DRIFT Travel Magazine Spring 2024

DRIFT TRAVEL
35
The Solomon Islands are rich with
natural beauty, WWII history, superb
dive sites and intact cultural traditions.
Much of Savo is a mass of volcanic
mountains and the climb to the single
crater on the top of the range provides
a temptation hard to resist. Weary and
bedraggled, I board the boat back to
Honiara, and stagger into the local Yacht
Club in the quest for an icy cold beer.
From Honiara I catch a light plane
(60-minute flight) to Seghe to access one
of the Solomon’s main attractions - the
spectacular Marovo Lagoon. Containing
around 400 islands, the Marovo Lagoon
is the largest saltwater lagoon in the
world encompassing 700 square km
and is protected by a double barrier
reef system. During the 90s, several
eco-lodges were established across
the length of the lagoon to promote
eco-tourism and to help prevent
devastation by logging.
Today it is possible to island hop from
one lodge to the next using motorized
dugout canoes. Lodge hosts are keen to
share their traditional village life, ancient
taboo sites, WWII wrecks, deserted
beaches and fabulous coral gardens.
Many of the eco-lodges are built in
traditional style using local materials and
situated next to palm-fringed white sandy
beaches. Fabulous snorkelling and diving
can be right on your doorstep with soft
and hard corals, giant clams and a zillion
colorful fish.