SAFARI SUR LA BLACK RIVER
Why the name "Black River"? Despite its clear waters, this river was once known as the Coyobana, "the ebony river", used to carry to the port tree trunks whose sap was used to obtain indigo dye, which was for a long time a major export product for the region, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. The black silt that lines the bottom of the river gives the water a murky appearance, although the water is perfectly clear.
The Black River Nature Reserve covers 7,200 hectares, mainly covered with swamps and dense vegetation: mangroves, water lilies, ferns, rushes and sugar cane fields. It is home to more than a hundred rare species of birds: ducks, herons, egrets, cranes, kingfishers, as well as butterflies and fish that have chosen the banks of the Black River to live. This river is especially famous for its crocodile population. You may see the famous "crocodile dentist", whose specialty is to feed by cleaning the teeth of sleeping crocodiles with their mouths wide open.
The easiest way toget around
is to take a boat ride directly from one of the agencies located on either side of the bridge that spans the river. They offer rides of the same duration (about 1 hour) and at the same price (20 US$ per person) along the Black River to see the stars of the region: no less than 300 crocodiles along the river and in the "Great Morass". Up to 5 meters long, some of them are perfectly domesticated, used to being fed by tourists along the river. One can also inquire at the port to embark on a pirogue with a fisherman. This kind of trip allows you to stop wherever you want to take pictures and gives you the right to a personalized discovery of the place. Prices are around 20 to 80 US$ for 2 people, depending on the size of the boat (try to embark on boats with 30 seats to pay less).Organized tour. If you don't have a car, the best thing to do is to take a day tour from Negril which includes all entrance fees, transportation and boats, and combines Black River, YS Falls and the visit of the Appleton distillery at about 85 US$ per person.