Slavery was abolished on the 20th of December, 1848 and in 1946, the island became an overseas department of France.
French is the official language of Reunion while Reunion Creole is the native language. English is a compulsory second language as part of the French school curriculum, but in mainland France, English fluency is rare. German and Spanish are offered as a third language. Comorian languages, Malagasy, Mandarin, Hakka and Cantonese, Tamil etc. are other languages spoken in Reunion. Arabic is taught in mosques and spoken by a small community of Muslims.
The predominant religion is Christianity in which Roman Catholicism is very common. Religious Intelligence estimates Christians to be 86.9% of the population, Hindus (6.7%) and Muslims (3.2%). Chinese folk religion and Buddhism are also represented and most large towns have a Hindu temple and a mosque.
The weather in Reunion is cool and dry from May to November, but hot and rainy from November to April. Reunion holds the world records for the most rainfall in 12, 24, 72, and 96-hour periods. The best time to visit the Island is from mid-May to October as it is usually cool and dry during that period.
Reunion is known to be one of the leading countries in the production of sugar. Tourism also plays an important role in the Island’s economy. Reunion has contributed to worldwide professional surfing. It is a home to notable pro surfers and has hosted ultra marathons under the umbrella of Grand Raid.
Taxis are available and are a reliable and safe way to get around in Reunion. Car rental services are readily available on the Island. Also, getting to the island of by boat is possible but is not frequently used. There are no trains operating on Reunion. There is an extensive bus network which connects major cities of Reunion with many of the smaller towns.
Reunion has many tropical and unique beaches. They are very beautiful and various activities like snorkeling, surfing, and swimming can be carried out there. Reunion is home to a variety of birds and its largest land animal is the panther chameleon. Sea urchins, conger eels, parrot fish, sea turtles, and dolphins also inhabit the coastal waters. Reunion has a lot of interesting places to visit like;
- Le Piton de La Fournaise: This is Reunion Island’s pilgrim site as tons of people visit the furnace. Le Piton de La Fournaise is one of the most active volcanos of the planet and can be visited by helicopter or microlight planes, but the best way to discover it is by trekking.
- Voile de la Mariee: This is a group of very high waterfalls that looks like the veils of a bride. Several chutes form this waterfall end up in a natural pool. It is indeed a beautiful sight to behold.
- Ermitage beach: This is a very beautiful beach that is lined with lush casuarina trees. It is the longest beach on Reunion Island. There are white sands and black volcanic rock on this beach and it is a must visit when on the Island.
- Boucan Canot Beach: This is a popular beach destination in Reunion Island. It is a popular spot for tanning, bathing, snorkeling, surfing and other leisure activities during weekends. It’s usually calm during the weekdays for those that enjoy peace and quiet. The Island records about 40,000 visits annually. There are over 430 hotels in Reunion Island where you can stay when you visit.