The path runs through spaces whose history dates back almost three millennia; the lands of the customary chiefdoms and clans of the Ara and Arô territories. The people of Ara, Gô Arô, Nékou, Néra, Nécaju and Sarua fought there against the French army.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRAIL
D Departure (GPS: 536 935 - 7 613 252) (information panel): head south among the sparse niaoulis. The route bends gradually towards the South-East and arrives at a crossroads.
1 Intersection (GPS: 536 982 - 7 612 998) (signpost; location map; the track that goes due south is a link to the Sentier des Géants and the Shark Islet fault): turn right towards the East. The path enters the wet and wooded flow of the No Poradéno (do not enter in case of flooding). It crosses some muddy areas thanks to three successive sections of decking, then resumes in a southerly direction (the vegetation thins out). At a discreet intersection, continue straight ahead and emerge into a clearing. At the southern end of the clearing, the path turns left to the East and enters a small wooded area. It crosses a muddy area then crosses a culvert before curving back towards the South.
2 Panel “In the footsteps of the past” (GPS: 537 135 - 7 612 463): after a short distance towards the South-West, the path veers towards the South-East and gradually curves again towards the West to come out at a crossroads (GPS: 537 087- 7 612 353) in an open area (sign post; location map; the path on the right is the return path). Turn left towards the South-west.
3 Panel “In the footsteps of the past” (GPS: 536 969 - 7 612 268): the path then takes a southerly direction (it enters areas where several archaeological excavations have taken place since 2006).
4 Panel “In the footsteps of the past” (GPS: 536 978 - 7 612 253): continue walking towards the south until you reach the luminous beach.
5 Seaside (GPS: 536 785 - 7 611 819): the path runs along the lagoon to the West.
6 Panels “Lagoon and seagrass” and “The comma tree” (GPS: 536 294 - 7 611 968) (location map): continue West to a place called “La Faille”.
7 Panel “The Faille seen from the sky” (GPS: 535 414 - 7 612 131): at this point, the path branches off to the North-east and, finally, to the West.
8 Crossroads (GPS: 536 133 - 7 612 364) (signpost; the path going left joins the Sentier des Géants via a footbridge over the No Bouaou): continue straight ahead. Go past the sign reading “L’arbre à bulimes”. The trail wanders through the dry forest along the remote No Bouaou (left bank) towards the East.
9 Signpost “Le Bourao” (GPS: 536 980 - 7 612 372): continue towards the North-East after a curve to the right, reach the crossroads that you already passed through on the outward journey. Turn left and return to the car park by the same path (point 2, point 1).
© Textes Explorenc (Jean Francis et Delphine Clair)
Rating : IBP 19 Easy • Technicity 1 Easy • Risk 1 Low
Plain text period
All year round between 6.30 am and 7 pm.Subject to favorable weather.
Services
Public WC
Car park
Sustainable development
Outhouse
Free car park
Pets welcome
