Thanks to the Oscar-nominated movie Tanna this village became very famous. This is a step back in time as you come here to meet local people and experience their rich Melanesian culture and traditional way of life, which haven’t changed much over the centuries.
Tanna island is a unique destination as you can visit one of many tribes living here. During our travel through Vanuatu, we met the Yakel tribe located on the western part of Tanna and here is a guide on how you can experience the same.
WHERE IS TANNA, VANUATU AND HOW TO GET THERE
Tanna is one of 80+ islands of Vanuatu in the South Pacific, and even though it might seem complicated to reach it, it is still quite accessible by air.
You will have to start your journey from either Australia or New Zealand, from where it is easy to get a flight to the main island in Vanuatu, Efate. The good thing is that the international airport is right next to the domestic airport from where you can catch another 45 minutes flight to Tanna island.
HOW TO GET TO YAKEL VILLAGE FROM LENAKEL
Now, you arrived at Tanna island. Unlike reaching the most accessible active volcano in the world Mt. Yasur, it is very easy to get to Yakel village.
You simply go by taxi from the main town, Lenakel, which is around 20 minutes from the airport. There are plenty of cabs-pickups going back and forth, and they all know that you want to get either to a volcano or custom village. The price is set at 5000 VUV ($44), and the driver waits for you in Yakel village until you are ready to go back.
There is no paved road, and a 4WD car is necessary. Jump into the back of a taxi pick-up truck for a real adventure.
WHERE TO STAY
The most strategic position is to stay close to Lenakel. Then you can easily walk to the centre to get a taxi and buy food and water. There are bungalows along the west coast between Lenakel and the airport. The best options in the area are Hidden Treasure Bungalows or a more luxurious Tanna Evergreen Resort.
MONEY
There is no ATM for foreign cards, and almost no business in Tanna accept cards, make sure you bring enough cash. You can withdraw money at the airport on the main island Efate.
Some accommodation around the airport might accept the cards, but we would not risk it.
INSURANCE
Get yourself travel insurance with a high level of coverage. Tanna was hit hard by cyclone Pam in 2015, and the cyclone season might be rough. We experienced an earthquake with a high possibility of tsunami during our visit. Tanna is a wild island that only uses radio for communication with the outside world. Therefore, we barely had access to any information. Anyways, this is a story for another post. We just want to say, never underestimate the level of the insurance coverage and try to opt for the best one possible.
Readers of Broken Navigation get an exclusive 5% discount with IATI insurance.
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If you are from the EU or UK, we recommend Truetraveller, who perfectly covers Vanuatu.
WHAT TO EXPECT
After a 30 minutes bumpy ride through the rough terrain, we made it to a village where the time seemed to stay still. This is the traditional way of life at its best. Our goal was simple. Learn Tannese’s traditions, feel their energy and make unforgettable memories. We were greeted by Tannese, who are proud of who they are and welcomed us to their village with open hearts.
The lady in the grass skirt guided us through a whole village and tried to explain how life here works. She spoke basic English, but it was easy to understand what she wanted to say. The village is relatively small, but they take good care of it. There are basic huts, lots of animals, and kids curiously running around us.
In the meantime, everyone gathered in the main square, and once we arrived after a village tour, they performed their traditional dance for us. They wore their usual dress as for women it means being topless with grass skirt, and men wore Nambas which is a sheat so typical for Tanese man.
After the dance, you can meet the Chief of the tribe. He doesn’t speak a lot, but the atmosphere is very friendly. They show you a lot of handcraft, and you can also support the community by buying something from a local market – jewellery, art, or some handmade souvenirs.
As the only tourists coming to their village that day, we could see how they grow their own crops, herbs, raise livestock, and basically, everything they need to survive as the tribe is self-sufficient.
We spent there roughly 3 hours and then our driver took us back to Lenakel.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST
We paid 5000 VUV ($44) for both of us. You will have to hand over the money at the end of the ceremony to the Chief as we were told he is the only one who can collect the money.
IS THIS VILLAGE A TOURIST TRAP OR REAL LIFE
Long time we were asking ourselves the same question. Is this really how they live, or do they just do it as a performance for tourists?
We learned from other people that the Yakel tribe really lives traditional custom life. The people have a strong sense of community and want to follow their traditions. However, some of the tribe members own mobile phones, and they also wear regular clothes when they go to Lenakel town.
SHOULD YOU GO BY TOUR OR ON YOUR OWN?
In our case, we didn’t even think about getting the tour. But if you decide to use the services of one of the providers in the area, there is nothing wrong with it. Usually, the resorts can arrange the tour for you or choose from other tour providers in Lenakel.
We prefer to experience everything on our own, so we decided to organize transport ourselves. We took a taxi from Lenakel and tried to negotiate a price. Drivers are pretty strict, so we ended up paying a regular price (5000 VUV, $44), including both ways and the driver waiting for you in the village.
IS IT SAFE TO VISIT LOCAL TRIBES?
Crime in Vanuatu is very low but, of course, can occur. Just use common sense and don’t show off your valuables in public, and you will be fine. People in the tribe are amiable and happy to see you in general. They expect visitors during the day, so there is no problem if you just show up. If you go on your own, your driver will go with you and wait in the village. If there are issues, he can always help you.
USEFUL TIP
Before you come, watch the movie Tanna which gives you a perfect idea of what to expect from this island.
WHERE TO NEXT
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It’s time to plan your trip!
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Book your flight
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Find your acommodation
On Booking.com we always find the best deals for accommodation. Another great option for cheap accommodation is Hostelworld.
Travel insurance
We always recommend IATI Travel Insurance which offers excellent plans. As a reader of Broken Navigation, get an exclusive 5% discount.
For Europeans Truetraveller offers perfect travel insurance for the best price.
Explore more with Tours
Some places are better off explored with a knowledgeable guide. Or, if you simply want to save time and hassle, we recommend GetYourGuide. Another great option that also has an amazing range of activities is Viator.
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