The town of Sola is the administrative centre for TORBA province. Here you will find a Post Office, National Bank of Vanuatu, Immigration, Police, TORBA Provincial Government, shops and guesthouses. The hospital is relatively good and the nurse is helpful. Sola has a public water supply and once had an electricity supply (1830H to 2030H daily, but not operating in 2009).

Sola is actually quiet picturesque but it's a provincial town and not a tourist resort. Also, South American fire ants have been accidentally introduced via the Solomon Islands and are now an established pest around Sola.

There are three guest houses in Sola:
Eliezer Travel Lodge, Sola
Leumerous Guesthouse, Sola
Wilkin's Guesthouse, Sola

Excursions from Sola
The Selva and Alket Rivers are north of Sola. It's the only place in Vanuatu where you can find saltwater crocodiles. It is thought they swam to Vanuatu from the Solomon Islands after getting lost during a cyclone. One crocodile was relocated to Vanua Lava by the late Steve Irwin (yes, the crocodile man on TV) from Maewo in 2003.

East of Sola is Kwakea Island with white sand beaches and good snorkelling. A speed boat charter to Kwakea is about 5000 Vatu return from Sola.

Update Feb-2007: We were told a white man leased both the islands of Kwakea and Nawila. Fortunately, we don't think he's going to build a tourist resort but we don't know if visitors are allowed. If you want to go, check this out in Sola.

If you're still waiting for a plane in Sola, you could go hiking in the forest on the hill behind the clinic.

Last updated: January 2009 by Stephen