Classroom lesson 路 Bouma Waterfalls馃嚝馃嚡 Fiji

Bouma Waterfalls

Three jungle waterfalls cascading into cool swimming pools on Taveuni island

Photo 路 Wikimedia Commons

What is it?

On the island of Taveuni - called 'the Garden Island' because it is so green - there are three beautiful waterfalls called the Bouma Waterfalls. Each one pours into a natural pool perfect for swimming. The trail through the rainforest to reach them passes under enormous trees dripping with ferns, orchids and birdsong.

Tell me more

The first waterfall is the easiest to reach - a short walk from the village of Bouma. It is the widest of the three, with water fanning out across a rocky face into a clear, cool pool. The second and third waterfalls are further into the forest and a little harder to find - which makes arriving at them feel even more exciting.

Taveuni is one of the rainiest islands in Fiji, which is exactly why it is so green. The mountains catch clouds coming from the ocean and wring them out, keeping the rainforest thick and lush all year round. This kind of forest that grows on a mountain and catches clouds is called 'cloud forest'.

The forest around Bouma is full of wildlife. Taveuni is famous for the orange dove - a bright orange bird found nowhere else in the world. There are also Fiji goshawks, giant fruit bats that roost in the treetops, and several species of tropical parrot.

The waterfalls and forest are managed by the local communities through the Bouma National Heritage Park. Families from the nearby villages act as guides, look after the trails and share the history and stories of the land. The money visitors pay goes directly back to those communities.

In the classroom

Walk your class through this in 15 minutes.

Talk together

Discussion prompts

  1. 01The orange dove lives nowhere else on Earth. What might it mean for an animal to be found on only one island?
  2. 02The local community looks after the park and earns money from visitors. Why might that be better than having a faraway company run it?
  3. 03Three waterfalls are hidden in a rainforest. What would make arriving at the third one feel special?
Try this

Classroom activity

On a large piece of paper, draw a cross-section of Taveuni island from sea level, up into the mountains, and back down. Label: the beach, the rainforest, the cloud forest, the waterfall, and the village. Add arrows to show where the rain comes from and where it goes.