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Tanna would have to be one of
the most exciting islands of the Vanuatu
archipology - no wonder, with its myriad of
natural attractions such as the world’s most
accessible volcano and the numerous traditional
villages referred to as “Kastom” which still
live as their ancestors did.
The landscape is varied and wild, dominated to
the south by mount Tukosmera (1084m) and Melen
(1047m) overshadowing ancient extinct volcanoes.
The island was first “discovered” in 1774 by
Captain Cook who gave the name of his ship, the
“Resolution” to the bay he anchored.
A variety of
attractions
At its centre, a fertile and totally organic
land called Middlebush grows the renowned “Tanna
Coffee”, oignons, root crops and fruits to be
sold throughout the archipelago. In addition to
the volcano, Tanna offers a variety of
attractions such as the dance of the Toka. The
John Frum Cargo Cult village of Sulphur Bay, the
wild horses of White Grass Plains, hot springs
of Port Resolution, deep waterfalls scattered
throughout the island accessible by foot, and
the traditional custom dancing which is a daily
event in various villages.
The Yasur Volcano
The Yasur Volcano is the most accessible live
volcano in the world. You can drive or walk up
to within 200 metres of the edge of the crater.
Take an “afternoon to night” tour where you will
experience the sunset followed by the magma
explosions only seen at night.
John Frum and the Cargo
Cult
It all started in 1940, when, now a mythical
figure John Frum came along from the sea
claiming that there would be a wealth of goods
and money if only the Europeans would leave the
island.
Soon after that, the arrival of American troops
landed with planes, jeeps, radios and cigarettes
giving credence to the myth. Red crosses were
put up in the hope that medical care would
continue to be provided free of charge. By then
it had become obvious that John Frum must have
been American (John from America). Nowadays,
this cult, which has attracted numerous
supporters, is celebrated through prayers and
dancing every Friday at Sulphur Bay. Every 15th
of February, all the believers in this cult
gather from all over the island to celebrate.
Accommodation
There are several accommodation options (in
distance from Cove Resort, Jungle Oasis, Volcano
Lodge, Friendly Bungalows, Turtle Bay Inn, Port
Resolution Yacht Club. Contact local
Organize
your stay:
There are daily
flights to Tanna with the local airline
Vanair to White Grass Airport.
• Air Vanuatu, 26985
There is no regular bus service, however,
you will find the
occasional taxi, but negotiate
the price beforehand.
Your best bet is to book through your travel
agency or
one of the local tour operators such as :
• Adventures in Paradise, 25200
• Melanesian
Tours, 26847
for more informations
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The
Toka
The NEKOWIAR Festival or TOKA is one
of the most significant custom
celebrations in the country.
Nowadays, the event, which used to
mark the end of a tribal war, is a
symbol of alliance and friendship
between different tribal groups. Its
preparation requires several months
and can even spread over a full year.
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