universität von Réunion hat ihre beiden Standorte in der Hauptstadt Saint-Denis und in Saint-Pierre.

Work

DIe Arbeitsaufnahme richtet sich nach den Regeln der EU-Freizügigkeit.

public holidays

Es gilt die französische Feiertagsregelung, ergänzt um den arbeitsfreien Tag der Sklavenbefreiung 1848 am 20. Dezember. Der Pfingstmontag ist kein gesetzlicher Feiertag, allerdings haben dann die meisten Geschäfte und Lokale geschlossen.

Darüber hinaus gibt es viele örtliche religiöse Feiertage und Feste: 12. Februar 2021 Chinesisch-Neujahr; dazu im August das Guan-Di-Fest (Geburtstagsfeier des chin. Kriegsgotts) und am 19. September, Sainte-Marie (Marienfest).

security

Insbesondere im Vergleich mit den angrenzenden afrikanischen Nachbarregionen gilt Réunion als sicher, einer der Hauptgründe ist das Fehlen von Armenvierteln und Slums, die Kriminalitätsrate ist hier daher im Vergleich niedrig.

Mit der zunehmenden Arbeitslosigkeit der letzten Jahre erhöhen sich aber auch die Eigentumsdelikte: Die üblichen Regeln und Sicherheitsvorkehrungen, wonach man sein Eigentum und sonstige Gegenstände nicht unbeaufsichtigt herumstehen lassen sollte, sind natürlich zu beachten.

Damit gelten auch für die persönliche Sicherheit in etwa mit dem französischen Mutterland vergleichbare Maßstäbe.

health

Das Leitungswasser hat Trinkwasserqualität, das vielfach verfügbare Quellwasser in den Bergen ist ebenfalls ohne besondere Behandlung trinkbar, das gilt natürlich nicht für Wasser aus Bachläufen oder sonstigen offenen Gewässern.

Notruf/Krankenwagen
  • Polizei ☎ 17
  • Notruf ☎ 112
  • Norden und Osten ☎ 262 97 44 44
  • Westen ☎ 262 97 45 02
  • Süden ☎ 262 35 02 02

Auch die ärztliche Versorgung auf Réunion kann mit der im Mutterland Frankreich verglichen werden. In allen größeren Ortschaften gibt es Ärzte, Apotheken und Krankenhäuser, hinzu kommt ein gut strukturierter Notfalldienst. In allen französischen Überseedepartements wird der die europäische Krankenversicherungskarte anerkannt.

Die Preise für Medikamente liegen unter dem in Deutschland gewohntem Niveau.

Gesundheitsgefährdungen wie lebensbedrohende Seuchen oder giftige Tiere gibt es auf Réunion nicht, Impfungen zur Einreise sind daher nicht erforderlich.

Bei dem gelegentlich auf Réunion ausgebrochenen und im allgemeinen nicht lebensgefährlichen Chikungunya-Fieber erfolgt die Übertragung durch Stechmücken. Die äußerst unangenehmen Symptome der Krankheit sind Fieber und Schüttelfrost, Abgeschlagenheit und schwere Gelenkschmerzen, sie klingen im Normalfall nach ca. zwei Wochen von alleine ab. Vorbeugend wird ein sorgfältig aufgetragener Mückenschutz und der Einsatz von sogenannten Repellents mit dem Inhaltsstoff DEET (Diethylmethylbenzamid/-toluamid) zur Insektenabwehr empfohlen.

Climate and travel time

Das Klima auf der Insel ist feuchtwarm tropisch und durch den umgebenden Indischen Ozean bestimmt, es gibt zwei ausgeprägte Jahreszeiten:

The Sommer der Südhalbkugel sind auf Réunion die Monate November bis April, es ist die wesentlich feuchtere und wärmere Jahreszeit, die Luft ist zum schneiden schwülwarm mit Tagestemperaturen über 30 °C und einem Höhepunkt der Niederschläge um die Monate ab Januar bis März. Stellvertretend für die starken Niederschläge ist der Gebirgsort Cilaos, hier fielen am 15/16. März 1952 innerhalb von 24 Stunden 1870 Liter Wasser pro Quadratmeter, bis heute der offizielle Weltrekord.

The Winter auf Réunion sind die Monate vom Mai bis in den Oktober, es ist die trockenere, mildere und damit für Besucher die wesentlich angenehmere Zeit. Auch im Winter sind tagsüber Niederschläge recht wahrscheinlich, wobei die Wolken des Indischen Ozeans von Osten gegen die Insel gedrückt werden: Der Morgen beginnt in weiten Teilen der Insel oft noch sonnig, aber spätestens gegen Mittag zieht es sich von der Ostküste her zu, die Berge im Inselinneren stecken dann am Nachmittag oft im Nebel und zum Abend erreichen die Wolken oft auch die von der Sonne begünstigte Westküste und hängen dort dann schwer über dem bergigen Hinterland. Dabei ist aber die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass es an der Westküste trocken bleibt, deutlich höher als im Inselinneren oder an der Ostküste.

Eine exakte Tagesprognose zur Regenwahrscheinlichkeit ist nicht möglich, in der Nacht klart es dann meist wieder auf. Zudem wird die Prognose durch die Tatsache erschwert, dass auf der Insel rund 250 verschiedene Mikroklimata bestehen. Diese Aussage von Einheimischen mag etwas übertrieben wirken, doch weit von der Wahrheit entfernt ist sie nicht.

Als besonders schön gelten die Monate des Übergangs der Jahreszeiten im Oktober bis Anfang Dezember, sie sind der Höhepunkt der Wandersaison.

Hauptreisezeit auf der Insel ist der Ferienmonat August mit dann entsprechend ausgebuchten Quartieren, gleiches gilt für die Weihnachtsferien.

Die aktuelle Wettervorhersage für Réunion bei www.meteo.fr.

Zyklone

Die Zeit der Zyklone ist fast ausschließlich von November bis Februar/März.

«Cyclones» (Zyklon) ist die Bezeichnung für die tropischen Wirbelstürme im indischen Ozean, sie entsprechen dem Hurrikan im Atlantik und Pazifik oder dem Taifun in Ost- und Südostasien. Die Zyklone erhalten von Metereologen Vornamen in alphabetischer Reihenfolge.

Zyklone die mit ihre voller Wucht auf die Insel treffen, kommen nicht in jeder Saison vor. Da sich die Wirbelstürme nur langsam und gleichmäßig (rund 15-30 km/h) fortbewegen, lässt sich ihre Entwicklung heute recht gut vorhersagen.

Auf der Insel gilt ein Frühwarnsystem mit drei Vorwarnstufen und einer Übergangsphase nach dem Zyklon. Für alle Stufen gilt, dass man sich über die Medien auf dem Laufenden halten und die Wetterentwicklung beobachten sollte.

  • Vigilance Cyclonique (Warnstufe Gelb) ist die Vorbereitungsphase vor dem Zyklon, der Orkan selbst ist noch mindestens 24 Stunden entfernt. Von größeren Ausflügen sollte aber bereits Abstand genommen werden.
  • Alerte Orange (Alarmstufe Orange): der Zyklon ist weniger als 24 Stunden entfernt, Kindergärten und Schulen werden bereits geschlossen, die wirtschaftlichen Aktivitäten laufen jedoch noch weiter. Im Freien entsteht zunehmend die Gefährdung durch Sturmböen und durch Berg- und Erdrutsche oder Felsstürze. Wer auf dem Wasser unterwegs ist, sollte sich schnellstmöglich an Land und in Sicherheit begeben. Es empfiehlt sich außerdem die Beschaffung einiger Notvorräte, insbesondere Trinkwasser, Batterien und Kerzen. Die Umstellung auf die nächste Stufe „Alerte rouge“ wird drei Stunden zuvor angekündigt.
  • Alerte Rouge (Alarmstufe Rot): im Freien gilt eine unmittelbare Lebensgefährdung durch den Zyklon, zum Beispiel durch umherfliegende Gegenstände. Es besteht daher ein striktes Ausgehverbot, wer von den Ordnungskräften erwischt wird (solange die selber noch unterwegs sind) kommt in Sicherungverwahrung und kann gebüßt werden. Möglich sind lokale Stromausfälle, Unterbrechungen der Telefon- und Verkehrsverbindungen, Ausfall der öffentlichen Wasserversorgung und die Einstellung des Flugverkehrs.
  • Phase de prudence ist die Übergangsphase nach dem Zyklon. Als Gefährdungen sind zum Beispiel möglicherweise überschwemmte Straßen zu beachten, hinsichtlich einer möglichen Verschmutzung sollte nur vorher abgefülltes Wasser zum Trinken verwendet werden. In der Nähe von am Boden liegenden abgerissenen Leitungen besteht Stromschlaggefahr.

Practical advice

Die Netzspannung beträgt 220-230 Volt, 50 Hz. Üblich ist der europäische Stecker-Typ E, mit welchem deutsche Geräte, die mit Schuko-Steckern ausgerüstet sind, im Regelfall kompatibel sind.

Post and Telecommunications

Das Handynetz der Insel wird durch lokale französische Provider abgedeckt, die EU-Roaming-Verordnung gilt. Die Netzabdeckung ist auch in den entlegeneren Regionen im Inselinneren insgesamt recht gut. Es sei darauf hingewiesen, dass insbeonders monatliche Prepaid-Datentarife deutlich günstiger sind als die deutscher Anbieter.

literature

  • Geographisches Universität Heidelberg (Ed.): Île de la Réunion (pdf). 2006, Abschlußbericht zur großen Exkursion; 149 Seiten; PDF (deutsch). aktuelle und umfassende Ausführungen zur Geschichte, Geologie, Geografie, Vulkanismus, Bevölkerung und Kultur der Insel.
  • Walter Iwersen: La Réunion Frankreichs Wanderparadies im Indischen Ozean. Munich: Bergverlag Rother, 2008 (2. Auflage), ISBN 978-3-7633-4278-5 ; 176 Seiten. 14,90 €

Die weitere aktuell in deutsch erhältliche Literatur beschränkt sich im wesentlichen auf die einschlägigen Reiseführer.

literature zu Natur, Fauna und Flora in französischer Sprache:

  • Daniel Vaxelaire: Guide encyclopédique de La Réunion: Découvrir, comprendre, venir. Editions Orphie, 2007, ISBN 978-2-87763-397-0 ; 355 Seiten (französisch).

Karten

Herausgeber der Karten für Réunion ist das Institut Geographic National in Paris:

Die sechsteilige (3 x Nordteil, 3 x Südteil) und genaueste (1:25 000) Kartenserie für Wanderer ist für ca. 11€ vor Ort und auch an den französischen Flughäfen erhältlich

Web links

Touristenifo

  • Ile de La Réunion Tourisme IRT (Tourist Info der Insel), Place du 20 Décembre 1848, 97400 Saint-Denis. Tel.: (0)262 21 00 41, Fax: (0)262 21 00 21. Geöffnet: Mo. bis Do. 8 bis 12 und 13 bis 17Uhr, Fr. 8 - 11 Uhe.
  • O.T.I SUD (Office de Tourisme Intercommunal du Sud - Antenne de Cilaos, Tourist Info für den Süden), 26, rue Amiral Lacaze - Terre Sainte, 97410 Saint-Pierre (am Seeufer östlich des Zentrums). Tel.: (0)892 70 22 01, Fax: (0)262 25 82 76, Email: .
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