Bouma National Park in Taveuni – Fiji is considered by those who have visited it as one of the best national parks of its kind in these parts of the globe. It offers visitors stunning waterfalls, rainforest, coastal walks, marine park and one of the best nature-trips one could ever have.
Location
Bouma National Park in Taveuni – Fiji is located in Matei, Taveuni. It is approximately 15 kilometers off the southern section of Matei.
Getting There
To reach Bouma National Park in Taveuni – Fiji, you can book a local flight from the airport in Nadi to reach Suva and from Suva, book another flight that will then take you to the airport in Taveuni located in Matei.
From the Matei airport, you can take a taxi or a bus to get you to the Visitor Centre in the park.
You can also catch a bus or taxi from Nadi heading towards Suva and then take a ferry ride to Taveuni. From Taveuni, you can once again take either a bus or taxi to get you to the park.
What to See
The park is divided into four sections or villages: Waitabu, Vidawa, Tavoro and Lavena.
In Waitabu, there is a marine park and camping site. You can swim and snorkel in the waters where you can see beautiful corals, giant clams, various crustaceans, and turtles, rays and sharks on occasion.
In Vidawa, you can go on a hike along the trails through the rainforest. You will walk through the deeper parts of the forest of Taveuni mountains, come across exotic birds and get spectacular vistas of the islands.
Finally, there is Lavena where you can go on a coastal walk which ends by the waterfalls and pool where again; you can take a dip while enjoying the scenery.
Brief History
Back in the 1980s, the 4 villages which are now part of the protected area of the park came to an agreement to preserve and protect the rainforest surrounding their villages.
Approximately eighty percent of Taveuni’s rainforests are protected by the Bouma National Park in Taveuni – Fiji. The park covers an area of approximately fifteen thousand hectares.
Part of the conservation efforts is the ban on cutting down of trees and fishing. The four villages have agreed to protect the areas covered by the park for an indefinite period of time.
Cost
To enter the four villages of the park, you will have to pay separate entry fees for each.
For Waitabu Marine Park and Campground, there is an entry fee of 40 Fiji Dollars per person if you wish to snorkel or visit the waters for half a day aboard the traditional bamboo raft.
If you wish to simply go on a guided tour walking on the grounds, the entry fee is 20 Fiji Dollars per person. Camping here is charged an extra 10 Fiji Dollars per person, per night.
For Vidawa Rainforest, the entry fee is 40 Fiji Dollars per person; while for the Tavoro Falls, entry fee is 8 Fiji Dollars per person.
Finally, for Lavena Coastal Walk, the fee is 8 Fiji Dollars per person minus a tour guide. Entry fee with tour guide is 10 Fiji Dollars.
Other Information
Check the schedules of the local buses before leaving for the park so you will have an idea of how much time you can spend in the park before it leaves again for Taveuni city proper.
