Tanna Tree Top Lodge (formerly Banyan Paradise Treehouse) has amazing views of the Yasur Volcano and it’s not unreasonable that rates are a little higher here. This place can be found next to Volcano Whispering Lodge at Loanengo, the two businesses are related.

Costs and Booking
It costs 3500 to stay here for one person and 5000 for a double. Breakfast is included and other meals are 700 to 1000 Vatu. Exchange Rates.

The owner of Banyan Paradise Treehouse is Fred George:
Mobile: 5417737 (Digicel).

Accommodation
There are two beds inside the treehouse, one double and one single. On ground level there’s a dry toilet and a haos blong swim (bucket showers).

They have built a second treehouse in 2009 (lower level in the photo).

First visited: No survey.
Last updated: October 2009 by Stephen.

Visitor Ratings for Tanna Tree Top Lodge, Loanengo Rate it

Date	Ratings	Comments
15/11/2011	Standard Location Value	Fred George is indeed a nightmare. He met us in Vila and confirmed our booking. His brothers met us at the airport as arranged. On arrival, there were four sets of people expecting to be in the treehouse, all with confirmed bookings. We got bumped to another resort. Everyone has a nightmare experience with Fred George (I live in Vila and meet lots of travellers). However, it is a good treehouse and resort and his extended family are not as rotten, conniving, lying and cheating as he is. Be warned. The stories on this site are all true
26/09/2011	Standard Location Value	Nice place but Fred George is a nightmare: - he booked the room for 2 different couples on the same night (we were forced to sleep elsewhere for our second night) - he did not prepare food for lunch on arrival and for dinner. We have been looking for water for 2 hrs - breakfast was made of crakers and hot water (for real !) - no guide showed up for the volcano - he billed 1000 VT for a bowl of blank rice Fred George ruined our stay in Tanna
24/05/2011	Standard Location Value	FRED George the owner was all smiles and happy to carry our bags on arrival but no where to be seen on departure. We really enjoyed the place but didn't enjoy being harassed by george and his cronies to get us to stay another night .Then subsequently fleeced in the finale bill - and asked to pay 3 times the going rate for the car journey back to the air port .... like another person said - don't trust george and you will have a good stay * ask the locals even they know he's not to be trusted ...
09/09/2010	Standard Location Value	During our Australian trip, we spent 3 days in Tanna to see Yasur. We were lucky to be on the top of the tree, this place was painted in red in my mind. Before going there I went on this website and read all comments left. I agree with the last one, it’s a great place to be with an amazing view of Yasur’s activity. The family is great and Fred George a good guy, really helpful. But I can’t agree with this part “To avoid any misunderstanding, you MUST always have a sincere and honest discussion”. Why? I asked the final bill to Fred, everything OK except for the airport lift (4000VT each). I said that there must be a mistake and ask Fred to be honest, he pretend to phone to the driver and said that was the price. So I paid all but the ride and went to the nearby guesthouse and ask for the price. They said 2000VT and Fred didn’t know what to say. THERE WAS NO MISUNDERSTANDING, DON’T TRUST HIM AND YOU’LL HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME IN HIS PLACE ‘CAUSE DESPITE “THAT” HE’S A NICE MAN.
28/08/2010	Standard Location Value	We are a french family with 2 children (13 and 11). We flew from France and stayed with Fred George and family for 4 nights because this place is unique and perfect to live with the volcano night and day: entrance is nearby (we climbed 3 times!), you hear the volcano rumbling better than any place, you see the various smokes, explosions and the orange glow better than anywhere: if you are lucky to obtain the upper level treetop bungalow, you can enjoy the show from your bed and from the veranda. It's basic: no running water but a generator for electricity in restaurant only. Nancy is a good cook and meals are gorgeous! Fred is very helpful and available. You can try "ashboarding" too! Concerning bad comment on 31/08/2009: To avoid any misunderstanding regarding the content and price of services or activities, you MUST always have a sincere and honest discussion before each service and activity. And Tanna Treetop lodge will be a stairway to heaven!
23/08/2010	Standard Location Value	We stayed with Fred George and family for one night and rate this stay and experience very highly. The Top Treehouse is basic but well built and gives you an "Avatar" type feeling perched very high above the ground with a stunning view up to Mt Yasur and the volcanoe's performance in sight and sound at night. The best place to stay on Tanna if the volcano experience is what you are coming for because you have the option of several attempts to visit the explosions at the crater several times a day, or a night. Fred was very accommodating and when we decided not to visit at dusk (too much cloud to see the crater according to others who had just come down from the mountain very dissapointed) Fred suggested we get up at 3.00am and he would take us up. We did this and had our best ever volvano experience. A must stay if you do not need a bath or shower in Tanna!!!
10/05/2010	Standard Location Value	The view from the tree top house is amazing, we spent hours watching the volcanoe, Fred arranged tours for us to Port Resolution and the hot springs ( a must do!). We went to the crater of mount Yasur and it was an incredible experience. Fred is a very nice guy but I wasn't comfortable around Nancy who was all about the money, sorry to say so... Emma from Singapore
09/01/2010	Standard Location Value	We stayed with Fred and Nancy for 3 nights in October 2009. We had the most wonderful experience. In the month that we travelled in Vanuatu our time spent here was an absolute highlight - we've travelled in India, Nepal, SE Asia, Central America and Africa and this was one of the most unusual and best places we've stayed. The tree house is spectacular. It's basic (no running water when we were there, but they do have a generator) but beautiful, with a view of Mt Yasur, which erupts every few minutes, night and day. Only one of the two rooms has a view, so don't be disappointed if you haven't booked in advance and the top tree house is not available. One comment below seemed to doubt the owners. We spent a fair bit of time with both of them, and have stayed in contact since, and trust them both. We can only imagine that there must have been some confusion. Really, this is a wonderful, wonderful place to stay. The location is incredible and Fred and Nancy will look after you like family
30/12/2009	Standard Location Value	I wrote the advice the 23 of December, I've just read the last note. There has been no mistake concerning the guesthouse. It’s this one for sure. The name of the owner is Fred George and his wife is Nancy, I don’t remember the names of their kids who are very friendly as Nancy. From the treehouse we can see the volcano which is nice and it’s not so far from the volcano “main entrance”. I didn’t go to shark’s bay. One last thing, in Vila we talked about this place and other people seemed to have the same problem when they were in Tanna. They all said (two couples) that the guesthouse was nice but “Money Fred George” waisted all the journey at the end. I’m happy for the people that didn’t have any money problem when they were there but it’s a fact I am not the only one. I guess that with the first comment left Fred is not trying every time to steal his clients.
30/12/2009	Standard Location Value	Dear travellers, be careful of what you read below. in tanna, there are 2 houses in tree. One in near shark bay ( George is the owner ) and one near the volcan ( the Fred and nancy's one, it's what you see on the picture).Don't make a mistake between Fred and George ( wich is as people said : money friendly!) We spent 2 night at fred's treetop lodge and it was really really great. you can see the volcano in your bed and the night it's amazing ( you see the lava and the volcano shadow ).you can hear the volcano all over the night and if you are lazy you can just enjoy sunset on the volcano confortable sitting on your chair in the house instead of climbing on Yasur. Fred show us many things and sugests many things to do if you have time ( hot springs, waterfalls,volcano...).Fred give us local fruits, he spend time with us to explain tanna's people way of life,... Nancy and the children are nice and if you are hungry it's a good place. They are available and friendly. It's a "roots lodge
23/12/2009	Standard Location Value	When we were in Vila, We weren’t supposed to go to Tanna but many persons told us to go there to see the volcano and one ni van strongly advised us this guesthouse. The tree is great and the family as well, it’s really close to the volcano, we spent 3 nights there…. But I had the same story as the first comment. It’s strange how money can change a man! George before seemed to be a nice guy, very friendly. When he gave us the bill, the night before leaving, the bill wasn’t true (+1500VT) but the family was so nice that we decided to pay the bill anyway as a tip. And George charged us twice the price for the transport (+6000Vt, we are 3) and for the banyan tree (+3000vt). We trusted him and next morning we were packed as chicken with other tourists in the truck and we never saw the tree….. George ran away! The guesthouse is nice, on the way I saw others nice too, but George is a thief, he has a great problem with money! Stay away from this place, we’ve lost more than 10000VT there.
27/11/2009	Standard Location Value	We spent four nights there. We had a great time. The Panorama is really something, the family really friendly and helpfull, the food good and really huge. I strongly advise to visit more that the Yasur (lost villages and coast). Concerning the tree, we had rain during our stay, and sometimes the steps leading to the top can be slippery, so careful (older people and children). Last but not least, I recommend this place of course, but before going there I read every post including the first one and I have the strange feeling that it’s partly true. The night before leaving, Fred naturally asked us to pay, the bill wasn’t true. Fred agreed on that and we paid the exact amount. But he strangely insisted on paying the return transport (twice the price) and a visit (wild horse) saying that we will have time. I insisted and said no. Next morning we paid the normal price and didn’t have time for the visit. I can’t say anything because Fred didn’t steal us, I just advise to keep an eye open.
13/10/2009	Standard Location Value	My wife and I stayed three nights in September and can highly recommend. We had a great time. The view from the tree-houses is incredible. (There is now a second cabin built on a lower level). The higher cabin has a small balcony with a picture window view of the volcano which is only about 2km away. Both cabins have a view. It's an amazing sight and sound, a bit like distant thunder. At night we could see molten lava bombs flying into the air. We walked up the volcano one afternoon (about an hour, but that is another story). One evening was fogged out but that’s why we allowed three night near Yasur. The food was fresh and tasty, the portions huge. The cabins are clean and cosy but handmade and quite rustic, so don't expect 5 star. I would describe it as eco-camping up a tree. I would disregard the earliest post as I don't think its fair-Fred not having a right of reply. Fred and Nancy were very friendly and hospitable to us, they acted with great integrity at all times.
04/10/2009	Standard Location Value	The tree house was great with a fantastic view (and sound effects)of the volcano. Worked very well for our kids (11 and 5) but would not be so good for younger ones or very anxious parents. Nancy's cooking was great (huge portions!) and Fred took good care of us. We were a bit nervous after the previous blog and Fred did try to push other tours, but he was happy to accept what we said and in the end charged us a bit less than he quoted. Overall, we were very happy with our stay. BTW, Fred has changed the name to Tanna Tree Top Lodge and has an e-mail address at tannatreetoplodge@yahoo.com.
31/08/2009	Standard Location Value	***DISPUTED*** This comment is from a real traveller but other visitors have no complaints. Please read all the feedback before making a judgment. Stephen - moderator. The last part! He said that we will be alone in the truck and see the banyan tree and really insisted to be paid for that but he knew all along that we wouldn’t see the banyan tree and we will be 6 Europeans in the truck (6000 Vatu more). When I saw that in the morning I asked him for a refund, he said yes, we stopped at a market and ran away. We phoned him when we arrived at Vila and when he heard our voice he just hang up! The big deal isn’t the 6000 Vatu, but the thing that we were 5 days in his guesthouse, he was friendly and at the end trying to steal us, it’s just not possible. Run away from this place, there are plenty other guesthouse less expensive and very nice near this one! Jean louis and Matthieu
31/08/2009	Standard Location Value	***DISPUTED*** This comment is from a real traveller but other visitors have no complaints. Please read all the feedback before making a judgment. Stephen - moderator. First of all Fred George, the owner of the guesthouse is a F…. thief an obviously one of the best liar in the world. We trusted him and after five days in his guesthouse he decided to steal us … we were supposed to be friends …. It’s the only time in Vanuatu that we saw that! We spent 5 nights there. We agreed on the price before arriving at the guesthouse (2 weeks before). The “housetree” is ok with a nice view of the volcano and quite near from the volcano too but we had every night 2 “visitors”….2 big rats, that can happen everywhere (the only time in Vanuatu) but it’s not a very nice visit, they were trying to steal us our food and making a hell of a noise! The family is nice, his wife is nice and the children too but them father is a burglar. So at the end of our stay, he raised the price of everything and after 20 minutes of negotiation, the prices were as planned except the return truck and the visit to the big banyan tree.