Walk This Way

Born to be (in the) Wild

Janeel’s yearning to explore St. Kitts’ wilder side started with fruit. Not any old fruit, it was the succulent and sweet “King of Fruits” that festoon the fertile island’s trees from June to August. Janeel’s boyhood summers were spent “heading into the mountains and returning with a bucket full of mangoes on my head!” he says, adding “my younger days were very much outside days.”

Almost three decades later, the great outdoors remains his playground for pleasure and now for business too. “I like being able to hear the symphony of birds and the wind. Hiking helps us mentally, physically and emotionally,” he says, continuing, “I’m a tour guide and a guest. Not many other jobs give you that privilege. I feel like I’m on a vacation.”

Grandma Knows Best

While Janeel brings his passion for geology to his guided hiking excursions, he explains that each member of his outfit’s five-strong team plays to their own strengths and interests. “Jacquan knows a lot about agriculture, while Jordan is very knowledgeable about plants.”

Many Kittitians tap into intergenerational knowledge to heal from the forest’s own medicine cabinet. “Most of us in the Caribbean grew up with a grandma or grandpa who told us to ‘drink that leaf’ or ‘eat from that fruit tree’ for a cough or other ailment.” For a mini detox he brews a tea from the leaves of the Silver Trumpet Tree, which reportedly helps regulate blood pressure. Janeel may not read tea leaves, but he can “read” the direction of the silver trumpet to predict if a storm is coming. That’s a handy skill to have if you’re 2,300 feet up mist-shrouded Mount Liamuiga, where this species of evergreen thrives.

Connecting with the Elements

Janeel’s single favorite island trek is Mount Liamuiga, which he calls an all-body workout. A close runner-up is Wingfield Waterfall, one of his company’s newer offerings, which starts at one of the island’s most storied sugar estates. “This hike is picturesque and therapeutic, especially with the water coming towards you,” he says, adding “you’re walking upriver over some boulders. It feels as if you’re heading into the unknown!” Its easier-going sister trek –

The Wingfield Rainforest – is one of the company’s signature excursions. “It’s one of our more relaxing hikes. Any level of fitness can join us because it has level terrain and various spin-off trails, meaning you can walk for 30 minutes or two hours.” One for flora lovers too, the trail is freckled with fruit trees like orange and mango, as well as a bounty of medicinal plants.

The Fabulous Four

Strap on your hiking boots for an adventure with JB Taxi & Excursions…

• 1. Mount Liamuiga Volcano 

A half day rainforest trek to reach the rim of the island’s formidable volcano and highest peak where you can see neighboring islands on a clear day.

In Janeel’s words: “The epitome of a challenging workout for the mind and body, which rewards you with a stunning view.”

BEST FOR: Adrenaline and Views

Level: Challenging