A mere four hour flight from Johannesburg, Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean is the go-to spot when looking for an authentic mix of Creole culture, beautiful beach lifestyle and extraordinary adventure.

The “cirques” Piton des Neiges and Piton de la Fournaise in the most remote part of the island are still navigable by road, whereas the incredible Mafate cirque is only accessible to hikers and is best enjoyed through the hospitality of the island’s inhabitants when staying overnight at hiking ‘gites’ or huts.

The world’s most active volcano, Piton de la Fournaise, erupted recently without any threat to life and was a treat to travelers who happened to be on the island. At all times, a flyover of the Piton de la Fournaise is a spectacular, other-worldly experience and will also likely take you across some of the islands diverse regions, as well as the turquoise coastline.

Canyoning and rafting is another must in Reunion, with numerous companies taking visitors into the river systems and ancient lava flows for an adrenalin-pumping adventure.

To the sea, the West and South boast the best beaches and swimming, along with the tranquil waters of the lagoon. With everything on offer from translucent kayaks and glass bottom boat trips to dolphin and whale charters, scuba dives and boat trips, as well as stand up paddling and simply swimming in the warm water, Reunion is an aquatic playground with plenty of relaxation in between.

To find the wilderness at its purest, the East coast with its cooler, wetter climate brings its own adventure as visitors meet the local people and enjoy the abundant fruit and dense vegetation of this region.

Reunion Island, www.welcometoreunionisland.com