Peyriac-de-Mer Pond and Sigean African Reserve

This is not a free tour of the Sigean reserve, but the overlook and views of the Peyriac pond are well worth the detour.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.35 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 56 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 52 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 35 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m

Photos

Description of the walk

To return to the starting point, pass through the village of Peyriac-de-Mer, reach the edge of the lake and turn right onto the road which, once you have passed the dead end sign, becomes a track suitable for cars that are not too low. Leave the sewage treatment plant on your right and, after 150m, park.

(S/E) From the car park, continue along the path for about 900 metres. After a straight section, the path follows the curve of the lake to the left.

(1) When you come to a fork with a path going up to the right, take it. Climb for about 300 metres to reach a perpendicular path.

(2) Turn left and continue climbing for another 250 metres.

(3) Leave the path climbing to the right and descend the path to the left. After a short S-shaped descent and a straight false flat, you will arrive at the fence of the Sigean Reserve.

(4) Turn right and walk along the fence for about 450 metres. Try to spot the bears, giraffes, zebras and ostriches. Continue for 350 metres to reach a field on the right.

(5) Take the path that turns sharply to the right and overlooks the area. Pass an old building on the right and continue climbing the path.

(2) Enjoy the view of the pond and descend on the left, taking the same path you came up on to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1 m - Parking after the water treatment plant
  2. 1 : km 0.91 - alt. 1 m - Path on the right
  3. 2 : km 1.13 - alt. 24 m - Fork to the left
  4. 3 : km 1.3 - alt. 28 m - Path downhill on the left
  5. 4 : km 1.58 - alt. 2 m - Fence
  6. 5 : km 2.39 - alt. 18 m - Path on the right overlooking
  7. S/E : km 4.35 - alt. 1 m - Parking after the water treatment plant

Notes

Please note that this is a wetland area and after rainfall, although not dangerous, some sections can be very muddy.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
POLGE Aimé
POLGE Aimé

Overall rating : 1 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

Despite three attempts, I was unable to complete this hike. My track did not appear on the screen, and instead of the hike map, a map of a nearby hike appeared.

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Crotal
Crotal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy hike to warm up, with very little elevation gain. We did indeed see the giraffes in the Sigean reserve. And the flamingos on the lake. We walked through vineyards and woods and enjoyed beautiful views of the lake.

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Annick31
Annick31

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with no particular difficulties, with the added bonus of giraffe sightings.

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Fafousen86
Fafousen86
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk along the edge of a lake and vineyards, climbing up into a pine forest where the descent offers views of the giraffes at Sigean Zoo. A varied route with beautiful views of the Peyriac de Mer lake.

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HADELINE
HADELINE

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and easy walk, with no problems.
Beautiful view of the pond and you can see some of the animals in the reserve behind the wooden panels, which have openings so you can observe them.
The GPS track is a little confusing, as some paths are very close to each other, but you can navigate "by sight"; take binoculars.

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murielledelas
murielledelas
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and enjoyable walk along the shores of the magnificent Lake Peyriac de Mer and the African reserve.
View the animals (lions, numerous flamingos, giraffes and storks) from a slightly elevated plateau and from below through holes in the fence.
Don't forget your binoculars!
However, we did not take the dead-end road that leads to the start. We reached point 5 via the car park on the side of the main road before the Sijean exit (from Narbonne) and completed the loop.
Thank you for sharing. We are delighted!

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Jerome C
Jerome C
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Drive through the village of Peyriac along the lake: towards Rue de l'Étang, then to the water treatment plant on your right. Park in front of the plant or 200 metres further on, on your right.
A pleasant and easy walk, suitable for the whole family.
Enjoyable view of the lake and you can see the giraffes behind the wooden panels, with openings to observe them.

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bolies
bolies

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

a short, easy walk that takes you past Sigean Zoo, where you can photograph the giraffes

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gilsol66
gilsol66

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, very easy but with exceptional views over the back of the Sigean reserve.
Highly recommended for families

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Corinne Beau
Corinne Beau

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb walk. Be aware that there isn't much shade...

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walknordic
walknordic

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route where we saw giraffes and a zebra. Be careful of mosquitoes, though.

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Ramonville
Ramonville

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Don't rely on Waze to get to the starting point, as it will send you up onto impassable paths. You really need to stay at the level of the pond and turn right onto a dead-end road opposite the road that crosses the pond. A very pleasant, varied walk along the banks of the pond, through the undergrowth and, above all, behind the Sigean reserve, where you can see giraffes, zebras and antelopes up close. It's easy going, so we were able to let our dogs off the leash. There weren't many walkers, but it must be very busy in summer.

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Cpv31
Cpv31

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We couldn't find the starting point and Waze didn't take us there at all. We ended up on the hillside, where we could admire the view of the ponds before finding the right path.
A lovely, easy walk that allowed us to see bears, giraffes and zebras!

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jacques 66
jacques 66

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike that I combined with the one to the Doul pond, which was not very busy because it was quite windy. Just a quick note: the bend in the path on the left is at the very end of the pond at the foot of the hill, and the fork forms a Y. That's where you take the path on the right that goes uphill. Everything else is as described. I'm pointing this out because before you reach the end of the pond, there's another bend to the left with a path leading off to the right. A lovely walk where you can see giraffes, ostriches, zebras, other antelopes and even a bear as you walk along the fence of the reserve. Best done in good weather, as it had rained the day before and the ground quickly becomes very muddy.

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lemah
lemah

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb little walk that makes you want to visit the reserve! We saw giraffes, ostriches and other mammals.
The section along the pond is very pleasant and not very busy.

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