Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter

Mr. Leonard Green, owner of The Cane Mill, informs Lifestyle team members Yahneake Sterling (centre) and Sacha Walters at Sheffield about some of the birds that can be seen along the South Negril River that leads to The Cane Mill. Visitors can also go rafting during their stay. - photos by Nashauna Drummond

The water was a welcome sight after a bumpy bus ride from Kingston to Negril. This was no white sandy beach, but the South Negril River that divides the town of Negril and Long Bay was equally serene.

Despite the overcast, murky look of things, the Lifestyle team was eager to relax as we explored the South Negril River on our day out at The Cane Mill situated on Parakeet Hill in Sheffield, Westmoreland. That was until we saw the 28-foot boat that the six- member team, two tour guides, Winterfresh and Natty and Cane Mill's owner Leonard Green, had to fit into.

A little 'iffy' about the boats capacity and sturdiness, we stepped on a tyre then into the boat as owner Winterfresh tried to reassure us.

An occasional scream was forced from members' throats as the boat rocked side to side as we tried to settle in for the four-mile ride up the river.

Five minutes later, we were all tucked in and the journey up the river began.

Second-largest wetlands

This is one of several egrets spotted.

The hum of the boat's motor, chirping birds and the sound of the boat cutting through the water were all we heard as a view of the Negril Hills had us in awe. Peaceful and serene; that's how the river is. Blue herons and egrets seemed to own the area as we passed many along the way. The vegetation included huge ferns and mangroves along with produce farmed by residents, including corn and coconuts.

On a daily basis local fishermen scour the river for fishes such as chad, piper and snapper that may have been caught in their traps. Minutes into our journey, the Negril Great Morass came into view. It's said to be Jamaica's second-largest fresh water wetland system. The morass is home to the 351-acre Royal Palm Reserve, which is the protector of the largest stand of Jamaica Royal Palms in the world, the morass stretches for 10 miles.

Closer to our destination, movements to our left attracted our attention. In the ferns on the side of the river was a mongoose incarcerated in a fish trap.

"The mongoose probably ventured into the trap to feast on a fish but found himself trapped," Mr. Green surmised.

Just beyond, the coconut trees on the right our destination, awaited us. But we could go no farther. The water hyacinth described by Mr. Green as "the river's enemy" had blocked a section of the river. So, it was back the way we came, getting one more view of the waterway.

It was then that Mr. Green decided to try his luck at fishing. When there were no bites after about seven minutes, Lifestyle team member Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore failed to prove herself a fisherwoman. Well, I guess no fish were biting that day.

Lifestyle's Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore tries her hand at fishing during the boat ride that takes visitors from town to The Cane Mill. (She caught nothing.)