This is an island of waterfalls. Ribbons, sheets, whole avalanches of white water spilling over the edges of lush green hills are a staple of this country’s central highlands. There are literally hundreds, perhaps thousands of these watery-wonders dotted around the hill-country and you can quite conceivably spend a life time chasing waterfalls.
It’s actually a rather common island-activity; whispers, rumours of a particularly isolated, pristine or hitherto unexplored cascade will have people scrambling into 4x4s, or clambering onto buses and tuks and trekking deep into the forested interior.
However, so rich is this nation in this H20 based resource that the quest for a spectacular, steeply plunging stream need not take you too far off the beaten path. Aberdeen falls is relatively accessible- a 15 minute drive from the popular Norton Bridge, or the Masekeliya road and a strenuous but not exhausting climb down some well maintained stone-cut stairs will bring you to a stunning, night-blue pool into which tumbles a 100 meter catract of white froth and foam,
It’s a rather amazing spot, surrounded by thick mountain forest and sheer granite rock – the pool is crystal clear and calm enough that swimming (unless you’re inebriated) is reasonably safe. A raised stone and sand bank right next to the cascade means that if you paddle over a few meters of dark, deep water you’ll find yourself able to stand – on a natural ledge at the edge of waterfall’s cascade. You’re basically walking on water, feet from the pounding flow of one of the country’s highest falls- an immediate highlight to any day.
While it’s incredibly beautiful it’s still not on the major waterfall trail so you stand a good chance of having it to yourself even on a weekend. a bonus for lowers even on a weekend.
This post was written from Hatton Town using the Hutch 3G wireless dongle
