| Banam
Bay Bungalows, east Malekula 
Visitor
Ratings
The
bungalows and Hefarsar Culture Club at Banam Bay are an
established community business near the small village of
Vetgot. Most of their visitors are cruising yachts, from
June to October each year. They come for the Small Nambas
kastom
dancing and waterfalls. The waterfall at Weso has an excellent
swimming hole and there's a wet cave underneath, reportedly
100 metres long. There's also another cave nearby which
is said to have a river passing through it. Of course there's
a sand beach around the bay and the waves breaking at the
point look like they could be rideable.
Banam
Bay Bungalows was opened in 1996. The old bungalows were
rotten and cyclone damaged and one had been rebuilt by the
end of 2004.
Costs
and Booking
A night at Banam Bay costs 3500 per person, assuming everything
is rebuilt and running as before, including all meals. John
Eddie Saitol, the manager, seems to be a reasonable person
and you should be able to negotiate a special rate. A guided
visit to the Weso waterfall costs 1000 Vatu and kastom dance
performances are 2500 Vatu per person (group rate). It's
about 5 km to the waterfall and bicycles can be hired for
100 Vatu. All expenses are to be paid in Vatu cash. Exchange
Rates.
John
Eddie no longer has a teleradio. The nearest telephone is
45 minutes walk away at Aulua Primary School (48561, 0730H-1630H,
Monday to Friday) where you can leave a message. John Eddie
speaks Bislama and English.
Vanuatu
Tourism Office web page:
Banam
Bay
Accommodation
and Food
The bungalow at Banam Bay is built with local materials,
has a small porch, is basically furnished and sleeps at
least three people (it has two single beds and room for
more). The door is lockable (bring your own small padlock).
Mosquito coils are provided. There's no electricity and
hurricane lamps are used for lighting.
The
bungalows have two modern western toilets and showers. There's
a water supply but too many leaks upstream and the pressure
is feeble. The water source in the hills is clean and OK
to drink. Bring your own bath towel, soap and toilet paper.
Meals
at Banam Bay are satisfactory and fresh juice is always
available. Meals may include rice, kumala,
lap-lap,
fish and chicken.
Services
and Suggestions
The villages around Banam Bay have only one or two very
basic stores and a medical dispensary. It's best to bring
anything you need.
See
our Malekula page for trucks and other transport information.
If you're coming from the south you can walk along the main
road from Black Sands to Banam Bay in about two hours.
First
surveyed: December 2004 by Stephen.
Last updated: January 2005 by Stephen.
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