Ambua Falls

The road climbing out of the Tari basin toward the Tari gap passes through montane forest hung with moss and tree ferns, and Ambua falls drops in a long thin column beside it, visible from the road with a short path down to the base. The setting matters as much as the fall: this belt of forest between around two thousand and three thousand metres holds a concentration of birds-of-paradise, including the ribbon-tailed astrapia and the King of Saxony, and the lodge nearby has built its reputation on access to them. The forest is permanently wet, mossy and cool, quite different from the settled basin below. The Tari gap itself is higher and colder.

What you actually see

• The falls - the thin column dropping beside the gap road.
• Moss forest - the wet mossy montane woodland around it.
• Birds-of-paradise - the astrapias and King of Saxony in the belt.
• The Tari gap road - the climb through the forest to the pass.

When to go

May to October for the drier weather, though this forest is wet in any month. Early morning is best for birds. Cloud sits on the gap for much of most days.

Honest expectations

Access is along the lodge road and arranging a visit through the lodge or a guide is the practical route. The path down to the base is steep and slippery. Rain and cloud are near constant. Bird sightings need a guide.

Nearby

The Tari basin lies below; the Tari gap is above.