Situated lagoon-side by Peava village, Gatokae Island, at the southeastern tip of the Western Province, the wilderness lodge features traditional construction using sago palm leaf, wild bitalnat palm and village-sawn hardwood with exotic timber and pandanus mat interior. 

Catering for a maximum of eight guests, the lodge has been designed to meld the atmosphere of the Gatokae rainforest and ocean with the lifestyle of the neighbouring small village whilst retaining Western comforts and convenience.

You have some of the world's best diving,most prolific and varied fishlife, lush tropical rainforest, and spectacular scenery right on your doorstep. 

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.

The surrounding ocean provides freediving opportunities unsurpassed anywhere on Earth - pristine unexplored reefs with caves, swim-throughs, abyssal dropoffsand an extraordinary array of life from the tiniest exotics and crustaceans to wahoo, sailfish, and tuna. 

Nick Blanche, owner/manager of Go Tours Travel has just returned from Wilderness Lodge where he had a break with his wife Michele and 2 daughters Kia and Sharni

Cory caught this on a handline

  IF YOU WANT BIRDWATCHING PLEASE CLICK HERE

After 30 years of owning and operating Dive Makai Charters in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii , Lisa Choquette is off on a new adventure in the Solomon Islands.  She has been taking groups of divers to the Solomons since 1990 where she has fallen in love with the country, the diving, and especially the people.   " I have had dive guides in the Solomons from Canada, Switzerland, Lebanon, Germany, the US and Australia.  

It bothered me that there were no Solomon Islanders guides.  The reefs belong to the Solomon Islanders.  They should be the ones  sharing their underwater world with visitors.   As I begin this adventure, I have already introduced 22 villagers from Peava to SCUBA.   Taking them down and introducing them to their underwater world is one of the more moving experiences I have had in my life".  

With all the knowledge she has gained about marine animals and their behaviors in her 30 years of diving in Hawaii, the Solomons and the Galapagos,  Lisa  plans to train  residents of the village of Peava, in Marovo Lagoon --- At  Wildernes Lodge --  as excellent divemasters in the world-renowned Dive Makai style.  Lisa will guide them in the ownership and operation of their own SCUBA charter business -- sharing the wonders of the southern end of Marovo Lagoon with small groups of visitors.

					Warren with a 210Lb blue marlin caught Sat Nov 3rd .                                  ... fed the whole village,

The area is completely untouched and unexplored by sportfishermen.      Some suggestions......

trolling for Skipjack, Yellowfin and Bigeye Tuna, Narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel, Wahoo, several Trevally species, Barracuda, Rainbow Runner, Mahi Mahi, Red Bass, Green Jobfish, shark, Sailfish, Dogtooth tuna, Coral Trout, Blue, Black and Striped Marlin and many other species around the islands just offshore......

bluewater trolling the FADs [the closest of which is just 5 n.m. from the Lodge], Matikai ocean reef, seamounts, and Kavachi submarine volcano for Blue, Black, and Striped Marlin and big yellowfin tuna. The Solomons has the most intact tuna stocks on Earth and gamefish numbers are commensurate with this food supply......

polaroiding on the sand and coral flats in Marovo Lagoon for bonefish, tarpon, milkfish, barracuda, queenfish, GTs, blue, golden, Papuan and diamond trevally (jacks)......

hunting Spot-tail Bass and Mangrove Jack on the upper reaches of the Varea and Gevala Rivers......

bottom fishing for all kinds of reef fish......

casting lures for Blue, Lowly, and Bigeye trevally, queenfish, and coral trout off the lodge jetty. We even catch Spanish Mackerel up to 30lb live baiting from the jetty......

And who knows what else is out there.

THE BOATS

The lodge currently has two boats available for charter:

23 foot Haines Hunter centre console sportfisher with 225HP Honda four-stroke outboard fully setup for offshore trolling - suitable for up to 80lb standup gear. All safety gear, auxillary outboard and liferaft

19 foot Yamaha open skiff with 40hp Honda four-stroke outboard, with rodholders, rodbuckets, gaff, GPS, EPIRB,and flares, suitable for lagoon and river casting, and trolling and diving around the offshore islands - suitable for up to 50lb standup gear.

We will be basing a modern 30 foot gamefishing boat at the lodge in the near future to further assess the incredible bluewater potential, looking for large blue and black marlin, giant tuna, and compiling data to establish a catch & release sportfishery in the offshore waters of the Western Province.

Dear Nick,

March 17 2007

Just a note to let you know that we have received the T Shirts and think they are great.
As I mentioned I was at the point of putting fingers to the keys about our brief trip to Wilderness Lodge when you so kindly phoned. John and I thoroughly enjoyed this week away and are so grateful it could be arranged with such short notice. It was perfect, all that we had expected and more.
Wilderness Lodge is not just a tourism parcel of relaxation for the tourist to drop out of society for a week or 2; it is a learning experience of both culture and customs, or this is how we viewed it.

What did we like about the whole experience?
From the operational aspect:

Your expediency in putting together a package that suited our needs with the minimum of fuss.
The luxury of having your agent John meeting us on arrival and departure, this is a plus when you have no idea of where you are going and the requirements of differing countries to travel requirements etc.
Follow-up: your call to see if all had gone well was most appreciated.

Wilderness Lodge:

* The people:

Like everyone we have been to many beautiful and scenic destinations over our life time and this would equal any, however it is the people that make your stay something special and they did this for us, both the Team at the Lodge to the villagers we met who welcomed us into their world.

* The Team at the Lodge: 

Professional in their work and attitude, polite, friendly, efficient, providing an excellent service with humor and much laughter. Violet, Joyce and Robert along with all their members of the Team were a pleasure to be with and so proud of the service they provided and the people they worked for.

* The diversity of things to do with your time;

Although we only utilized the fishing aspect and John did visit the gardens with Robert for a detailed look at the subsistence aspect of the island villagers, we were aware of the spear fishing, diving, snorkeling etc available. We did visit Biche where we had a good morning, lots of laughter, spent with both an individual guide and members of the small community.

* The fishing, our primary focus;

Was all we could have asked for. Captain John, so passionate and diligent about hisresponsibilities was just something special and provided many
happy memories for John and myself.

* The menu; 

Beyond anything we could have asked for. In fact we felt we couldn't do the menu justice with our small pickings, however, I was assured none went to waste. Once again to Joyce, Violet and team must go a hugh vote for the delicacies served to us each day. They were delicacies, mudcrab, lobster/crayfish and fish cooked and served to perfection in a myriad of differing presentations.  It was memorable.

* Accommodation;

Basic as expected, but very comfortable. If it had been 5 star and on a golden beach we wouldn't have been there. Wilderness caters for a specific target audience and people who want extras should be reminded of this. It was clean, all our needs were attended to and hot water for a shower after a days fishing...what more could you want.

* Other aspects that are impressive;
* The training of the staff at the Lodge in hospitality;

From customer service, operational aspects to catering, was impressive. It was good to see the teaching and training process which has enabled developing skills that would otherwise not have been available to these people and is to be highly commended.  I was impressed; I spent some time at the kitchen step one morning with Joyce and Tanya as she was taught how to make the morning bread. I had fun, I hope Joyce and Tanya did also.

* The giving of the fishing catch to the village people for distribution;

Great idea, you don't feel guilty for catching and not utilizing the catch!

* Corey and Waeli;

For having the foresight and vision to develop the Lodge and involve the village people, all credit must be given. From my brief communication with the villagers and the Lodge Team, a picture of supreme confidence in Corey and Waeli emerged and it is not without credence and highly deserved.

Yes, we were spoilt in that we were the only guests at this time, however, it was certainly a memorable experience for us. Our only complaint: it wasn't long enough, so we will look at returning in the not to distant future.

Thanks Nick: a resounding 10 out of 10 from us and I'll wear a blindfold on arrival  and departure from"Gatokae air port" next time.
Cheers

Carol Mitchell

Cost per person $1795

 based on twin  share

*plus taxes approx $270 *plus insurance

Return airfares with Solomon Airlines - Brisbane via Honiara to local airport

Meet and greet in Honiara with transfers to domestic airport

Return pick-up and transfers to Wilderness Lodge by long boat

7 nights at Wilderness Lodge in twin share room

3 great meals per day including the freshest seafood

4 days x 4.5 hours - 6 metre Yamaha longboat with late model 40 HP Honda includes driver, all fishing gear and fishing guide.

100 litres of fuel - pay direct for extra used

Local guide for your entire stay.

Solomon Islands "Simply Unique T Shirt

Add $85 and receive a Varea River Crocodile Tour and a 1/2 day Biche Village Cultural Tour

¨"teva" type all terrain/river sandals - all the footwear you'll need

ultra-light poly/cotton, short-sleeved, collared shirt in a light colour

¨ fast dry shorts

¨ cool, light coloured cap or booney hat

¨ lightweight, light coloured Tshirt

¨ lightweight waterproof spray jacket

¨ comfortable waterproof day pack – use as your carry-on

¨ polarized sunglasses

¨ comfortable mask, snorkel & fins – if possible try out prior to departure

¨ camera and plenty of film & batteries at outbound duty free

¨ disposable water camera

¨ 30+ water resistant sunscreen

¨ insect spray

¨ prickly heat powder

¨ energy drink powder

 ... how easier it is