After our first two days on Mamuka Island we needed to resupply the boat with fresh water. The boat was equipped with a 600L fresh water tank and no desalinization system, and fourteen people use a lot of water. To refill the tanks we sailed (okay, motored) across a small bay from Mamuka Island to the mainland where there’s a waterfall that ran down the lush mountainside and emptied into the sea. It was beautiful, and its water was brisk. The ocean temp is 30C (86F) and it’s lovely for lots of snorkeling, but the refreshingly cool fresh water was so welcomed.

Refreshing as a Mountain Stream

While the gents filled the water jugs and lugged them back to the boat (thanks boys!), Amanda, Ilona and I climbed up the waterfall a ways. It was so beautiful, a lush tropical jungle over looking the ocean. We ended the hike with a quick shower in the waterfall; rarely have I felt so clean.

Washing Clothes at the Waterfall

The crew enjoyed the waterfall so much that we returned the next day for more water and additional time for tasks like showering and washing clothes. Of course, more exploring was in order. We hadn’t made it too far the previous day before we got called to the boat; the tide was running out.

Canyoning through the Malagasy Jungle

This time, Amanda and I included the guys on this walkabout. Or, more appropriately, climbabout. So it was Nicholas, Vincent, Tom, and James with Amanda and I. We hiked even further this time. We made it to a small pool up the stream a few hundred yards, swam through it to get to the rocks on the other side, and kept going. It started to rain and the three Brits (Tom, James, Vince) turned back while the North Americans continued. It was pouring when we finally made our way back down, but we did get to do a tiny little (<4ft) cliff jump into a deep pool of water (We had scouted it out a head of time to ensure it was plenty deep).

Exploring the River

It’d be awesome trip to hike to the top of the mountain via the waterfall. It would take probably two whole days to traverse through the jungle that far, jumping from boulder to boulder, trying to avoid slipping into the rapidly moving water. The entire time we were exploring, I felt like Pocahontas skipping across rocks and looking just around the river bend. What a great memory.