Nature Warriors Mauritius : the benefits of mountaineering

Praising the beauty of Mauritius, Mark Twain, the great American writer, once said that Mauritius was created first and then God modelled heaven after Mauritius. With the aim of discovering the beauty of the island, a team of friends built the group Nature Warriors Mauritius to explore our paradise island. 

Mauritius is indeed stunning and there are still many places whose existence people aren’t even aware of. Nature, according to the team of Nature Warriors, is the best gift that humanity has ever given us. Starting with rudimentary climbing in the beginning, the team gradually searched for more breath-taking adventures. Hiking up mountains such as Corps de Garde, Lion Mountain, Trois Mamelles, Le Morne Mountain gradually became an easy manoeuvre for them. To experience more thrills, they began to look for and venture across several places that offer beautiful landscapes. Their last adventure: Beginning with the village of Camp Thorel, they travelled through the dense forests of Salazie, visited the reservoir of La Nicolière and ended at the well of Eau Bouillie, covering 16 km on foot. Another trail that they followed was from the Bouchon beach, crossing along the cliffs of the natural bridge, walking across the coastal path to finish at Souffleur.

Time halts for a while, and we feel as if we are disconnected with the rest of the world."

Visiting a new place is the principal policy of Nature Warriors. They would only opt to revisit certain places if the majority of members of the team had missed them earlier. Reaching the top has not always been an easy task, according to Nivedita Bissoon, software engineer. “When we climbed Pieter Both, for example, it was really difficult, but it was one of the best feelings we've ever had at the top,” she confides. For Akeel Koomar, another hiker, this feeling is evoked each and every time he has been up a mountain top. “Time halts for a while, and we feel as if we are disconnected with the rest of the world,” he adds.  When they reach the peak, they sit down to relish the moment and enjoy the view for at least one hour. During this time, they drink a lot of water because of the heat and eat something light to recoup. Shahid Peermamode, auditor, believes that there is no fun hiking without selfies, or group clicks. “That's why we encourage people of all ages to go out and explore the world to see things differently,” he advises.

If someone is lost...

What are the precautions to take so as to avoid getting lost? Ibrahim Khatib, a Nature Warrior, says that the whole team does their best to stay together and maintain the same pace. “If one of us is left behind, we slow down to help the person maintain a reasonable speed so as not to cut off the group. The key to succeeding in adventures is to always stay in communication and make sure everyone is there and safe,” he adds. Usually, the first and last persons in the group are usually those who already have a prior knowledge of the site. 

Mountain climbing are planned for winter and the trails in summer, because it’s risky to climb when it’s raining a lot."

Once, it happened that two members got lost while going up Lion Mountain. Those who were lost stayed calm and tried to reach others by communicating through their mobile phones even though the network was weak. “Some members of our main group managed to go back over their steps simultaneously by going in the opposite direction and calling out their names loudly,” narrates Nassiir. In addition, a member of the second group tried to find a meeting place to establish a network with the first group that went in search of the two missing Warriors. Half an hour later, they finally heaved a sigh of relief when the ‘lost’ ones were found.

How are their meetings arranged?

Since all members of the team use WhatsApp, the team communicates via their closed, intimate group. Each member makes a proposal about the places they can visit and a decision is made after much consultation. “Mountain climbing are planned for winter and the trails in summer, because it's risky to climb when it's raining a lot,” says Nivedita Bissoon. According to her, before going out on an adventure, there are precautionary measures to take, such as anti-mosquito clothes, a long-sleeved shirt or pants to prevent irritation on the body, extra clothes and lots of water. Each member brings his own water and food. “For mountaineering, it is best to wear sportswear, a cap, ropes, sunscreen, hiking or sports shoes,” advises the Nature Warrior.

Apart from the fact that everyone has gained knowledge of the site, we are still learning a little more about some of the great values that could help us in our career, such as perseverance and teamwork."

The meaning of adventures in their lives

According to them, the benefits they have received from these adventures are numerous. “Apart from the fact that everyone has gained knowledge of the site, we are still learning a little more about some of the great values that could help us in our career, such as perseverance and teamwork,” declares Shahid Peermamode. She further adds: “Certainly, there is no smooth mountain. If we want to reach the top, we must accept that there are sharp edges and steps, but with the help of everyone in the group, we move forward with confidence.” Those who are more unperturbed usually help those who are the least at ease. The friends also confide that some of them seize these opportunities to share their problems. “Getting together and going for an adventure is a sure way to get rid of our frustration, anger and all the negative vibrations,” declares Akil Koomar.

One of the biggest benefits of the adventure is when one of them falls or gets hurt slightly, but there will always be someone in front of or behind to help them get up and persevere. “The right people by your side, who will always push you to achieve the goals you've set for yourself and never let go,” Nassiir said. For Noor Jumeer, adventures in nature represent one of the best ways to get back to life after a week of work. “Nowadays, we all live a stressful life. So, connecting with nature helps to purify our soul and to be close with the Creator of this universe,” he declares. Lastly, he believes that it is the responsibility of nature lovers to also preserve their environment.

How it all started

It all started when Shahid Peermamode was in college. His first big discovery was the Le Pouce Mountain with his teacher and friends. Nature and mountaineering were so peaceful and relaxing. Aside from the fact that hiking and trails are good sports, everyone was extremely happy. “Over the years, I have built a team of college and university friends with the same passion. We started small and we climbed many times the highest mountains of the island, namely Pieter Both,” said the latter. While some of them have completed their studies and are now working, their aim is to escape their daily habits and relax their minds in places where they can feel life to the fullest. “Mauritius is a very small island but there are plenty of places to visit and explore,” concludes Shahid.