Malekula,
island of diversity
Malekula
has more bungalows and conservation areas than neighbouring
Santo and is Vanuatu's most culturally diverse island.
The
interior of Malekula is mountainous, rugged and forest-covered
with good walking and bird watching. There are old
cannibal sites hidden in the bush on north Malekula, but
at many the bones and skulls have been removed or buried.
The
Maskelynes and the small offshore islands along the east
coast of Malekula have sand beaches and coral reefs with
good snorkelling and diving.
A U.S. Peace Corps volunteer on south Malekula is discovering
trails and developing trekking routes on South Malekula.
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'Kula Trail
Malekula Hiking Trail Project
Our goal is to create a Malekula Hiking Trail System to improve the island as a destination for Adventure Travel. In doing so, we hope to increase environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and local economies.
http://www.malekulahikingtrail.blogspot.com/
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Malekula's
economy is largely based on agriculture with extensive copra
plantations on the eastern coastal plains around
Norsup and Lakatoro.
Norsup's
past glory has faded and Lakatoro has taken over as the
main town in Malekula. Lakatoro has more stores,
a market house, a National Bank of Vanuatu branch, an Air
Vanuatu office, the main wharf and it is the administrative
centre for MALAMPA province (Malekula, Ambrym, Paama). Norsup has the provincial hospital.
Both Norsup and Lakatoro have telephones and 24 hour electricity.
Lamap
is a faded town but important for south Malekula with
a post office, medical clinic and a National Bank of Vanuatu
branch. If you have to overnight at Lamap there's at least
one guesthouse at Levis store, Port Sandwich (phone 48594).
It's 1200 Vatu per person, per night, self catering. You
can buy food at Levis store. The 'Kula Trail blog has more accommodation at Lamap.
With
two airstrips, roads and regular transport, it is relatively
easy and inexpensive to tour east and north Malekula. With
an 'open-jaw' air ticket you can start at Lamap and finish
at Norsup or vice versa.
Starting from the south, you
can visit the Maskelynes then
travel north to Lakatoro. From Lakatoro you can visit Uri
and Uripiv islands or continue north along the east
coast to Sanwir and Vao.
If you like walking, it's easy to go all the way around the
'dog's head' via Wiawi.
There are many Air Vanuatu flights between Port Vila and
Santo via Malekula and it's easy to include Malekula
as a stopover.
Update needed! Most of our information on Malekula is dated. We haven't been there for years and would appreciate some news and updates from travellers, Contact us. Another way to share your knowledge is to rate and comment on bungalows that you have visted.
Bungalows
In
the Maskelynes we feature three
bungalows and three marine conservation areas.
On Uri
and Uripiv Islands there are two bungalows and a few
marine conservation areas.
Elsewhere
on Malekula we feature the following bungalows and conservation
areas:
Abetaruvar Bungalow, Tenmaru 
Banam Bay Bungalows, Vetgot 
Ronevie Village Guesthouse, Libansese Conservation Area, Black Sands 
Rose Bay Bungalows, Nial Botanical CA, Sanwir
Tam-Tam Bungalows, Vao mainland 
Wiawi Guesthouse, Nabi Protected Area, Wiawi 
Air
Transport
There are airports on Malekula at Norsup, Lamap and Southwest
Bay. Norsup has a tarmac surface.
Air Vanuatu flies to Malekula
on every day of the week. Visit the the Air
Vanuatu domestic website and download a recent timetable. The routings are variable and it can be a bit overwhelming but there are many interesting options for travellers. Fares (April 2006) are summarised below.
| Airport |
Return
Santo fare
(Vatu) |
Return
Port Vila fare
(Vatu) |
Flights
per week |
| Norsup |
12193 |
25603 |
9 |
| Lamap |
16783 |
19775 |
2 |
| Southwest Bay |
16490 |
21058 |
2 |
Tourists holding a return Air Vanuatu international ticket
are entitled to a 20% discount on Air Vanuatu domestic fares. Exchange
Rates.
Sea
Transport
There
are many other ships and boats servicing Malekula. Most of them are based in Santo. It's only about 1500 Vatu from Luganville to Malekula, with departures
almost everyday. Exchange
Rates.
Smaller vessels go right
around the island. Others stop only at Litslits, near Lakatoro, and then proceed to Vila. Enquire directly at the Melcoffee (best
bet) or Simonsen wharves in Luganville, Santo.
Ships from Vila to Malekula are less common, most of them sail via Pentecost instead. You will have to ask around at the wharves in Port Vila and find out if there are any suitable voyages.
Road
Transport
Lakatoro is Malekula's road transport hub. The best place
to find trucks is at the Lakatoro Trading Centre (especially
for the north) where you'll find many people waiting for
transport on weekdays. Trucks come
to town in the mornings and return to the villages in the
afternoons.
There are several trucks along the northeast coast
as far as Vao with departures as late as 1600H.
There are
fewer trucks servicing the south. The
road around Port Sandwich is rough and may be closed if
there has been a cyclone and/or heavy rain. Alternatively, you can catch a speedboat across Port Sandwich.
The
road north of Black Sands is better. However, some sections
north of Banam Bay are prone to landslides and the Pankumu
river can't be forded when in flood.
Some
truck fares are presented below. Exchange
Rates.
| Trucks
from Lakatoro to |
Shared
(Vatu) |
Charter
(Vatu) |
Hours |
| Black Sands |
600 |
5000 |
2.5 |
| Banam Bay |
500 |
4000 |
2 |
| Walarano/Sanwir |
200 |
2000 |
1 |
| Vao |
300 |
3000 |
1.5 |
| Tenmaru |
600 |
4000 |
2 |
| Unmet |
300 |
3000 |
1 |
| Wiel (Wiawi) |
600 |
4000 |
1.5 |
Last updated: May 2009 by Stephen
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