“As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I’ll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I’ll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can.”
– John Muir
I have been searching for White River Falls ever since I started exploring my beautiful island Jamaica. But for some unspoken reason, persons who have visited the hidden gem were unwilling to share the location with their fellow Jamaicans.
I had no other choice but to manifest this hidden waterfall. I do believe in the law of attraction and the power it manifest.
I search base on hashtags, persons who were tagged in a post related to the falls. I never asked these individuals’ where the fall was located because they wouldn’t tell base on other travel bloggers asking in the comments.
I dreamt about being at this beautiful falls for years. I knew the time will come where we will meet and I will share with my fellow Jamaicans who are willing to take on this adventure in the parishes of Portland and St. Thomas.
Four years later, I saw a post made by unrulycoolie876 on Instagram. To my surprise, it was White River Falls. I got so excited. I message Shevmedz an amazing human. He operates the Proud Jamaicans and Exploring Jamaica page on Instagram. I wish to find more amazing individuals like you. You are a great friend. keep inspiring and teaching. Also, _doofy. He’s the founder of Carvnish, DDRMEDIAJA and downdiroadja. I told them I have found the fall we have been longing to visits for years. Toni-Ann who always encourage me to explore these hidden gems and the many conversations we have about my experience are priceless.
I then messaged unrulycoolie876 indicating I would love to explore the falls and his reply was just what I was longing for. He said he and his partner/wife rebel.lion91 ran a tour company called touring876 and it would be their pleasure to introduce me to White River Falls. I instantly accepted.
We communicated for a day prior to the tour. I must say, the level of professionalism that exit in this company is exceptional. I was given all the information I required from cost to lunch and breakfast, sleeping area because I was staying overnight, transportation and description of the waterfall which was all I was interested in.
This was where I realise it was not called Chase Waterfalls base on previous research, but White River Waterfalls.
On August 5, 2020 unrulycoolie876 and rebel.lion91 picked me up at work and we ventured to Portland where I would finally meet White River Falls in the Millbank Community.
It was my first time exploring Portland via a touring company and I must say I made the perfect choice choosing touring876 for my White River Waterfalls experience.
It’s like I had been exploring Jamaica with them for years. We had conversations about the Jamaica economy, hidden gems on the island and the positive and negative effects of social media while driving from Kingston into Portland.
We stopped at a unique café called Acai.Cafe.Ja in Long Road Portland. It was pretty awesome. It had an amazing view overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
We continued our journey into Port Antonio. Then made our way into the communities of Breastwork, Fellowship, Winsdor,Seamans Valley, Kent, Ginger House, Comfort Castle and our final destination, Millbank where I stayed for the night on Woody’s property.
We laugh, talked and drank soup under candle lights because the power was out to the sounds of the Rio Grande and crickets. Instantly, I went down memory lane when I was a child and my cousins told anasi stories.
I felt so at home. I started to document my experience. I didn’t want to forget any details of this experience.
The night was calm and cool. The smell of the clean country air and the sounding sounds of the Rio Grande was heavenly. I wanted to stay in Millbank forever.
I got up at 5:00am August 6, 2020, Independence Day on the island. I got a cold shower, organized my mosquito repellent which was made from essential oils and another from Jamaican White rum and rubbing alcohol, hiking shoe, cloth, bag, medication that I left at Woody's and battery charger. Around 8:00 AM our journey began to White River Falls.
We climb hills, routes were created with cut last, I fell, I used my butt to climb down a hill, got stung by a swap, I ran down a hill with Levar, I crossed many springs, experience the largest set of mosquitos, saw beautiful waterfalls, drank coconut and ate apples and Jumbilin in the Rio Grande.
If I had died the next day, I would have been the happy spirit in the universe because of the spectacular experience I had in the Millbank community.
The touring876 team is amazing. You will discover parts of Jamaica you didn’t know existed. You will never have a dull moment when you choose touring876 for your Authentic Jamaican Experience. I did so many things for the first time exploring with touring876.
I visited the Millbank community, visited three waterfalls in a couple of hours which is a part of the White River, I was constantly hopping in and out of St.Thomas and Portland. I realise when I went home and sorting out the pictures saw that some of the pictures were taken in St Thomas and some in Portland. It was amazing.
I went exploring on Independence Day in the Hills of Portland. I must say, this Parish is truly blessed. I saw so many fruit trees. Protoje, a Jamaican Reggae has a song called Who Knows. A line song states, "food dung a country jus a drop off a di tree." He was right. I saw so many apples on the ground.
I went parish hopping in Clarendon, Manchester and Trelawny but this time, it was unique. The route to White River falls had us walking on the border of Portland and St Thomas. Hence hoping in and out of both parishes. This was definitely something special.
They know the hills and valleys of Millbank pretty well. They are welcoming, helpful, fun and they are a part of the touring876 team. I visited a unique café that had amazing artwork and played house music. I started writing about White River Falls under candlelight because the power was out to the sound of the Rio Grande and crickets. Also, soup ate filled various seafood.
I saw three dogs did a hike. They climb hills and walk the path to the three waterfalls. They are very loyal to their owner Levar based on conversations we were having about them and what I saw.
They also never left his side not even once while we were hiking to and from the waterfalls. I had four tour guides and four photographers. I felt extremely special and that’s exactly how you will feel when you book a tour with touring876. I just can’t stop bragging about my amazing experience.
I don’t recommend going into the Millbank community or any other community that you are not a member of alone. I realise this practice has become the norm. Please ensure when venturing on this tour or any other tour that involves entering a community that you are not a member of, please ensure you are guided by a member of the community or touring 876, the best touring company in Jamaica.
My experience meeting the touring876 team and White River Waterfall is an experience that will stain my memories forever even if I have a severe case of amnesia
For more information on visiting White River Falls. Contact the touring876 team. You will thank me later.
Have you been to White RiverFals in Millbanks Portland? Would you book a tour with touring876?