La Grande Traversée de L'Ouest

The imposing basalt monolith of Le Morne Brabant casts its shadow across translucent waters as swimmers step into the sea for a ten-kilometer journey along the Mauritian coast. La Grande Traversée de L'Ouest is an open water swimming race held in the sheltered waters of the western lagoon, in the district of Rivière Noire on the island of Mauritius. The point-to-point course sets off from the sands of Le Morne and charts a continuous path to finish at La Preneuse. Swimmers can take on the distance as solo competitors, with the assistance of fins and a snorkel, or divided into relay teams. To sustain everyone across the marathon distance, three floating refreshment stations are anchored every 2.5 kilometers along the way, while escort boats and safety kayaks patrol the course.

Organized by Outdoor Moris Xperience and held in November, the inaugural edition establishes this linear coastal crossing on the Mauritian calendar, open to participants who are at least 18 years old. Out on the course, the rhythm of the stroke takes over as the expanse of open water stretches ahead.

Le Morne Brabant: Basalt cliffs and the lagoon shelf

The starting peninsula of Le Morne is largely surrounded by a broad lagoon characterized by wild, preserved beaches of white sand and translucent waters. The outer perimeter of the headland is widely recognized as a kitesurfing venue exposed to strong trade winds. Above the shoreline stands the dramatic basalt mountain, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and named after the Brabant, a Dutch East India Company ship that ran aground on December 29, 1783. The steep slopes rising over the water serve as a natural botanical refuge for rare endemic plants, including the Mandrinette and the Boucle d'Oreille. Off the coast of the peninsula, the seabed drops away into what is known as the underwater waterfall. Far from posing any danger to swimmers navigating the lagoon, participants stroke through waters backed by safety vessels.

The coast of Rivière Noire: Fishing traditions and colonial towers

Heading northward along the coastline of Rivière Noire, the course passes close to the village of Le Morne. This small coastal settlement is a traditional fishing community whose residents continue to practice ancestral fishing techniques. The modest settlement offers a quiet glimpse into local maritime life before the route opens toward the destination bay. The finish area at La Preneuse draws its name from the French frigate Preneuse, an 18th-century naval commerce raider. Reminders of past Franco-British conflicts are visible right on the beach, where historic colonial-era cannons remain mounted on the sand overlooking the water. The island's best-preserved Martello tower is a 19th-century British fortification that now houses a small museum.

La Preneuse beach: Filao shade, cannons, and lagoon dining

The swim finishes along nearly three kilometers of white sand at La Preneuse beach. Lining the upper crest of the sand, tall filao trees provide generous natural shade, creating an inviting setting to rest and recover after crossing the finish line. Standing at the water's edge, swimmers are treated to a spectacular panoramic vista looking back toward the monolithic profile of Le Morne Brabant across the lagoon. Waterfront life after the crossing centers directly on the beach, where local venues like the restaurant The Bay welcome swimmers straight from the sea. Dining tables sit beneath traditional thatched straw huts right by the ocean, offering fresh meals and relaxed conversation with uninterrupted views across the water.