The Wilderness Lodge

Situated on the lagoon-side by Peava village, on Gatokae Island at the southeastern tip of the Western Province, the Wilderness Lodge features traditional construction using sago palm leaf, wild bitalnat palm and village-sawn hardwood with exotic timber and pandanus mat interior. Catering for a maximum of eight guests, the lodge has been designed to meld the atmosphere of the Gatokae rainforest and ocean with the lifestyle of the neighboring small village whilst retaining Western comforts and convenience.

Meals feature local organic produce and seafood with traditional and Pacific themes with an accent on health. Satellite telephone & email are available should you need to stay in touch. The lodge has a solar power system with 240V/110V inverter for running and charging cameras and computers etc, wood-fired hot shower, and LPG refrigeration and cooking. A deepwater jetty provides walk-in boat access and easy swimming and snorkeling access with large, safe, swim steps. Quality snorkeling gear is available for hire at the Lodge.

The Solomon Islands contain some of the world`s best diving and most prolific and varied fishlife, lush tropical rainforest, and spectacular scenery right on your doorstep. The lodge has prime access to the three wild and uninhabited islands of Bulo, MaleMale, and Kicha, the 2900 foot jungle-clad peak of Mt Mariu, and ancient fortified villages and ceremonial sites.

The surrounding ocean provides freediving and snorkeling opportunities unsurpassed anywhere on Earth - pristine unexplored reefs with caves, swim-throughs, abyssal drop-offs and an extraordinary array of life from the tiniest exotics and crustaceans to wahoo, sailfish, and tuna. Resident schools of barracuda and electric blue fusileers are a fixture on the points and walls, and the thousand-foot deep channel between Peava and MaleMale Island has a resident school of spinner dolphins.

The reef and rainforest scenery represents a photographers dream. Hornbills,eclectus parrots and megapodes coexist with frigate birds, terns, herons, and sea eagles. The surrounding reefs and islands have provided unique opportunities to the world`s best underwater photographers and appeared in leading journals and books.
Local footpaths and old logging roads provide incredible scope for the hardcore mountainbiker - all never ridden before.

Incredibly diverse marine and terrestrial ecosystems and the fascinating old culture of ritual headhunting which persisted into the twentieth century are yet to be studied. Scientists relate - "The Solomon Islands comprise one of the most culturally, linguistically, and biologically diverse places on Earth" - " The Westen and Central Solomons present the largest knowledge gap in the prehistory of the Pacific". The Lodge concept encompasses the involvement of the scientific and documentary communities, and it is envisaged that research and film making form an integral part of the lodge`s operation as well as increasing the knowledge and awareness of the islands` natural wealth and biodiversity.

Kavachi, one of the world`s only visible submarine volcanos, lies 19 nautical miles to the southwest and can be seen erupting periodically from the weather coast. We visit Kavachi regularly [weather-permitting] to monitor eruption status and island-building activity, freedive the vent, and fish the rich waters surrounding the vent, teeming with rainbow runner, barracuda, tuna, and sharks.

Just to the north are the 400-plus coral, rainforest and mangrove islands of Marovo Lagoon, one of the richest biological areas on Earth. People of all ages, walks of life, levels of fitness, and interests will find a week or two spent relaxing at the Lodge and exploring the ocean, rainforest, and culture a rich, cleansing, and memorable experience. See you there!