Smol Nambas, Lamap
Click on the image to see a kastom dance video clip (Right click and "Save Target As..." to download the file if you have a slow internet connection).

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.

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.

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.

Last updated: May 2009 by Stephen