The Wilderness Lodge
Description:
Situated on a coral lagoon on Gatokae Island at the southeastern tip of the Solomons’ Western Province, the Wilderness Lodge offers unique access to the rich natural and cultural world of Marovo Lagoon.
The Wilderness Lodge has been designed to meld the atmosphere of the Gatokae rainforest, ocean, and neighboring small village with Western comforts and convenience.
Meals feature local organic produce from the village gardens, fresh hand-caught seafood, and traditional and Pacific themes with an accent on health.
There is a satellite telephone on hand should you need to stay in touch.
Deepwater jetty provides walk-in boat access, easy swimming and snorkelling access with large, safe swim steps.
Accommodation:
Two private oceanfront bungalows each offer two extremely comfortable queen beds with and a foldout sofabed for families or a third single guest.
Locally handcrafted traditional sago palm leaf roofs and hardwood floors combine with timber and glass louvered walls, sliding glass doors and stunning timber finishings to provide the ultimate in cool tropical living.
Exotic hardwood interiors feature an ensuite vanity and toilet and a kitchenette, while solar arrays power the lighting, personal fans and any charging of cameras or other devices you just can't live without.
Private, outdoor, stonework showers are heated by wood-fire and provide an unforgettable way to cool down after long days in the sun, sea and rainforest. Comfortable timber deck chairs and handmade mayan hammocks enjoy epic ocean views from the wide open beachfront verandah and decking. Simply step off your deck and into the crystal clear lagoon.
The lodge accommodation comprises two sleeping rooms, each with two double beds and single bunk, perfect for scientific and student groups, fishing/spearfishing groups and families.
Diving:
Dive Wilderness offers services to a maximum of four divers, offering a great selection of dive site options from exposed pelagic dives, to protected coral gardens, and WW2 wrecks. This diving is limited to experienced divers with their own equipment.
Jump in the boat at your doorstep with your guide and in five minutes you’ll be at the very best coral, fishlife and visibility, or where the pelagics are congregating at that time, tide, and moonphase.
The remoteness means the only other people in the water are those you take with you.
Activities:
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. Explore the incredibly diverse marine and terrestrial ecosystems and the fascinating old culture of ritual headhunting which persisted into the twentieth century.
Hiking, birding, snorkeling, freediving, fishing and cultural tours are all possible here.
