Travel and Tourism

Nariva Swamp, Bush Bush & Trinity Hills Wildlife Sanctuary And Reserve

Trinidad’s East Coast is extremely varied with three stretches of low coast separated by prominent headlands at Manzanilla Point and Radix Point. Much of this coastline consists of beaches and the central stretch, the Cocal or Manzanilla Beach, is a barrier beach. The barrier, the Cocal sand spit has impounded the Nariva Swamp. To the northeast the coastline is higher with cliffs and small beaches.

Trinidad’s East Coast has mile after mile of magnificent wild beaches where lines of Atlantic breakers roll ashore on fine yellow sand strewn with coconut husks and chip-chip shells, backed by a million tall palms that line the shore. Cocal Beach on Cocos Bay is 4km long, deserted but for the occasional family of week-enders.

At the end of Cocos Bay a sand spit across the mouth of the Nariva River has created Nariva Swamp.

Nariva Swamp, Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary And Reserve

The more than 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) that make up Nariva combine four major wetland types (mangrove swamp forest, palm forest, swamp wood and freshwater marsh) to provide a habitat for many rare and endangered species of reptiles, mammals and birds. Some 60 percent of Trinidad’s mammal species, including the manatee (Trichecus manatus) and the red howler (Alouatta seniculus insularis) and capuchin (Cebus albifrons) monkeys, are found there, as are 75 percent of the island’s avian species.

Nariva Swamp can provide an all-day trip to the East Coast of Trinidad via Valencia, Sangre Grande, Upper and Lower Manzanilla. The sanctuary is about 4 miles long by 1 1/2 miles wide, comprising an area of approximately 3,840 acres, including Bush Bush Island and Bois Neuf Forest. There are at least 59 species of mammals, 171 species of birds, reptiles and fishes. Among the birds are manakins, tanagers and antbirds. Nariva Swamp is situated on the East Coast of Trinidad about 50 km southeast of Port-of-Spain. The site includes the Nariva Swamp Prohibited Area, Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary, part of the Ortoire Nariva Windbelt Forest Reserve.

The swamp predominantly supports magnificent stands of Palm forest, including Trinidad’s only endemic species, the Moriche Palm (Mauritia flexuousa var trinitensis) and over 1550 hectares of highland forest. In Bush Bush island alone, situated in the heart of the Nariva Swamp an extremely rich and varied fauna include fifty-seven species of mammals, one hundred and seventy one species of birds, eight species of edible fish, twelve crustacean species, seven amphibians and thirty-seven species of reptiles including the Anaconda, the largest snake in the world.

Additionally, the swamp supports 30 percent of Trinidad’s reptiles and 28 percent of the island’s amphibians (Nathai-Gyan 1996). Nariva is a refuge for migratory waterfowl and a habitat for species of freshwater fish, such as the nationally popular catfish (Hoplosternum littorale), locally known as cascadura. Other species of commercial importance found in the swamp include the black conch (Pomacea urseus), mangrove oyster (Crassostrea rhizophorae) and various crabs (Cardisoma guanhumi andUcides cordatus).

Nariva Swamp is fed by a few rivers draining the Central Range, which runs in the middle of the island. Nariva Swamp drains into the ocean through the Nariva River but receives water from the ocean through seepage. The sand barrier that separates it from the ocean is mostly covered by a coconut plantation.

Perhaps the most commonly heard sound in the forest is that of the Cigale, an insect whose immature stages are spent months or years (some species) below ground. It emerges to fly about briefly and rest on tree trunks where it sings its life away.

Punctuating the steady droning of the Cigales are the rather nondescript voices of small flycatchers, honey creepers and tanagers. An antbird, following along at the head of a column of army ants, gives its halting, bouncing call.

A Black and White Manakin, holding court in its display grounds, snaps its wings which make a popping sound -thus its popular name "Casse-noissette" or nutcracker.

Suddenly nearby a Woodhewer voices its shrill, rollicking notes, to be answered distantly by its mate. A Hog Plum may be in fruit. flocks of Amazon Parrots noisily descend to feed. Their harsh rapid chattering may be intermixed with an occasional more melodious drawn-out note. YeIlow-tail Cornbirds hop about among the branches giving a constant "'chuck", but always there is the undertone of the Cigale.

As night falls the forest quiets. Near the swamp edge one hears the grunt and croak of frogs. Intermittently one may hear the eerie screech of the Crau or Limpkin -a solitary heron-like bird of the marshes.

Go kayaking through the swamp, the largest in Trinidad, for a chance to glimpse manatees in their natural habitat. Among some of the other wildlife you might spot are anacondas, caimans, and blue and gold macaws. You’ll need a permit to visit, which can be arranged through a tour operator.

Contact Nariva Swamp:
Nariva Swamp
East Coast of Nariva County, Rio Claro, Trinidad Inland from the Manzanilla Bay
Tel: +353 56 776 4933
Also you may call at 649-5539 before 4pm Monday to Friday, or the Petrotrin switchboard at 658-4200.

A year round opportunity for Nariva Swamp kayaking by caribbeandiscoverytours.com a memorable exploration by either kayak, small boat, or in the dry months, on foot of the famous Nariva Swamp.

Trinity Hills Wildlife Sanctuary And Reserve

The Trinity Hills forms the eastern part of the Southern Range, so named by first sighting of the island by Columbus, who recognized three hills of the range. The area’s historic value is the naming of Trinidad.

The Trinity Hills Wildlife Sanctuary contains the last virgin forest ecosystem characterised as being representative of Beard’s evergreen seasonal forest type in the south of the country. It has relatively untouched examples of crappo-guatecare-fineleaf-carat type as well as acurel-mousarra-gommier forest.

This 16,000 acre sanctuary dates from 1934. It is one of the oldest preserves, giving sanctuary to monkeys, deer, opossums, bellbirds, parrots, toucans and pigeons. Within the forest in the Trinity Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, hunting is allowed during the season in the reserve, which spans 6,483 hectares. It is one of the few places in Trinidad where you can still see deer running.

Records show that there is a good variety of passage migrants during the spring and autumn periods. Breeding birds to be found on Trinity Hill include stonechat and nightjar. The reserve boasts rivers, streams and waterfalls that are good for bathing, verdant forest, and a host of indigenous animals like lappe, agouti, quenk, tatoo, and red howler monkeys. A large variety of birds thrive on the reserve, and rare creatures like the ocelot, capuchin monkey, back deer, armadillo, and opossum are also attractions. Lagoon Bouffe, one of Trinidad’s largest mud volcanoes at 100 metres wide, is a feature of the reserve.

Getting there
Trinity Hill (go up A35 before Hunters Lodge and turning to Lyme Regis turn right into Trinity Hill Road - along this road)

To walk, go out field gate, through gate at top, through gate opp. railway carriage follow road round the bend to the right (dont turn right - dead end) keep going, at fork follow road to right past Rose Cottage, take left hand driveway up past Spring Cottage, the public footpath takes you right to the top of Trinity Hill.

Axmouth (follow road through Musbury, at the end of road t-junction turn right then immediately left road leads to Axmouth (parking along side of road).

Contact Trinity Hill:
In the extreme south east of Trinidad, running along the Rio Claro-Guayaguyare Road down to the sea. Access to the reserve is restricted, so for information on how to visit Trinity Hills, call Petrotrin at 649-5539 before 4 pm from Monday to Friday, or 649-5500/5501 on public holidays.

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