Things to do in Savusavu

There is a nature reserve called Waisali Nature Reserve established by the National Trust for Fiji in 1991 around 40 kilometres northwest of Savusavu. It has around 116-hectares of unexploited tropical rainforest with native trees such as dakua, yaka and kuasi. The reserve has several trials leading to peaks with spectacular views.

Diving in this area is popular as is game fishing. At Namenalala Island a resort offers diving on Namena Barrier Reef amongst giant clams, and large pelagic fish. In November to March the Hawkesbill turtles drag themselves up onto the beach to lay their eggs. This is the last nesting site for these turtles in Fiji. The soft corals here are amongst the best in the world and bird watching and snorkeling are also great.

Take a trip along the Hibiscus Highway from Savusavu to Natuvu on Buca Bay passing old Colonial-style planter’s homes. There are several resorts along the way so take your pick – they are all worthwhile visiting.

Kioa Island, close to Vanua Levu, was purchased from the Tui Cakau in 1853 and operated as a coconut plantation until it was purchased by Ellice Islanders who ran out of space on their own island. 

Did you know?

At the request of the Tui Cakau in 1855 a Tongan army conquered Fijian rebels on Rabi Island. Years later the island was sold to Europeans and Australians who ran a coconut plantation there. 

In 1940 the British government started looking for an island to resettle the inhabitants of Ocean Islanders in the Gilbert Islands whose homes were destroyed by phosphate mining. Wakaya was looked at initially but the outbreak of war intervened. Rabi was then considered by the British to be the best choice using 25,000 pounds of phosphate royalties from the Banaban Provident Fund for the purchase. In December 1945 the remaining Banabans who had survived the war were relocated to Rabi where they are acknowledged as Fijian citizens and still reside there today.

Did you know?
In 1979 a new species of lizard, the Crested Iguana, was discovered on uninhabited Yaduatabu Island just off the west end of Vanua Levu.

These iguanas are similar to those found on the Galapagos Islands and may have arrived in Fiji thousands of years ago by floating on vegetation.

At one stage they were threatened by a colony of feral goats however with the good works of the National Trust for Fiji in taking over the island, an iguana sanctuary was created with the goats eliminated by an honorary warden from the Fijian village on Yadua.