Siloa
Guesthouse is an island bungalow on the beach in Utanlang
Village. It is owned and run by Jimmy David of Utanlang.
Utanlang
is the most distant accommodation on Nguna Island and that
can make it the most relaxing. In
the water, there's a rocky reef and drop off dive
with lava tubes close to the beach. Dive boat charters sometimes
visit to dive with the big fish. Out of the water, you can hike up Mount Taputoara, an extinct volcano and Nguna's
highest peak (elevation 593m).
Costs
and Booking
Accommodation
costs 2500 Vatu per person, including meals. Exchange
Rates.
There is a community phone where you can make enquiries
(23999). You can also call Peter
Taty of Taty Transport on 25380. We would like to provide mobile phone numbers. Contact us if you can help.
Siloa
Guesthouse had its first visitor in December 2003. Jimmy
will upgrade facilities as he receives more support from
visitors.
Accomodation
and Food
There's
one
simple bungalow constructed of local materials. It has three
single beds. The door is lockable if you bring a small padlock.
There are no mosquito nets but mosquito coils are available.
There's practically no electricity in Utanlang. A kerosene
lamp and candle are provided.
The
smol haos
has a western style sit-down toilet flushed with a bucket
of sea water. Fresh water is available for bathing (bucket
showers) and Jimmy plans to construct a haos
blong swim. The beach is good for swimming at high tide.
You need to bring you own towel and a mosquito net.
Island
style meals of above average standard are provided at Siloa.
There are no self catering facilities except a fireplace
outside. Breakfasts may include home-baked bread, gato,
biscuits, and fruit. Lunches and dinners are nearly always
fish with rice, kumala,
manioc,
taro,
aelan kabis,
fruit and tea. Rainwater is available for drinking (bring
a water bottle).
Transport
The simplest option is to walk from Taloa, following the
truck road along the east coast of Nguna (3 hours). It's
an easy, scenic walk passing several villages. The locals
use this route rather than pass through the bush along the west
coast which is more direct but more difficult.
If
you have a lot of gear or can't walk for other reasons,
you can charter one of the trucks on the island for
2500 Vatu (one way charter between Utanlang and Taloa, contact Peter Taty).
Note that the hill climbs are slippery after
rain and the trucks have to wait for the tracks to dry.
Another
way to Utanlang is to charter a speedboat. If you can find
a captain to take you it should cost 4000 or 5000 Vatu,
one way, from Emua on north Efate. On Nguna, a boat from Udapua to Utanlang (10 minutes walk west of Taloa
on Nguna Island) should cost about 2000 Vatu, one way.
It's
not easy to organise transport to Utanlang but the return
booking should be less difficult because you can follow someone
who is going to Port Vila.
First
surveyed: December 2003 by Stephen.
Last updated: May 2011 by Stephen.
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