Vella Lavella Island Travel Guide

  villagers from Simbilando
by minstrel74
  • villagers from Simbilando
      villagers from Simbilando
    by minstrel74
  • Schoolboys dancing in Simbilando
      Schoolboys dancing in Simbilando
    by minstrel74
  • Ulo River thermal area pool
      Ulo River thermal area pool
    by minstrel74
  • Simbilando schoolgirls dancing
      Simbilando schoolgirls dancing
    by minstrel74
  • Large Ulo River thermal pool
      Large Ulo River thermal pool
    by minstrel74

Explore Vella Lavella Island

Things to Do  

Ulo River thermal area
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Ulo River thermal area pool

This is a worthwhile hike near the village of Simbilando. You follow the Ulo River inland until you reach a large, open break in the forest where you find several boiling mud pools. See my travelogue for details.

Updated Nov 22, 2004

Address: northern Vella Lavella

Related to:
 Hiking and Walking

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Hotels  

Simbilando: village stay

Simbilando: village stay, Vella Lavella Island

 minstrel74 Says:  I stayed in the village of Simbilando during my visit to Vella Lavella. It's located on the northeast corner of the island close to the mouth of the Ulo River. The stay was rather informal. In fact, I was the first western tourist ever to stay overnight here, although a few... 

Local Customs  

Meal Times
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There are no set meal times on this island, or presumably in most rural parts of the Solomon Islands. People eat when they're hungry. This may be different from what you do at home. It was for me, anyway. Nonetheless, you will still be given a fantastic meal in the evening should you stay here.

Written Nov 22, 2004

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Warnings and Dangers  

Gizo Strait water conditions
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If the weather looks ominous and you don't feel comfortable crossing the Gizo Strait, then DON'T. That's not to say that you should not trust the advice of your guides. They are very good at navigating the route. However, they will not want to disappoint you and may attempt the crossing even when not safe to ensure you get back to Gizo according to your timetable. We came upon extremely rough sees and rain on the way back. The waves were at least a couple feet tall, and there were no lifejackets in the boat at all. One of the drivers told me that just a few days earlier, they had tipped over a canoe in rough seas with another traveler onboard who was dumped into the shark-infested water. They were fine but she was shaken up quite a bit. On another occasion, he sunk a canoe and lost all of his money, which he had with him at the time. I got through OK, but I was extremely unnerved by the whole situation and had the canoe sunk, we would have faced a long swim to shore with both the dangers of drowning and sharks.

Written Nov 22, 2004

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Favorites  

Megapode Bird eggs
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Favorite thing: You may wish to try megapode bird eggs while you are here. These birds lay their eggs in the warm soil near the thermal pools and the locals harvest them for food. They taste just like chicken eggs and the only noticeable difference is that they are mostly yoke with just a very thin white part on the outside.

There may be laws in some areas concerning the harvesting of megapode bird eggs. Be sure to check on these if you intend to ask around about trying the eggs.

Written Nov 22, 2004

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Map of Vella Lavella Island