MAlekula, AMbrym & PAama islands offer the visiting cruiser the rare opportunity to experience amazingly diverse and still authentic Ni-Vanuatu culture.
Starting at the south of Malekula, the second largest island in the Vanuatu archipelago of islands lies the Maskelynes, a set of beautiful of islands with a multitude of safe anchorages, beautiful sandy beaches and friendly people. There can be strong currents running so it pays to time your passage with the tide. Check out our tide tables.
The Maskelyne people are excellent seafarers and it quite usual to see them sailing their outriggers fishing on the many reefs in the area. Tourism is starting to take off here with canoe trips through out the islands, clam sanctuaries, custom dances and village tours all providing the cruiser with a range of activities.
Snorkelling and diving are well worth the effort and dugongs and turtles are frequently spotted, especially near Gaspard Bay, which along with Port Sandwich further up the east coast of Malekula is one of the safest anchorages in Vanuatu.
Malekula itself is rife with kustom, from the Small Nambas in the South to the Big Nambas to be found in the interior North West. Some inland villages have seen few whiteman and remain relatively unchanged. Its not so long ago that cannibalism was still active and it is possible to see evidence of these sacred sites today. Southwest Bay is a wide sheltered bay of 2km across, home to several villages, each with their own fascinating customs and the large Tisiri lagoon behind.
It is here that each August the Nalawan Festival is held showcasing amazing kustom dances and masks giving a peek preview of what life used to be like here. The communities of Port Sandwich work together each year ( again in August) to present the Port Sandwich Arts and Culture Festival which is well worth seeing. Much of Malekula was colonised by French coconut plantations so French can be the main language in many areas, but on this island alone there are 28 different local languages spoken, giving you some idea of the diversity to be found here. Port Stanley and Norsup provide a raft of sheltered anchorages, as well as the opportunity to visit Lakatoro where it is possible to get basic supplies and fuel. Further north on the east coast the smaller islands like Rano, Wala and Vao provide beautiful sheltered anchorages and pristine reefs. Once at the top of Malekula its only a short sail over to Malo or Espiritu Santo, providing once again you get the tides correct.
Of course its also a simple matter to head over to Ambrym from Malekula and explore this magical volcanic island. With the east coast too exposed for safe anchorages the main anchorages are between Craig Cove on the west and Nopul in the north. Here can be found hot springs, active volcanoes and a way of life steeped in black magic and kustom ceremony that thrives today. The mystical Rom Dance is an amazing and powerful experience to behold and there are several festivals through July and August that give cruisers the opportunity to step on to the nassara and witness this and other ceremonial dances. The men and women here are skilled carvers and its usual to see large tamtam totems lying waiting to be shipped to hotels in Vila or Noumea. At the heart of the island the two active volcanoes, Mts Marum & Benbow constantly rumble away, a trip up to the crater's edge is another 'must do'. The trek takes you through jungle, across ash plains and up cane covered slopes to the very edge of the bubbling lave lake below.