Welcome to Malampa province, known by the locals as the island of magic and fire, made up of the islands of Malekula, Ambrym and Paama.
All the bungalows are built from local materials designed in a traditional to semi-modern island-style, to allow guests experience the unique and real Vanuatu away from the commercial centres.
Bungalows offer cooked meals, are kept clean & tidy with basic amenities, and the managers help organize tours and activities for you.
The bungalows are owned and managed by local families and communities so when you stay at a bungalow, you are contributing directly to the local Ni-Vanuatu. Lukim yu! (See you).
Malekula is known as the island of 'kastom and adventure'. Many visitors are also intrigued by its history of cannibalism. It is the second largest island and the most diverse, culturally and linguistically, with over thirty distinct languages spoken, and some of the best custom dances in Vanuatu.
The names given to the primary cultural groups are 'Small Nambas' and 'Big Nambas', where nambas is the name of the woven penis sheath worn by the men, with the distinction between big and small relating to the size of the sheath.
The interior of Malekula is mountainous, rugged and forest-covered with good jungle walking and bird watching and old cannibal sites hidden in the bush in the north.
Malekula has an estimated population of about 25,000 on the coastal areas and around 1,500 in the rugged interior. The villagers are exceptionally friendly and enjoy sharing their proud cultural heritage with visitors.
The neighbouring small islands such as Maskelynes and other small offshore islands along the east coast of Malekula have sand beaches and coral reefs with good snorkeling and diving opportunities. You can visit nearby small islands in the north such as Uri, Uripiv, Rano, Wala, Atchin and Vao.
To view Malekula's cultural heritage, adventure tours and bungalows visit http://www.malekula.travel. Click here to download Malampa 2016 Travel Guide.
Getting here and getting around
Air Transport
Air Vanuatu flies daily (except Saturdays) into the main Malekula airport of Norsup, from both Vila and Santo. There are also regular flights to airports on Malekula at Lamap and Southwest Bay.
Visit Air Vanuatu to check the latest domestic timetable to plan routes and connections. Tourists holding a return Air Vanuatu international ticket are entitled to a 20% discount on these fares and are allowed 20kgs of luggage instead of the normal 10kgs.
Bel Air also flys regular routes to Malekula. For more information email
Sea Transport
Comfortable passenger boats servicing Malekula (Litzlitz, near Lakatoro) include the newly operating Vanuatu Ferry and the Big Sista.
To contact them to enquire about reservations for Vanuatu Ferry call +678 26999 or email
Accommodation
In Malampa, the local operators have established a booking service for both Malekula and Ambrym Islands called malampa.travel, and a call centre with a full-time reservations and information officer. This is a not-for-profit service which is owned by the local tourism association and are eligible to book Department of Tourism accredited accommodation, tours, and transfers on behalf of the operators.
To make enquires or bookings visit www.malampa.travel, www.malekula.travel or www.ambrym.travel depending on which island you wish to visit.
Accommodation in Malekula and Ambrym is mostly built with traditional materials, such as Natangura thatched roofs and woven bamboo walls. There are traditional Melanesian style bungalows and standard budget guesthouses.
Things You Should Know
Allow an 1 hour and 30 minutes check-in time for all domestic flights. There is a provincial departure tax of 200 VT per person to pay at each domestic airport after your check-in
Reconfirm your flights with local Air Vanuatu agent by calling their local number
Do not forget to bring with you sun screen and mosquito repellent.