By PETER PIA
THE Winza waterfall at Noagu in the upper Kaugul area of Tambul, Western Highlands province is magnificent, a place worth visiting.
The water fall and its surrounds are untouched and unexplored.
The Tekepo tribesmen at Noagu value the waterfall and keep the area pristine.
The waterfall’s crystal clear water cascades down and forms a fast flowing river which abounds in mackerel and water cress.
Early this year I took a trip to the area with a couple of friends from Lae, Ialiabu, Wabag, Mt Hagen and Kundiawa on their school vacation.
The vacationers were Herman Pakau, Jonathan Saka, Wapagi Pokopia, Isaac Mathew, Julia Pokopia, Angii Angoaun, Randi Pora and Jude Pokopia.
Some villagers saw us traveling to the waterfall, we greeted each other and they decided to follow us.
Before leaving, we prepared and packed uncooked pork meat, kaukau and greens to mumu at the waterfall.
The boys got water cress from the river and Janet Mathew, a member of the group prepared the mumu for us, in the typical Highlands fashion, with hot mumu stones and food in a pit.
We ventured beneath the cascading waterfall, the freezing cold water seemed to penetrate right through to our bones.
We decided we could not stay for long periods in the water.
We spent the day bush tracking, swimming, bird watching, mountain climbing and fishing in the fast flowing river - it was a real adventure.
Mountain climbing and trekking was fascinating, my digital camera - taking breath taking shots of the landscape, different kinds of birds, orchids, flowers and caves.
Winza waterfall is about 15 kilometers away from the popular Kumul Lodge sharing the same mountain range south - west of the lodge.
We managed to trek about 5 kilometers away from waterfall.
During the trek, we came across a big hole in the ground, which locals had dug in search of mineral deposits, either copper or silver.
According to a villager Sakias John, they believed that there were large deposits of valuable minerals in the area because several times helicopters had flown into the area bringing people to “look around the place”.
Sakias told us about the various species of birds and animals that lived around the waterfall such as Bird of Paradise, cassowary, parrots and butter flies.
Because the Tekepo villagers protected wildlife in the area, the birds and butterflies felt no threat from humans and often came within our reach.
The villagers had a strong tambu, a traditional law restricting people from destroying the waterfall and surrounding flora and fauna.
These laws include: No one is allowed to bath with soap or wash clothes in the river, throw rubbish, chop trees and bushes, shoot birds and other animals that live in the area.
We were informed about these laws when we arrived there and made sure we did not violate any of them.
During our time there we met and made acquaintance with a was man - Simbil Boi who looks after the place. We greeted each other gladly before preparing for our trip back home.
As we left the waterfall, I pondered “Am I seeing a real waterfall or it is a dream?.”.
I realized that Noagu had a lot to offer to the world in terms of tourism and adventure.
The way the Noagu people guarded and preserved the waterfall and their area made us realise the importance of our environment and the need to safeguard it for our future generations.
It is no doubt a tourist destination, but the flow of visitors into the area must be monitored so that the waterfall does not lose its natural beauty and magnificence.

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