air safaris vanuatu

Air Safaris Vanuatu Office

•    Lake Tekapo 7999, New Zealand
•    +64 3 680 6880
•    8.00am – 5.30pm seven days
•    www.airsafaris.co.nz
•    [email protected]

Home » Air Safaris » Air Safaris Vanuatu Office

Air Safaris Vanuatu Office Address

Lake Tekapo 7999, New Zealand

Official website :  https://airsafaris.co.nz/

All the  Air Safaris Airline Offices   information around the globe.

Air Safaris Vanuatu Airport Address

Bauerfield International Airport 8829+7V9, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Airport Contact Number :  +678 20200

Air Safaris Vanuatu Office Phone Numbers/Reservation Contact Number

Tel  :+64 3 680 6880

Email : [email protected] Fax : NA

Working hours 8.00am – 5.30pm seven days

Air Safaris Baggage Services Contact Information

Tel : +64 3-680 6880 Fax : NA

Air Safaris Baggage Allowance

Air safaris offers a variety of plane / aircraft types.

Total fleet: 08

• Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
• GAF N24A Nomad
• Bell 206 Long Ranger

Customer Care at Air Safaris Vanuatu Office handles the following inquiries.

Air safaris other locations.

• Air Safaris Lake Tekapo Office in New Zealand
• Air Safaris Grand Traverse Office in Michigan
• Air Safaris Melbourne Office in Australia
• Air Safaris Mombasa Office in Kenya
• Air Safaris Timaru Office in NZ
• Air Safaris Franz Josef Office in NZ

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Related Pages

Travel Guide

• Things to Do
• Things to See
• Getting Around

Getting Around in Vanuatu

Air Vanuatu runs regularly scheduled service throughout the islands. The planes are small and loud, and many of the “airports” are simple airstrips, often made of grass. The airports at Port Vila, Whitegrass (Tanna), and Luganville (Espiritu Santo) have sales desks that are open daily from 6am to 6pm. The main office in Vila is open Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5pm and Saturday 8am to 11:30am. Fares depend on distance to destination. Vanuatu Helicopters fly just about anywhere in the group on request, and price is by arrangement. Their office is on the seawall on the Vila waterfront by the Nambawan Café. There are also smaller charter operations (see More Information).

There is no regular ferry service between Port Vila and the various other islands of the group. Several operators run mixed cargo/passenger services when they fill the boat; news of impending departures is available on public radio and by asking at the harbor. The boats are cramped and uncomfortable, if not downright dangerous, and the journeys are long, so this mode is best avoided by all but the hardiest and most adventurous of travelers. Transport around the coast of the outer islands is by speedboat; prices and timetables are by negotiation. Ask a local.

On Efate only, any minivan with a red B on the license plate or in the window is a bus. There are designated bus stops, but buses are hailed anywhere with a raised arm or other conspicuous signal to the driver. Routes are decided ad hoc, depending where passengers want to go. Prices within Vila are VT100 per person. The fare doubles to destinations in the immediate outskirts of town, and you’ll need to negotiate if you plan to go further — it is wise to do the negotiating before setting off. Other companies (such as Adventures in Paradise) operate larger, air-conditioned vehicles for charter and tour groups. Some do airport and resort transfers by arrangement.

On Efate, taxis are vehicles with a T on the license plate, on the roof, or in the window. You can hire a taxi to take you on a tour. On other islands, taxis are usually pick-up trucks, and you’re likely to have to ride on the deck. On the outer islands, you can usually hail any private vehicle and come to an agreement with the driver.

More Information

Air Vanuatu: tel. 23-878; www.airvanuatu.com.vu

Vanuatu Helicopters: phone: tel. 77/44-106; www.vanuatuhelicopters.com

Air Safaris: tel. 77/45-207 or 77/92-227; email: [email protected]

Air Taxi-Vanuatu: tel. 554-4206; www.airtaxivanuatu.com

Unity Airlines: tel. 24-475; email: [email protected]

Fresh Cargo Ltd: tel. 22-660; email: [email protected]

Ifira Shipping Company Ltd: tel. 24-135

Toara Coastal Shipping Company: tel. 22-370

Adventures in Paradise: tel. 25-200; email: [email protected]

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

• All Regions
• Australia & South Pacific
• Caribbean & Atlantic
• Central & South America
• Middle East & Africa
• North America
• Washington, D.C.
• San Francisco
• New York City
• Los Angeles
• Arts & Culture
• Beach & Water Sports
• Local Experiences
• Food & Drink
• Outdoor & Adventure
• National Parks
• Winter Sports
• Travelers with Disabilities
• Family & Kids
• All Slideshows
• Hotel Deals
• Car Rentals
• Flight Alerts
• Credit Cards & Loyalty Points
• Cruise News
• Entry Requirements & Customs
• Car, Bus, Rail News
• Money & Fees
• Health, Insurance, Security
• Packing & Luggage
• -Arthur Frommer Online
• -Passportable
• Road Trip Guides
• Alaska Made Easy
• Great Vacation Ideas in the U.S.A.
• Best of the Caribbean
• Best of Mexico
• Cruise Inspiration
• Best Places to Go 2024

• Air Safaris

Air Safaris is a local charter and flight experience business here to help you explore Vanuatu & show you the best kept secrets of the South Pacific

Phone Number : +678 7745207

Website : www.airsafaris.vu..

Categories : Tour Agency

Address : General Aviation Apron, Bauerfield international airport, 0000 Port-Vila

GPS Coordinates : -17.7333 , 168.317

Facebook : facebook.com/262006213982040

Instagram : Photos and Videos

Tour Agencies in Vanuatu

🚩 Report this page

Tour Agencies nearby

Companies and places nearby, what hotels, hostels and apartments are located near air safaris.

There is a list of nearest hotels: Travellers Budget Motel is a three stars hotel located at Avenue Du Stade, in 409 meters northwest . Wai Melmelo Guest House is a three stars hotel located at Fresh Water 1, P O Box 1622, TEL:(678)27038, in 457 meters northeast . Pacific Paradise Motel is a three stars hotel located at P.O Box 487, in 535 meters east . Sarangkita Beach Front Villa is a four stars hotel located at 64 Narpow Point, White Sands, in 558 meters east . Room With A View is a three stars hotel located at Rene Pujol, in 562 meters northwest . Travellers Oasis Lodge is a two stars hotel located at stade Area, P.o.Box 3395, in 568 meters northwest . Business Class Hotel is a three stars hotel located at Rue Bougainville, in 572 meters southwest .

Your can find and book more hotels, hostels and apartments on our interactive hotels map .

Nearby cities, towns and villages

• 🇻🇺 Port Vila

Reviews by country

• 🇲🇾  Malaysia   1204
• 🇦🇺  Australia   952
• 🇮🇳  India   893
• 🇿🇦  South Africa   877
• 🇬🇧  United Kingdom   659
• 🇨🇦  Canada   636
• 🇵🇭  Philippines   489
• 🇺🇦  Ukraine   308
• 🇬🇷  Greece   295
• 🇳🇬  Nigeria   268
• 🇵🇰  Pakistan   204
• 🇪🇸  Spain   198

Reviews about other places

Questions about other places.

• 🏠 WorldPlaces ›
• 🇻🇺 Vanuatu ›

Languages 1

• 1.1 History
• 1.2 Climate
• 1.3 Culture
• 1.4 Holidays
• 1.5 Visitor information
• 4 Other destinations
• 5.2 By boat
• 5.3 By plane
• 6.1 By airplane
• 10.2 Tipping and gifts
• 10.3 Shopping
• 11.1 Lap lap
• 11.4 Seafood
• 12.2 Alcohol
• 13.1 Budget
• 14.1 Volunteer
• 15 Stay safe
• 16 Stay healthy
• 17.1 Photography
• 18.1 Telephone
• 18.2 Radio and television
• 18.3 Internet
• 18.4 Postal services

Vanuatu (previously known as the New Hebrides Islands ) is an archipelago nation in the southwest Pacific Ocean. The archipelago more than 80 islands includes deserted sand beaches, remote beauty, tribal communities and world-class deep-sea diving.

Understand [ edit ]

Vanuatu is one of the smallest of five independent Melanesian countries in the southwest Pacific. The archipelago of 83 or so islands includes deserted sand beaches, remote beauty, tribal communities and world-class deep-sea diving.

History [ edit ]

The prehistory of Vanuatu is obscure; archaeological evidence supports the commonly held theory that peoples speaking Austronesian languages first came to the islands some 4,000 years ago. Pottery fragments have been found dating back to 1300–1100 BC.

The first island in the Vanuatu group discovered by Europeans was Espiritu Santo, when in 1606 the Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes de Queirós working for the Spanish crown, spied what he thought was a southern continent. Europeans did not return until 1768. In 1774, Captain Cook named the islands the New Hebrides, a name that lasted until independence.

During the 1860s, planters in Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, and the Samoa Islands, in need of labourers, instigated a long-term indentured labor trade called "blackbirding": essentially slavery. At the height of the labor trade, more than one-half the adult male population of several of the islands worked abroad. Fragmentary evidence indicates that the current population of Vanuatu is much lower than that of pre-contact times.

The British and French agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium. Challenges to this form of government began in the early 1940s. The arrival of Americans during World War II, with their informal demeanor and relative wealth, was instrumental in the rise of nationalism in the islands. The belief in a mythical messianic figure named John Frum was the basis for an indigenous cargo cult (a movement attempting to obtain industrial goods through magic) promising Melanesian deliverance. Today, John Frum is both a religion and a political party with a member of Parliament.

In 1980, amidst the brief Coconut War, the independent Republic of Vanuatu was created. During the 1990s Vanuatu experienced political instability which eventually resulted in a more decentralized government. The Vanuatu Mobile Force, a paramilitary group, attempted a coup in 1996 because of a pay dispute.

Vanuatu sustained extensive damage due to Cyclone Pam in March 2015. While the island of Espiritu Santo was unscathed, destruction on many outer islands was severe.

European settlers released several saltwater crocodiles on the island, although there remain 2 or 3 medium-sized individuals on the Banks Islands and no breeding has been observed. Despite its proximity to Papua New Guinea, crocodiles do not naturally occur on Vanuatu.

Climate [ edit ]

With such a large north-south area, Vanuatu has all the tropical variances possible. From hot and humid in the north, to mild and dry in the south. The Capital Port Vila on Efate can expect 27°C in July to 30°C in January. Nights can drop to 12°C. Humidity from December to February is around 82% and 70% around July.

Rainfall from January to April is around 300 mm per month, for the rest of the year around 200 mm per month. The Banks Islands in the top North can receive above 4,000mm of rain in a year, yet the southern islands may receive less than 2,000 mm.

Cyclones are natural phenomena to understand and respect. Mainstream tourism facilities are solidly built and experienced in cyclone management. Cyclones appear (in varying degrees with plenty of warning) on an average every couple of years from December to March. By following instructions given by the local authorities, you will be in no danger.

Yachties commonly avoid cyclones from Nov through April. There are no effective cyclone holes for any size of ship in Vanuatu. Yachties typically leave to the north of the equator, New Caledonia, New Zealand or Australia. There is a small boatyard in Port Vila with haulout facilities for yachts.

Tourism peaks from July to December. January to June is quietest. Experienced travellers take advantage of these tourism troughs to travel, as airlines, accommodation providers and other tourism-related businesses discount heavily during this period.

January to June is a little more humid, but cooled by the occasional tropical downpour. The added bonus is that in this period, tourism numbers are low. You have more opportunities to mingle with locals and aimlessly do your own thing instead of being rushed by the crowd (except when cruise ships are in port).

Culture [ edit ]

Vanuatu retains a strong diversity through local regional variants and foreign influence. In the north, wealth is established by how much one can give away. Pigs, particularly those with rounded tusks are considered a symbol of wealth throughout Vanuatu. More traditional Melanesian cultural systems dominate in the central region.

Holidays [ edit ]

• 1 January : New Year's Day
• 21 February : Father Lini Day
• 5 March : Custom Chief's Day
• Easter (in accordance with the Gregorian calendar)
• 30 July : Independence Day
• 5 October : Constitution Day
• 29 November : Unity Day
• 25 December : Christmas Day
• 26 December : Family Day

Visitor information [ edit ]

• Vanuatu Travel website

Regions [ edit ]

The 83 islands of Vanuatu are grouped into six geographic provinces, the names formed by combining the first syllables or letters of the major islands in each.

Matthew and Hunter are uninhabited islands southeast of Aneityum. Aneityum people believe that the islands are in their historical territory. Aneityum appears to have provided the ancestors of the people of New Caledonia and there are cultural links particularly with the Loyalty Islands.

Cities [ edit ]

• -17.73333 168.316667 1 Port-Vila - capital
• -15.5128 167.1735 2 Luganville

Other destinations [ edit ]

• -16.7225 168.231389 1 Epi Island
• -15.416667 166.9 2 Espiritu Santo - Vanuatu's biggest island, and popular with divers. It boasts shipwrecks for scuba diving, delightful beaches, coconut plantations, jungle and traditional villages where young men still engage in age-old rituals to celebrate their coming of age, and where women are provided with special places to stay for the time they menstruate. Champagne Beach can compete with any other beach in the South Pacific, and is therefore one of the most popular places to visit.
• Malekula - A good place to dive into the divers' cultural traditions of indigenous peoples of Vanuatu. This is a place where stories of cannibals and spirit caves come to life and a good chance to watch the ritual kastom dances of the locals, in this case, the Small Nambas and Big Nambas people.

Get in [ edit ]

Visas [ edit ]

A long list of countries are exempted from visas [1] , which includes all Commonwealth and EU member countries. All visitors must have a passport valid for a further 4 months and an onward ticket. On arrival, you will be allowed an initial stay of up to 30 days, extended one month at a time for up to 4 months.

By boat [ edit ]

• Vanuatu's main ports are Port-Vila on the island of Efate and Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo .
• Various cruise lines including P&O Australia operate regular cruises through Vanuatu waters.

Subsequent 11-night cruises explore the Banks Islands, then the isolated islands of central Vanuatu, depart from Port Vila via Tanna island to New Caledonia on 19 Oct.

By plane [ edit ]

The main international airport is in Port-Vila ( VLI  IATA ):

• Air Vanuatu [dead link] flies from Port-Vila to Australia ( Brisbane , Sydney , Melbourne ), New Zealand ( Auckland ), Fiji ( Nadi ) and New Caledonia ( Nouméa ).
• Fiji Airways flies from Port-Vila to Fiji (Nadi).
• Aircalin flies from Port-Vila to New Caledonia (Nouméa).
• Solomon Airlines flies from Port-Vila to the Solomon Islands ( Honiara ) and Fiji (Nadi).

There is another international airport in Luganville ( SON  IATA ) on Espiritu Santo .

• Air Vanuatu flies directly from both Sydney and Brisbane to Luganville. Both flights are codesharing flights with Qantas ].

Get around [ edit ]

By airplane [ edit ]

There are a few charter airlines, these are Unity Airlines, Sea Air and Air Safaris, however the national airline Air Vanuatu operates the domestic network.

Within Vanuatu, several companies provide boating service between the islands. These include Fresh Cargo, Ifira Shipping Agencies and Toara Coastal Shipping.

By bus [ edit ]

From the airport, walk across the parking lot to the street, then simply take a bus/van into Port Vila for much cheaper than a tourist taxi at the terminal. In Port Vila, the buses are private minivans operated as public transport, seating about 10 people, which largely traverse the main road picking up and dropping off on request. They are purchased by individuals and villages (communal revenue source), to operate as businesses. Wave at them to stop one heading in the direction you want to go (tell them - you'll get a 'yes' or 'no'). They actually only go one-way along the main street in Port Vila, then leave in all directions a few blocks away. They are plentiful within the city and outside the city you can usually arrange for a bus to meet you at a particular time. If one looks full, just wait for the next one. The buses are used by locals, but are very friendly, cheap, and easy to use by tourists. Fare is usually calculated per person. The cost is usually 150 vatu per person anywhere around Port Vila. If you are traveling a longer distance, the fare may rise to 300 - 500 vatu per person.

Taxi [ edit ]

Taxis are plentiful within Port Vila. But the vans are MUCH cheaper. Just as reliable.

Talk [ edit ]

There are three official languages: English, French and Bislama. Bislama is a pidgin language, and now a creole in urban areas, which essentially combines a typically Melanesian grammar with a mostly English vocabulary. It is the only language that can be understood and spoken by the whole population of Vanuatu, generally as a second language.

It is a mixture of phonetic English woven in a loose French sentence structure spoken with ‘local sound' producing some comical outcomes e.g., ladies brassieres or bathing top is called "Basket blong titi"; no offense intended. An excellent Bislama dictionary is available from good bookshops: A New Bislama Dictionary , by the late Terry Crowley. Some common Bislama words/phrases include:

• Me / you - mi / yu
• Him / her / it (neither masculine nor feminine)
• this here - hem/ hemia
• Us /we / all of us - mifala / mifala evriwan
• You / you (plural) - yu / yufala
• I do not know/understand - mi no save
• See you later / ta ta - Lukim yu/ tata
• I am going now - ale (French derivation of allez) mi go
• One/ two / three - wan / tu / tri
• How much (is that) - hamas (long hem)
• Plenty or many - plenti
• Filled to capacity / overfilled - fulap / fulap tumas (too much)
• Day / evening / night - dei / sava (literally supper) / naet
• Hot / cold - hot / kol
• What / what is that - wanem / wanem ia (literally wanem here?)
• Why / why did you - frowanem (for why?)
• Please / thank you / sorry (very sorry) - plis / tangkyu / sori (sori tumas) - sorry too much
• Do you know - yu save (pronounced savee)

In addition, 113 indigenous languages are still actively spoken in Vanuatu. The density of languages per capita is the highest of any nation in the world, with an average of only 2,000 speakers per language. All of these vernacular languages belong to the Oceanic branch of the Austronesian family.

See [ edit ]

Vanuatu is not on the average traveler's destination wish list, except perhaps for those with a love for scuba diving, as divers have discovered the underwater treasures of this South Pacific archipelago a long time ago. However, even if you don't plan on touching this country's bright blue waters, it's a colourful mix of traditional Melanesian culture, friendly people, beautiful tropical beaches, active volcanoes and all the modern day facilities you'll need to have a great time.

The many islands rimmed with perfect sandy beaches offer lovely Pacific views. The Bank Islands boast great beaches combined with rugged terrain. On the largest of the Banks Islands, Gaua , you'll find the Siri Waterfall , which gets its water from the country's biggest crater lake: Lake Letas . Head to the island of Tanna to see Mount Yasur, the world's most accessible active volcano. A tourist favourite, Tanna is also home to waterfalls and men in penis sheaths and grass skirts. If you get the chance, stay to witness one of their ancient festivals or rituals.

Efate is the place where most visitors begin their encounter with Vanuatu and home to the country's friendly little capital, Port Vila . It strives to bring the best of the archipelago together and is the go-to place for fine wining and dining.

Other places well worth visiting include Aoba Island (known for the crater lakes on top of the large volcano that defines the islands) and Pentecost (the spiritual birthplace of bungee jumping). Last but not least, the active volcanoes, lava lakes and local villagers' artwork are a good reason to stay in one of the traditional style bungalows on Ambrym .

Do [ edit ]

2022 - Just stop a van, ask the driver if he will be returning to your starting point. If so, get in (front seat if empty) and enjoy talking to many of the great and friendly locals riding the bus/van ( In my experience, they want to learn about you and your country and viewpoints). You'll go into small villages, to small homes as they drop a local off, see the real Vanuatu that nearly no one else ever does. Rent a vehicle, then driver yourself around the main island and back to Port Vila. GO SLOWLY, lots of small kids, people walking everywhere, and animals. Basically only one main road circles the island. Very hard to get 'lost'.

Take a local/locals' water taxi across the harbor to some other location in the Port Vila harbor.

There is a small take away restaurant by the supermarket, next to the public market. Look over the wall into the ocean, you'll be amazed by all the brightly colored and oddly shaped fish waiting to be fed rice and chicken bones, by the diners.

Buy [ edit ]

Money [ edit ].

The local currency is the Ni-Vanuatu vatu (VT). (ISO currency code: VUV ). There are notes for 200 VT, 500 VT, 1000 VT, 2000 VT, 5000 VT, and 10,000 VT while coins include 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 VT pieces. The current series of vatu banknotes is printed entirely on polymer. Two series of vatu coins are in circulation, the post-independence (1982) issues and the new 2015 issues.

Credit cards and debit cards on the major networks (Cirrus, Maestro, etc.) are accepted by many businesses in town.

ATMs are available in Port Vila, and include the Australian banks ANZ and Westpac. The National Bank of Vanuatu has a branch at the airport and is open for all flight arrivals. Otherwise, banking hours are from 08:30 to 15:00.

Tipping and gifts [ edit ]

Tipping is not expected in Vanuatu, nor is haggling or bargaining; it is not the custom and only encourages a "master-servant" relationship. However, gifts are very appreciated and the exchange of gifts for services rendered fits well into the local traditions. Western governments have a hard time coming to terms with this practice as it is interpreted as bribery and corruption. But in the Melanesian culture, this practice is a normal way to do business... well before the European colonisers introduced money.

A bag of rice to a village chief may be received with gratitude and dignity, but to offer triple the value in cash may be regarded as patronising, plus it will artificially inflate the price for the next traveller; set a wrong expectation, and rapidly destroy the genuine spontaneous friendship so easily given to you.

A nice gesture is to give phone cards or a T-shirt, or school pads, pens, etc. for the children.

Shopping [ edit ]

There are two market areas along the foreshore in Port-Vila. The main market sells mostly food, and you can find all kinds of local produce there. Further north, near the beach, there is a row of grass-roofed market stalls that sell clothing, bags, sarongs and other items.

The woven grass bags and mats are widely available and very attractive.

Eat [ edit ]

There are many restaurants and eateries in Port-Vila, ranging from up-market places catering to tourists and expats, to more low-key establishments. The approximate cost of lunch would be around the 1000-1500 VT range, depending on where and what you eat. Some examples of prices:

• sandwiches, around 450-600 VT
• bacon and eggs, 750 VT
• burger with fries or salad, around 1000 VT
• main meal, e.g. steak or seafood, 1200-2000 VT
• large, fresh-squeezed fruit juice, around 500VT

Lap lap [ edit ]

The traditional dish which you will most likely be offered once during your stay is a root vegetable cake called lap lap. Essentially this is either manioc (cassava), sweet potato, taro or yam shaved into the middle of a banana leaf with island cabbage and sometimes a chicken wing on top. This is all wrapped up into a flat package and then cooked in hot stones underground till it all melts together into a cake. The best place to pick up some of this is at the food market in the town centre and should cost you about 100 VT.

Tuluk [ edit ]

Tuluk is a variation of lap lap with the cake rolled into a cylinder with meat in the middle. It tastes a lot like a sausage roll. You can find these again in the market (usually from mele village people) but they will be served from foam boxes to keep them warm.

Steak [ edit ]

Vanuatu's meat is renowned in the Melanesian region. At the airports, you will see signs reminding you to pack the 25 kg of meat permitted to other nearby island nations. The reason the meat tastes so good is that the livestock are naturally reared, with no feedlots or other mass production methods used in some Western countries. This results in a steak that is very good indeed.

Seafood [ edit ]

As you may expect from an island nation, seafood is a common option and the quality is generally excellent. Reef fish are commonly found in restaurants, along with many varieties of prawns, lobster and the delectable coconut crab.

The coconut crab is only found in parts of the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean, and has been declining in numbers so rapidly that it is now a protected species in most areas. There is a minimum legal size requirement in Vanuatu of four centimetres, but the creature can grow to over 8 cm in length with a leg span of up to 90 cm. The crab gets its name as it climbs palms to cut down and eat coconuts; nothing to do with the flavour.

Drink [ edit ]

Kava [ edit ]

Kava is a local drink, made from the roots of the plant Piper methysticum , a type of pepper. Kava is intoxicating, but not like alcohol. Its effects are sedative. Some travellers have experienced a hangover from its consumption.

Kava is consumed in private homes and in local venues called Nakamal. Some of the resorts also offer kava on occasion for visitors to try.

Kava is served in a "shell" or small bowl. Drink the whole shell-ful down steadily, then spit. It's handy to have a soft drink on hand to rinse with afterwards, as the taste of kava is strong and not very pleasant.

It is worth noting that the kava available in Vanuatu is generally a much stronger variety than the kava found in other Pacific islands such as Fiji, where it is comparatively mild. Four or five large shells in a typical kava bar will leave the inexperienced drinker reeling (or worse) after a couple of hours, and it can take a day to recover.

Good advice to experience kava as pleasantly as possible is to go with an experienced drinker and follow their lead, take the small shells, and stop after an hour and a half. It's quite easy to find a local kava drinking buddy, just ask around your hotel and you'll find volunteers, maybe at the cost of a shell or two.

Kava bars (or Nakamals) are normally dark places with very dim or no lighting at all. This is because bright lights and kava intoxication do not go together well: so be careful with flash photography, which may not be received very well in such venues.

Alcohol [ edit ]

Alcoholic beverages are also widely available. Resorts, bars and restaurants serving tourists serve a wide range of drinks. The local beers are called Tusker and Vanuatu Bitter. Note that take-away alcohol sales are prohibited on Sundays.

Sleep [ edit ]

There is a choice of all types of accommodation, including resorts in Port-Vila .

Budget [ edit ]

When visiting other islands or villages outside of the cities, there are many small guest houses that charge around 2000 VT per night and offer full service (meals, laundry, etc.)

Many of the motels in Port-Vila and Luganville also fall into the budget category, with prices around 2000 VT per night. There are a number of websites which list such motels.

Work [ edit ]

Many people from overseas work in Vanuatu, either running their own businesses or employed by others.

Generally speaking, work permits are only available for positions where there are not enough ni-Vanuatu to meet demand.

Volunteer [ edit ]

There are many charitable organisations and NGOs operating in Vanuatu, and a strong community of volunteers in the area. If you are interested in volunteering in Vanuatu, the following organisations place volunteers there:

• Peace Corps
• Oxfam Australia

Stay safe [ edit ]

Vanuatu is, on the whole, a safe and friendly environment. You are unlikely to encounter any trouble unless you do something extremely provocative, though crime rates are said to be increasing, particularly in Port Vila at night. Take the same precautions you would anywhere else.

There are no seriously poisonous snakes, spiders, or insects on Vanuatu. However, there are various poisonous aquatic animals that you should beware of if you are swimming, snorkeling, or diving in the area. The most dangerous of these is the stonefish. Saltwater crocodiles are present, but the likelihood of an attack is minimal.

Stay healthy [ edit ]

It is advisable to be immunised against Hepatitis A and B and typhoid fever before visiting Vanuatu.

Malaria is endemic within some areas of Vanuatu, but not Port-Vila . If you are venturing outside the resort areas, check with your doctor before you travel. Malaria may not be endemic but you may come in contact with mosquito carriers and visitors from outer islands who have malaria - particularly in the wet season and at the hospital.

Dengue fever is also mosquito vectored in Port-Vila and elsewhere particularly in the wet season. Be familiar with the symptoms as there is no cure all for dengue and malaria symptoms are intermittently leading to misdiagnosis. Many local clinics in the outer islands can test you for malaria.

Malaria preventative drugs have side effects which can cause problems in the sun, scuba diving, general stability and digestion.

Tap water in Port-Vila is clean and potable, but is best avoided elsewhere. Bottled water is not available outside the main cities. Fizzy drinks but not beer may be available outside the main cities. Giardiasis after using local water is rare. Tourism, cattle raising, and the rapidly rising population are placing stress on municipal water supplies.

Doctors used to treating common travel ailments are available in Port-Vila and Luganville . Any more serious problems may require some form of medical evacuation.

Be careful of any small cuts, scratches, or other sores you receive while travelling in Vanuatu. As in most tropical areas, small sores can easily become infected if you don't practice proper hygiene. Most of these things require common sense. Protect the wound with a sterile dressing and keep it dry.

Respect [ edit ]

Throughout Vanuatu, and especially outside of Port-Vila in the villages, life is strongly influenced by "kastom", a set of traditional customs and taboos that apply to all kinds of matters. Be aware of this, and respect locals' requests with regard to "kastom".

When visiting villages, women should dress modestly, wearing clothes that cover the shoulders and knees.

Christian religion is very strong. It seems common to invite and welcome visitors to attend local church services on a Sunday.

Revealing and sexy clothing (especially wearing beachwear in the capital) is not advisable, as over 100 years of missionary work has had its effect on the perception of what is considered as respectable attire in the islands. Regardless, it's considered disrespectful to the local people and can be interpreted by some indigenous inhabitants as an invitation for sex.

As Vanuatu is not a ‘fashion conscious' place no-one will notice or care if you were wearing the latest from 'the Paris Collection' or not. You are best off bringing a practical tropical wardrobe such as light cotton summer clothes that are easy to hand wash, a pullover and a lightweight waterproof wind jacket. If planning to go to the outer islands, bring a good flashlight (with spare batteries, you will use them), lightweight, walking shoes, sandals or good thongs (flip-flops or crocs) for wet weather and old clothes.

When exploring the outer islands take all the older clothes you can carry, wear them and give them away to the islanders when you are finished wearing them. You and your children will be aptly rewarded in other ways. Instead of dumping your worn clothes in a charity collection bin at your local shopping centre, your children will interact with the very people who would be the recipients of those clothes (most NiVanuatu people buy these second-hand clothes from shops in Port-Vila).

Sharing and giving is a natural course of daily life in Vanuatu. The T-shirt you give to one person will be worn by all his friends as well. Three T-shirts on top of each other will be their winter outfit. You will provide them things that are hard for them to obtain, save them the expense of buying clothes (basic wages are quite low in Vanuatu) and you will depart with priceless memories, plus have more in your luggage for purchased local arts and crafts.

Communicating with NiVanuatu people :

• In Vanuatu, the display of anger, displeasure or irritability at a person or situation will reduce the recipient to a stony silence with a lack of co-operation or empathy to your point of view. Please be patient as it is a waste of time complaining. It will have no bearing on the outcome. And if you are verbally abusive, you will generate one of three responses: smiling, subdued laughter, or a fist in your face.
• Don't ask a question with the answer built into it. Locals will always agree in order not to contradict you. "Is this the road to X?" will generate a Yes. Try: "Where is the road to X..?", and you might get a different answer.
• Direct eye contact or raised voice level contact may be interpreted as intimidation. A local person's voice level combined with body language may be directly opposite to Europeans. He or she may nod agreement with everything you say in order not to offend you but may not have understood a word you have said.
• If you're in a bus and people on the footpath are turning their backs to you, don't be offended: they're simply letting the driver know that they don't require him to stop. There are few bus stops in Vanuatu, and those that exist don't get much use.
• If you see men or women holding hands, it's not what you may think. Men hold hands with other men, or women with women, because there is no sexual connotation attached to it. However, you will very rarely see a man holding a woman's hand in public because this would be considered as a public exhibition of sexual relations.

Photography [ edit ]

The Vanuatu people are a delight to photograph, friendly, co-operative and photogenic especially the children who are simply gorgeous. Yes, they love to be photographed but do not offer to pay to photograph local people as this will quickly discourage spontaneity and encourage commercialisation. Always ask before taking photos of local people.

In some cases, some people may be reluctant to be photographed for reasons that you may never know. It is prudent to enquire as to the fee for photographing cultural festivities as they are sometimes very high. The reasoning behind this is they put on the show, people take photos and make money selling these photos of their show, so they want to be paid accordingly. Shooting an exploding volcano at night calls for at least 800 asa setting and a tripod is essential for good images.

Connect [ edit ]

Telephone [ edit ]

The international country code for Vanuatu is +678. To dial overseas from within Vanuatu dial 00 followed by the relevant country code and phone number.

Emergency phone numbers: Ambulance (22-100); Fire (22-333); and Police (22-222).

Vanuatu has GSM mobile coverage in Port-Vila and most GSM mobile phones roam seamlessly. You can buy special visitor SIM cards from TVI , which offer considerable discounts over roaming charges. Available at any post office.

International roaming from New Zealand and Australia is available. Telecom Vanuatu has a package called ‘Smile Visitor' which consists of a sim card with a pre-purchased credit. This can be purchased at the Vanuatu Telecom Office in town. Telephone: +678 081111. Email: [email protected]

Digicel is giving Telecom some overdue competition. Digicel offer a range of packages, and are widely available.

Radio and television [ edit ]

Many international radio stations such as Radio Australia, BBC World Service, Radio France International and China Radio International can be heard on FM radio in Port-Vila and in some other locations.

The national broadcaster, Radio Vanuatu is mostly broadcast in Bislama, but sometimes is in English and French. It is also available on AM and SW.

Distant AM broadcasts from Australia, New Caledonia and Fiji may also be heard.

Local and international TV broadcasts are available, but the national broadcaster 'Television Blong Vanuatu' is the only free-to air option.

Other broadcasts can be found on Telsat's Digital Pay TV service or via satellite.

Internet [ edit ]

Internet cafes can be found in Luganville & Port-Vila. You may also find that some post offices will also provide some kind of Internet facilities, and can be found on the main streets in Port-Vila and Luganville as well as on Espiritu Santo.

Postal services [ edit ]

Postal services to mainland Europe can take up to 7 days. You can send letters and postcards from mailboxes in the streets, however the incoming postal service can be patchy, especially for parcels, so don't rely on people sending you things while you're staying in Vanuatu.

• Has custom banner
• Has map markers
• Articles with dead external links
• Outline countries
• Outline articles
• Country articles
• Has Geo parameter
• All destination articles
• Pages with maps

Navigation menu

© 1998-2024 ch-aviation GmbH. All rights reserved.

Air Safaris (Vanuatu)

Volcano Tours

fly over live volcanoes!

Tanna – Mt Yasur Volcano Day Tour

A tour to Tanna Island to view Vanuatu’s famous Mt Yasur Volcano is an experience of a lifetime. Mt Yasur Volcano, on the southern Vanuatu island of Tanna, is probably the archipelago’s most iconic landmark, and justly so. The locals cannot remember a time when Tanna Volcano wasn’t coughing up its blazing entrails, shooting lava bombs and a volcanic ash cloud hundreds of meters into the air, every few minutes. Leaving Vanuatu without having witnessed ‘up close and personal’ the Mt Yasur Volcano fireworks phenomena is akin to not seeing the Eiffel Tower when visiting Paris!

Tanna – Mt Yasur Volcano Overnight Tour

It is generally agreed that Mt Yasur Volcano is best viewed at night; the explosive molten magma displays are truly awesome. Our Tanna Overnight Tour from Port Vila allows you to view the volcano both during the daytime and after dark, when the natural fireworks show is at its most spectacular.

Price Beat Guarantee

While we believe we offer the best prices for tours to Tanna Volcano, if you are quoted a better price from another operator for a similar Tour to Tanna, we will happily beat it!

Easy & Quick Booking

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

Adventure Resorts & Islands

• Vanuatu Home
• Constitution
• Judicial system
• Public–private partnerships
• Key projects
• Supporting the public sector
• The business environment
• Government politics
• Local government
• National development plan
• Governance institutions

Key Projects of Vanuatu

Island bungalows (vanuatu safaris air pass).

Although tourism is an important source of foreign exchange for Vanuatu, the benefits of are not always felt by communities in the country’s outer islands. Strategies have been launched to generate tourist interest in more remote locations by creating a tourism industry on the islands, including accommodation in ‘island bungalows’ – small bush cabins built from local materials – and making travel to the outer islands more financially viable for tourists. The Vanuatu Island Bungalow Association (VIBA) is responsible for overseeing the development of this tourism development programme. To develop the programme, a partnership was established between VIBA, Vanuatu’s regional airline Safaris Air Pass, island bungalow managers, travel agents and wholesalers, local tour operators and international funding agencies. Safaris Air Pass provided coupons to save 50 per cent on regional air travel.

Access to renewable energy in rural areas

A public–private partnership seeks to assist tourism operators in undertaking business environment reforms to create more favourable business and investment conditions, by defining a framework to enable rural tourism operators to access renewable energy. The project aims to develop appropriate models of renewable energy access in rural areas, participate with current sector activities and bring about the development of a Vanuatu Energy Road Map. A public–private partnership mechanism will be developed to link private renewable energy suppliers with rural tourism operators.

Public-Private Partnerships

After gaining independence in 1980 the government played the main role in providing services and development projects to the country. In 1991, following a downfall in service delivery, development and economy, the government saw a need to undergo national reform, allowing the government to outsource infrastructure development to the private sector. The Priority Action Agenda (PAA) 2006–15 laid out plans for infrastructure development investment. These plans aimed to establish profitable and competitively priced infrastructure, utilities and services, either through public enterprises or private sector partnerships. As well as this, the PAA aimed to encourage the development of a competitive private sector in the provision of utilities and services and minimise the subsidy requirements for public utilities.

In 2010, the Infrastructure Development Master Plan was implemented for the development of infrastructure in the areas of transport utilities and looked for funding assistance from donors or financing institutions. Private sector participation in the implementation of government infrastructure development plans is backed by the constitution, as well as the Government Contracts and Tenders Act 1998, the Public Finance and Economic Management Act and the Public Service Act. There is no specific PPP policy or legal framework in place in Vanuatu, although the government has been trying to establish a policy, legal framework and governance structure since 1991. In 2008 the Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) 2008 legislation was introduced by the government specifically for the purpose of developing a PPP for the construction of an international airport, but the project did not attract sufficient investment interest and so the legislation has never been used.

• All member countries
• Our network:
• Commonwealth of Nations
• Commonwealth Education Online
• Commonwealth Health Online

© 2024 Nexus Partnerships Limited

Your Flying Safaris Starts in the Skies

Our Collective

Melissa Siebert

Wilderness Air Pilot Sam O’Donovan Shares the Thrills of Flying Africa 

Our aviation partner, Wilderness Air (WA), celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, growing from flying just one light aircraft out of Maun, Botswana, to now operating a fleet of 29 aircraft in four countries. Safety, seamless service, and an outstanding team of pilots are WA’s hallmarks.

In June I was lucky enough to fly with WA pilot Sam O’Donovan – wangling my way into the Cessna Grand Caravan’s co-pilot’s seat – en route from Maun to Botswana’s Linyanti Wildlife Reserve. We chatted a bit in the cockpit, he pointing out landmarks along the way and telling me to look for elephant gathering at the pans far below.

I learned that he’s from Christchurch, New Zealand, worked as a flight instructor in New Zealand and Australia, and has been flying for Wilderness for nearly seven years. But safety concerns and the roar of the engine ruled out too much talk. So I caught up with Sam soon afterwards – to find out more about life as a WA pilot…

How and when did you start flying, and what made you want to fly?

I was 14 when I had my first instructional flight. I remember doing max rate turns (high-speed turns) over my house at the time and thinking that was pretty cool. I have no family history in aviation except for a distant relative who was a WW2 fighter pilot – he was shot down over Europe.

I always wanted to be a pilot from a young age. My earliest memories are with my dad watching planes land at the airport. I did most of my flight training on the south island out of Christchurch International, a busy airport with lots of traffic. The flight school was called the International Aviation Academy of New Zealand and was part of the Canterbury Aero Club, a flying club that has been around since 1928.

What have been the highlights of flying for Wilderness Air, and working for Wilderness?

Far too many to tell. Without a doubt, the wildlife that we see. It’s awesome hearing elephants and lions at night whilst you sleep in camp. Or having animals close to the runway when landing and taking off. I have had wild dogs and lions often appear on the runway, which is always a kick. I once had a leopard make a kill and drag the carcass under my room, only to find out the following morning that I was sleeping above her. She was still there when I went back to have a look. I've been lucky enough to fill several memory cards on my camera since I first started at Wilderness Air. Flying over the Victoria Falls is a great experience too – that never gets old. I have been fortunate enough to do some work in Namibia and Zimbabwe as well, and the scenery there is second to none.

Have you had any close calls in the air?

Plenty – with marabou storks and other large birds. They'll make a great mess if you ever hit one of them. Animals running out on the runway at the last moment can also require you to think quickly. The Okavango Delta can be a very busy bit of airspace, as well as around Maun, but if you're paying attention and keeping yourself situationally aware then you'll be fine. Always look outside.

What are some of the challenges of flying over Botswana (the Linyanti and Okavango)?

The heat would have to be one of the biggest challenges. The aircraft loses performance when it is hot due to the lack of air molecules flowing through the engine or over the wings. Take-offs can be longer and slower as a result. The wet season is also challenging as we fly around huge thunderstorms. They cause violent updrafts and downdrafts. Heavy rain can soak a runway as well, leaving it very slippery. I've seen four-tonne aircraft slip and slide if you're not careful. Animals are also a constant threat to our operation, but Wilderness is the only company in the Delta that has guides on the ground with radios to let us know of potential runway incursions as they happen. It helps us mitigate those hazards safely. The Grand Caravan is the perfect aircraft for flying in Botswana. We have also modified ours to take increased weight, with bigger bush tyres to help with the runways.

What are some of the special aspects of flying over them?

Flying over the Okavango is something special. From someone that's seeing the Delta for the first time, to someone like myself who sees it every day, there's always something to look at, take an interest in. It's always amazing to see the water flow through the Delta during the inflow – my favourite time of the year to fly, seeing palm trees, animals enjoying the water, and riverways being formed over the dry landscape. Spotting fish eagles in the trees or crocodiles warming themselves on the sandbanks are cool things to look out for. You honestly never know what you're going to see over the Delta or Linyanti; I hate to admit it, but I probably spend more time looking down and out the window than at my instruments. The Linyanti is very different to the Okavango, but equally as impressive. Flying low over the Linyanti in the dry season, particularly in October, is amazing. Along the Savuti Channel or Linyanti swamp systems you'll see literally thousands upon thousands of elephants.

Do you always fly using GPS? I guess you can't in a storm, right, as in the rainy season? What happens then in terms of navigation?

Our primary source of navigation is GPS. We use other instrument aids as backups, such as VORs (VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range systems, which guide planes via radio signals) – but at the end of the day we are a VFR (Visual Flight Rules) operation, therefore we need to fly by sight. We train all our new pilots in the Delta to fly using rivers and other features, in the event that GPS fails. That said, our GPS will still function fairly well in wet conditions. We also utilise a rain radar which helps detect storms and the strength of rainfall inside them. If the radar picks up a dark purple colour, it’s best to give that storm a wide berth.

What landmarks do you use, when not relying on GPS?

In regards to waterways that are key features to navigate from, working left to right across the Delta we have the Kiri, Boro, Santantadibe, and Gomoti rivers. They are all seasonal and flow differently each year depending on annual inundation levels. The Khwai/Xakanaka floodplain normally always has some water. That water then flows into the Khwai River, an area with lodges and plenty of game.

The Savuti Channel, where Wilderness Savuti is located, is a river that flows from the Linyanti swamps through the channel and tries to push as far up into the Savuti Marsh/Mababe Depression as it can. This river system is quite mysterious, and can stop for years at a time and restart without notice. It currently has water in it.

The Chobe River is further downstream of the Linyanti Marsh. This river floods every year and has a close relationship to the Zambezi, which it flows into. We use the Chobe River to navigate with when flying up to Kasane.

The Linyanti and Okavango Delta are linked together by a spillway system known as the Selinda Spillway, which flows from the Delta side first.

The Okavango Delta eventually drains into the Thamalakane River in Maun, which sits along a faultline before flowing to the Boteti towards the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans or Lake Ngami. It’s important to note that the water that flows through the Delta will never reach the ocean, whereas the Linyanti river systems’ water has a better chance, flowing past Lake Liambezi, through the Chobe River, then outwards via the Zambezi, over the Victoria Falls, towards Lake Kariba, on to Lake Cahora Bassa in Mozambique and eventually into the Indian Ocean.

Please describe how the different seasons affect flying over Botswana.

Summer Season (December to April): Large thunderstorms, very green, and good visibility. Animals are fewer as the water is now abundant. Runways can be quite wet, and we generally have to fly low below cloud, or in certain cases quite far off course around storms to get to the destination. We often divert to other airstrips and wait for the storms to pass, usually quickly. It's amazing flying past columns of rain all around the aircraft. It’s my favourite time of the year to fly – and if you ask any Wilderness pilot, I'm sure they'll say the same.

Dry (Winter) Season (May to November): Nice and cold in the winter, good performance from aircraft, and lots of animals, so you need to be vigilant around runways. As it starts to warm up, there won't be any rain for about four months or so. It becomes incredibly hot and hazy. It's a great time to visit Botswana but a tougher time to fly; it can get a little rough due to thermal activity. As it gets hotter it gets more challenging to fly the aircraft in terms of performance, but the lack of thunderstorms makes it a quicker journey from A to B.

What are the routes you currently fly, and in what aircraft?

I fly the Cessna 208 Grand Caravan as Check Pilot and Training Captain. The aircraft has 14 seats, including two pilots' seats. It is powered by a Canadian Pratt & Whitney Turbo Prop Engine. All of our regions – Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – utlilise the aircraft the same way. Whilst I am based in Botswana, I have been fortunate enough to fly in Namibia and Zimbabwe, two incredibly beautiful places to fly.

We don't fly scheduled routes. We will know only the night before what the route is for the following day. We fly where the guests want to fly, which makes the flying more enjoyable as you never know what to expect.

What does your assistant do to help, in the air and on the ground?

My assistant is called a ‘loadmaster’. His name is Gase Moikomiso. He’s from northern Botswana, a village called Beetsha. He helps with loading bags and cargo, as well as assisting during the hot turnarounds, where the aircraft doesn't shut down at some of the bush stops. He’s fully trained in all the ground courses that a pilot and other aviation staff must complete in order to operate for an airline. Courses like dangerous goods, aviation security, and so on. He’s a great guy – I always enjoy my flying and camp overnights with him.

What is it about Botswana, the Linyanti and Delta that you think guests/travellers love? That you love? What does seeing them from the air add to the experience?

Botswana is a unique place. It’s not somewhere like Cancun or Ibiza where you fall out of a budget airline and make your way for a drink by the pool bar. You don't just wind up here by chance. Most people have planned this trip for years. It’s a real bucket-list place to visit. Botswana’s Okavango Delta and Linyanti offer landscapes and animals that you won't find anywhere else on Earth, and people want to experience that. To watch a wild elephant stroll past your game vehicle in silence, or hippos blasting out of the water in the swamps. To hear the crunching of bones on a lion kill, or fish eagles crying. All really exhilarating. I still love all those things, and I'll take my camera to the bush every overnight – because you never know what you'll see there.

I think a view from the air is the best view possible. Many photos of these destinations are taken from above, they’re what attract people to these places as they plan their trip. Not everyone gets to fly on safari – so this is definitely an added touch for Wilderness guests. It also saves a lot of time: a 40-minute flight opposed to a 10-hour overland trip via 4X4.

I really enjoy the guest side to my flying. I try to excite guests as much as possible about their visit. I'll give them a great safety brief, including what to expect along the way, as the flight kick-starts their holiday. I'll tell them to say good-bye to civilisation and then off we go. It’s always amazing to look back in the flight and see every face glued to the windows looking down at the ecosystem below. Some guests with no flying experience are more than welcome to ride in the front, and you'll find a lot of them think it's awesome. We chat about the flight, the aircraft, what we are seeing inside as well as down below. I enjoy showing people my ‘office’ and getting them interested in the aircraft.

It’s hard to tell what guests love the most about visiting the Okavango and Linyanti. Everyone is different. For example, I once stayed at Savuti and I had dinner with two guests from Hong Kong. They had actually won a prize to come to Botswana, so they were pretty lucky. I asked them what they would most love to see, and thought they would answer lions, leopards, rhinos or maybe some rare, exotic bird. They both said they most wanted to see stars. They had both grown up in Hong Kong, and stars were something that they never knew. Botswana is probably one the best places in the world to view the night sky, so I'm sure they got their wish.

Photographs by Melissa Siebert

Let’s plan your next journey

When we say we’re there every step of the way, we mean it, literally. From planning the perfect circuit, to private inter-camp transfers on Wilderness Air, and easing you through Customs. We’re with you on the ground, at your side, 24-7, from start to finish. Ready to take the road less travelled? Contact our Travel Designers to plan an unforgettable journey.

Need some inspiration?

Be inspired by the latest news from Wilderness. Subscribe to our newsletter.

• Holiday Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do
• Things to Do
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Air Vanuatu Reviews and Flights

• Airlines    

Air Vanuatu

Airline Summary

Reviews we perform checks on reviews. tripadvisor’s approach to reviews before posting, each tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. if the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines , the review is not published. when the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines . learn more about our review moderation..

• Excellent 136
• Very Good 166
• Terrible 94
• Premium Economy
• Business Class
• First Class
• All languages ( 487 )
• English ( 446 )
• French ( 27 )
• Japanese ( 3 )

" Don’t book. "

" Do not fly this airline. You wont get the holiday duration you expected. "

" Don't use them!! "

" DO NOT FLY WITH THEM!!!! "

" Only tip I can offer is DON'T fly with Air Vanuatu - pay a bit more and use Virgin "

Search flights

Flights to Vanuatu from FJD967* | Fiji Airways

Our most searched flights on fiji airways to vanuatu.

Nadi (NAN) to

Suva (SUV) to

*Best fares on flights found by others in the last 48 hours.

Fly to Vanuatu with Fiji Airways

Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu, is an island nation consisting of 83 small islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It stretches over 1,300 km and has a population of around 270,000 people.

Fiji Airways offers flights to Vanuatu, serving Port Vila’s Bauerfield International Airport (VLI). Check out our flights now to see what this island nation has in store for you.

Things to do in Vanuatu

• Vanuatu is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and has nine active volcanoes. Mount Yasur on Tanna Island is worth checking out!
• Visit the nation during the Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival to learn about the Melanesian people.
• Go on an Air Safari to see the wonderful islands from above and marvel at their beauty.
• Check out the Chief Roi Mata’s Domain. It dates back to the 17th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Buy some local produce in the markets and get the freshest ingredients when they’re in season.

Explore Other Flights to Vanuatu

• Nadi - Vanuatu
• Suva - Vanuatu

Our Borders Are Now Open! Click here  for travel information to Vanuatu. Visit Nabanga Pledge to stay Covid-safe during your holiday.

Cruising Safaris Vanuatu

Tours Espiritu Santo Phone: +678 77 55431 or Mobile: +678 77 55431 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Web: Visit website Virtual Tour View Virtual Tour -->

• Add to wishlist

Description

Cruising Safaris Vanuatu is the only glass bottom boat tour operator in Espiritu Santo, SANMA province. The glass bottom boat is fully surveyed to carry 18 passengers. There are 2 glass panels with comfortable seating all around designed to ensure good view from all seats. The boat is boarded via an easy access steps that allows safe and dry embarking and disembarking.

You can view through glass bottom boat to an isolated island for snorkel then onto another isolated island for more snorkel. Bush walking then enjoy beach BBQ with all Local organic ingredients.

For our Island Cooking activity, you can select local organic ingredients and participate in the preparation of island food the way locals do it and experience the taste.

Our most popular and unique tour is full day ‘Mystical Malo Island Tour’. Malo (formerly known as St Bartholomew) island is situated only 3 km off the southern coast of Luganville, Espiritu Santo. The island has beautiful coastline with big trees creating huge canopy over the white sandy beach. Its pristine clear water is very inviting. It is believed to be settled around 1400BC.

Map & Directions

Cruising Safaris, Espiritu Santo, Luganville, Vanuatu

Subscribe to our Mailing List

• The Grand Traverse
• Helicopter Flights – Lake Tekapo
• Heli / 4WD Experience – Lake Tekapo
• Winter Sunset Flights
• Milford Sound Excursions
• Trans-Divide Scenic Flights
• Scenic Charter Flights
• Gift Certificates
• Aerial Photography & Filming
• Aerial Survey
• Air Freight / Cargo Transport
• Remote Access
• Lake Tekapo Airport
• Franz Josef Airport
• Meet our team

Experience the famous Grand Traverse

Air Safaris

The Grand Traverse – fly from Lake Tekapo or Franz Josef

Our premier “must do flight of a lifetime”. See the Southern Alps and Aoraki Mt Cook plus the Tasman, Franz Josef and Fox glaciers up close from your very own window seat.

• ADULTS $470 pp
• CHILDREN (3 – 13) $375 pp

Aoraki Mt Cook Franz & Fox Magic – fly from Lake Tekapo

A amazing helicopter flight with incredible scenery and an alpine snow landing. See Aoraki Mt Cook, New Zealand’s longest glacier, beautiful glacial lakes, and braided rivers.

• Adults $810 pp
• Children (3 – 13) $650 pp

Aoraki Mt Cook Alpine Grandeur – fly from Lake Tekapo

An awesome helicopter flight with an alpine snow landing. Explore the incredible valleys and glaciers of the Southern Alps, and get up close to mighty Aoraki Mt Cook.

• Adults $595 pp
• Children (3 – 13) $475 pp

Mackenzie Explorer – fly from Lake Tekapo

Our most popular helicopter flight! Enjoy a stunning 30 minute flight with amazing views of Lake Tekapo then experience a snow or alpine landing.

• Adults $375 pp
• Children (3 – 13) $300 pp

Milford Sound Excursion – fly from Lake Tekapo or Franz Josef

Experience an epic flight direct to Milford Sound or via Aoraki Mt Cook. Enjoy the incredible scenery of lakes, mountains, and valleys then relax in beautiful Milford Sound before flying back.

• Adults $985 pp
• Children (3 – 13) $790 pp

Weddings & Engagements – fly from Lake Tekapo

Enjoy the privacy of an exclusive helicopter flight with a gorgeous alpine landing high above Lake Tekapo. Our wedding and engagement packages can be tailored for you, making that special day even more magical!

• Wedding $1595 total
• Engagement $1395 total

Our magnificent “flight of a lifetime!” Experience breath-taking scenery up close from your own window seat including Aoraki Mt Cook, glaciers, braided rivers, and glacial lakes.

• Adults $425 pp
• Children (3 – 13) $325 pp
• ADULTS $750 pp
• CHILDREN (3 – 13) $650 pp
• ADULTS $550 pp
• CHILDREN (3 – 13) $450 pp
• ADULTS $350 pp
• CHILDREN (3 – 13) $295 pp
• ADULTS $895 pp
• CHILDREN (3 – 13) $695 pp
• Engagement $1295 total

• Adults $470 pp
• Children (3 – 13) $375 pp

A totally unique 60 minute helicopter flight taking in the Southern Alps, Aoraki Mt Cook and the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers.

• Children (3 – 13) $650  pp

An awesome 45 minute flight exploring remote alpine valleys and glaciers of the Southern Alps and getting up close to Aoraki Mt Cook.

A stunning 30 minute flight with amazing views of Lake Tekapo and surrounding areas.

Fly direct to Milford Sound or via Aoraki Mt Cook seeing Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka, Mt Aspiring the Olivine Ice Plateau and the Hollyford Valley.

Our Wedding and Engagement packages include your own helicopter transfers that will make your special day just that little bit more memorable.

• Wedding $1595   total
• Engagement $1395   total

Spectacular Scenic Flights New Zealand

Air Safaris has operated alpine flight-seeing experiences in the world heritage national parks of Aoraki Mount Cook and Westland Tai Poutini since 1970. The iconic Grand Traverse scenic flight provides the opportunity to view New Zealand’s highest peaks and longest glaciers. You can catch the Grand Traverse flight from either of Air Safaris’ modern facilities located at Lake Tekapo or Franz Josef in the South Island.

Air Safaris also operate charter flights within New Zealand. These flights provide a personalised service that takes in New Zealand’s stunning scenery while linking flexibly with a number of destinations including Milford Sound, Queenstown, Wanaka, and Christchurch.

Braided River from Plane

Helicopter Snow Landing

Cockpit View

Liebig Dome Snow Landing

Mackenzie Braided River

Mt Cook & Tasman

Lake Alexandrina

Tasman Terminal Lake

Cessna Grand Caravan and Mt Cook

Why fly air safaris .

• Experience New Zealand’s spectacular alpine scenery, including Aoraki Mt Cook and Lake Tekapo.
• Safe, modern aircraft with experienced local alpine pilots.
• Fixed wing and helicopter flights.
• Every seat is a window seat for unparalleled views.
• Go further and see more – epic mountains, glaciers, alpine valleys, glacial lakes, and braided rivers.
• Informative and entertaining commentary.
• Private charter flights to Milford Sound.
• Family-owned business with friendly, personal service since 1970!

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH US #airsafaris

Inspire You Exploring the Mackenzie Region of New Zealand .

Purchase a Gift Voucher

“Provided clear views over the mountains and glaciers! An amazing flight!”

“Thoroughly recommend this must do experience.”

“Thoroughly recommend this company to have an unforgettable experience and worth every cent.”

“Just prepare to be flexible with your booking as the weather is very unpredictable on the mountains.”

“you will see things you cannot see from ground level. The colours are amazing.”

follow us .

Air Safaris & Services (NZ) Ltd

• Telephone: +64 3 680 6880
• Freephone: 0800 806 880
• Email: [email protected]

Copyright © 2020 Air Safaris All Rights Reserved Supplied by SPF