Waisali Rainforest Reserve

Waisali protects a block of lowland tropical rainforest on the ridge road between Savusavu and Labasa, managed by the National Trust of Fiji with the landowning community. It is one of the more accessible pieces of intact forest in the country: a marked trail loops down through the trees to a waterfall and pool, past buttressed trunks, tree ferns and epiphytes, with orange dove and other forest birds in the canopy.

What you actually see

• The rainforest trail - a marked loop down through intact lowland forest.
• The waterfall - a fall and pool at the bottom of the trail.
• The trees - buttressed trunks, tree ferns and heavy epiphyte cover.
• The birds - orange dove, whistlers and honeyeaters in the canopy.

When to go

May to October is the drier season, though this is rainforest and it rains in any month. Mornings are best for birds. The trail is slippery after rain, which is often.

Honest expectations

The trail is steep and muddy and the descent to the waterfall is harder coming back up. The reserve is small and two hours covers it. Facilities amount to a shelter at the entrance.

Nearby

Savusavu is south, and Labasa is north across the island.