Shark Bay
Yakel Custom Village
Ipai Custom Village
 South Tanna Cultural Tour
Kelson's Cannibals
Black Magic & Kava Taste Tour


  • Toka Festival - The three day Toka Festival on Vanuatu’s Tanna island is one of Vanuatu's major cultural events. This gift-exchanging ceremony makes a magnificent sight, as up to 2,000 participants attempt to out-do each other with their lavish gifts, dancing skills and ornate makeup. This festival is a symbol of alliance between different tribal groups and the more one gives, the larger status they acquire.

    The ceremony begins with women dancing the 'napen napen' all night, surrounded by men who are waiting for dawn to come so they can take their place. At sunrise, the Toka dance begins and the men mime scenes of daily life. A group of the host village then carries out a dance in reply to the Toka, stamping the ground rhythmically. There is also a pig killing ceremony, food exchange and visits to various Nakamals.


  • Neil Ceremony (first fruits celebration) - August.


  • Circumcision ceremonies and Marriages


    • Such events feature the unique Tannese face painting that is often seen in photos and posters of Vanuatu.

  • John Frum Day (Cargo Cult): February 15

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Shark Bay Tour

Among many other tourist attractions on Tanna, Shark Bay at Manuapan Village, Port Resolution South East Tanna has become one of the magnificent places to visit when travelling around Tanna.
Shark Bay has gained its popularity and reputation due to its historical background that connects it to its custom and traditional values that have been handed down by our great, great grandfathers some thousands of years ago and onto our present generations.
From July through to February, sharks of different varieties gather in numbers to cavort here in Shark Bay, and our guests watch the activities below in the waters of the bay from a hilltop. Down at the edge of the sacred beach, well below the viewing areas, the sharks enjoy swimming in the shallow waters, this is the only place on Tanna to see this phenomenon. The sharks leave Sharks Bay after February to have their offspring in the nearby Turtle Bay area.

Eldest Son Dolsen who is in charge of the Sharks Bay Tour will guide you through the site from the main turnoff. It takes about 15 minutes to walk through the lush tropical bushland or drive for about five minutes where you will pass the tropical trees and lush bush full of palm trees.

Other things to see in the area:
  • Natural bush walk to the bay;
  • Beautiful sea views from cliff and hill top views;
  • Crashing waves on ancient lava rocks;
  • Captain Cooks rock, where Captain Cook scratched his name many years earlier;
  • Follow the path to the Owls Cave;
  • View the three sacred shark stones that our ancestors believed housed the spirits of the sharks;
  • Sharks nursery area;
  • Ocean views to Futuna and Mystery Island;
  • Good views to South Tanna and the heights of Mt Melen;
  • And on your way out visit the Tree House being built by the youngest son Richard. Good for the brave as a night's stopover.
You may be lucky enough to buy some stone carvings that are carved on sight by the brothers and family. Shark Bay is the only place on Tanna where you can discover the beauty of sharks swimming freely in the oceans of the South Pacific.

All Tourists are welcome to Shark Bay.
Entrance Fee 500vt per person over 12 yrs (12 and under free)
Book through your accommodation desk and ask for Donsen Sam and Kaukare Sam.

Lukim yu.

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Yakel Custom Village

This tour gives visitors an opportunity to experience ni-Vanuatu custom life in its purest form.

Yakel Village is located in the 'middle bush' of Tanna, about 8km SE of Isangel. The village has retained its traditional way of life handed down over many many generations. The chief of this village is Chief Kawia 'Johnson' who is 109 years old and is highly revered throughout Tanna. Visitors are first shown through the village before they are guided to the village Nakamal (meeting place), where traditional dances are performed and locally made items such as hunting bows, axes and necklaces are available for purchase.

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Welkam to Ipai Cultural Tour

Ipai Custom Tour is a community based tourism activity that was born out of the desire of the Chiefs of four communities from the Ipai area of West Tanna. All of our activities have guides from our villages and guests are walked through the villages to points where the activities take place, we have eight activities for you to see and take part in and we welcome you to take photo's and ask questions and even take part in some of the activities.

Activities
  • Magic leaf;
  • Preparation of Laplap;
  • Island style food tasting;
  • Traditional game with wild cane;
  • Tasting local Kai Kai prepared with coconut;
  • Tasting local fruits;
  • Make a fire the traditional way (before matches came along);
  • Bow and arrows, try to shoot a paw paw;
  • Custom dances: Nimawio, Nwanirauh, Nalewa and Leleiaoh;
  • Handicrafts on sale include Baskets, mats, skirts, stone axes, bow and arrows, pan flutes, bubu shells, carvings.


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South Tanna Cultural Tour

This tour is for the express purpose of experiencing Tannese culture first hand.
You will be met by your local custom guide as you approach the Tour entrance. Shortly, the local warriors will envelop you as the Chief himself inspects and decides your fate!

As you move on through the entrance, you will be greeted by friendly native women placing flowers in your hair.
Meander along the pathways of this bush setting, as you are introduced to aspects of Tannese culture which include:
  • Cooking in a ground oven,roasting vegetables and basket weaving;
  • Climbing a coconut tree for the fruits, preparing a coconut for eating and drinking;
  • The local Chief and his leaders in a nakamal,traditional fire lighting, hear a custom story;
  • Preparing herbal medicines and hear of their uses by a Kleva (Medicine man);
  • Food gathering with bow and arrow, traps and nets;
  • Traditional cyclone house building and materials used in building;
  • The tour finishes with you being tempted with tasty local foods cooked and served in the traditional manner. As you sip on fresh coconuts, the local boys entertain you with the Napen Napen, Toka, Kosasiua and dances and some innovative music with local made flutes and singing;
  • Local handicrafts are available for purchase.
Photographers are most welcome, questions are answered with respect and this tour can be conducted in English, French, Bislama and Japanese.

Open Daily from 9-10 am and 2-3pm


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Kelson's Cannibals

This tour begins with a depiction of the first interaction between the ni-Van and outsiders.

Visitors are taken through the methods used by the early natives in their defence techniques, hunting, camouflage, gathering food and trapping animals. They are also shown how the natives selected their main dinner courses - namely . . . . HUMAN FLESH!!

Visitors also get to meet the Village Chief who presides over your future . . .



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Black Magic & Kava Taste Tour

Welkam to the tour, we are situated at North Tanna and are very pleased to have you as our guest to educate and entertain you.

As we welcome you into our tour you will meet our warriors and our children, our guide Rex will guide you throughout the tour. We provide many opportunities for you to take photo's for your good memories of our tour to show your friends and families.

You will see and experience:
  • Warriors
  • Childrens choir
  • Horse riding bare back style with Tanna cowboys
  • Kava Tasting (optional)
  • Coffee growing and processing
  • Banyan tree string band
  • Magic Tricks
  • Custom dancing, you are welcome to join in
  • Surprises!!
Tours are open daily at 1:00pm and take about an hour.
Phone: (678) 77221

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