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SOLOMON ISLANDS the wilderness lodge 8° 47´S ° 14´E
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home Situated lagoon-side by Peava village, Gatokae Island, at the southeastern tip of the Western Province, the wilderness lodge features traditional construction using sago palm leaf, wild bitalnat palm and village-sawn hardwood with exotic timber and pandanus mat interior. Catering for a maximum of six to eight guests, the lodge has been designed to meld the atmosphere of the Gatokae rainforest and ocean with the lifestyle of the neighbouring small village whilst retaining Western comforts and convenience. Meals feature local organic produce and seafood, and traditional and Pacific themes with an accent on health. Satellite telephone available should you need to stay in touch. The lodge has a solar power system with V/V inverter for charging cameras etc, wood-fired hot shower, and LPG refrigeration and cooking. A deepwater jetty provides walk-in boat access and easy swimming and snorkelling access with large, safe, swim steps, and sit-on-top kayak and outrigger canoe at your disposal. You have the world's best coral reefs and most prolific and varied fishlife, lush tropical rainforest, and spectacular scenery right on your doorstep. The lodge has prime access to the three wild and uninhabited islands of Bulo, MaleMale, and Kicha, the 0 foot jungle-clad peak of Mt Mariu, and ancient fortified villages and ceremonial sites. The reef and rainforest scenery represents a photographers dream. Hornbills, eclectus parrots and megapodes coexist with frigate birds, terns, herons, and sea eagles - refer to our 'hiking' 'birding' pages for information. The surrounding reefs and islands have provided unique opportunities to the world's best underwater photographers and appeared in leading journals and books. The surrounding ocean provides freediving and snorkelling opportunities unsurpassed anywhere on Earth - pristine unexplored reefs with caves, swim-throughs, abyssal dropoffs and an extraordinary array of life from the tiniest exotics and crustaceans to wahoo, sailfish, and tuna. Resident schools of barracuda and electric blue fusileers are a fixture on the points and walls, and the deep channel between Peava and Bulo Island has a resident school of spinner dolphins. Refer to our 'snorkeling, and 'freeediving & spearfishing' pages for info and images. World class sportfishing that we are just starting to explore, dozens of species of gamefish in a range of environments, from bluewater trolling for billfish and big yellowfin around the volcano, seamounts and our seven FADs, through poppering for giant GTs, to fly fishing the Marovo Lagoon flats and casting for spot-tail bass and mangrove jack in the rivers. Refer to our 'fishing' page for info and images. Incredibly diverse marine and terrestrial ecosystems and the fascinating old culture of ritual headhunting which persisted into the twentieth century are yet to be studied. Scientists relate - "The Solomon Islands comprise one of the most culturally, linguistically, and biologically diverse places on Earth" - " The Westen and Central Solomons present the largest knowledge gap in the prehistory of the Pacific". The Lodge concept encompasses the involvement of the scientific and documentary communities, and it is envisaged that research and film making form an integral part of the lodge's operation as well as increasing the knowledge and awareness of the islands' natural wealth and biodiversity. Refer to our 'tours' and 'hiking & bushwalks' pages for info and images. Kavachi, one of the world's only visible submarine volcanos, lies 19 nautical miles to the southwest and can be seen erupting periodically from the weather coast. In fine weather we can take you out there by speedboat and possibly witness explosive eruptions and island-building events, snorkel the vent, and fish the rich waters surrounding the vent, teeming with rainbow runner, barracuda, tuna, and sharks. Just to the north are the -plus coral, rainforest and mangrove islands of Marovo Lagoon, one of the richest biological areas on Earth.........People of all ages, walks of life, levels of fitness, and interests will find a week spent relaxing at the Lodge and exploring the ocean, rainforest, and culture a rich, cleansing, and memorable experience. See you there! nature tranquility ocean culture
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