Mount Tabwemasana and the western ranges, Santo
Home to Vanuatu's two rarest land birds, the Mountain Starling and Santa Cruz Ground-Dove, mount Tabwemasana and the neighbouring peaks will soon be a designated Important Bird Area.

Most of the visitors to Tabwmesana in the past have been scientists on expeditions and only recently have the landowners started a tourism project. Kerepua village now has a bungalow and welcomes visitors. It takes about a day to walk to the abandoned village of Nokovula which is a base camp for birding and climbing.

Expect hard walking and sightings of Ground-Doves and Mountain Starlings are not guaranteed (there have been no reports in several years). Other specialties too look for are Palm Lorikeet, Baker's Imperial Pigeon, Polynesian Triller, Guadalcanal Thicketbird and Rusty-winged Starling. Bird watching at lower altitudes, near the coast, can also be rewarding. We are yet to climb Tabwemasana (a cyclone cancelled that plan) and very much need bird lists from the mountains of west Santo. Contributing to VanBirds.

See WTEC's travel website site for visiting Kerepua.