Day 1: We will meet this evening in Luganville on the large island of Espiritu Santo where we will stay overnight to go over plans for the coming days. There are daily flights from the main island of Port Vila, and semi-regular flights from New Zealand and Australia direct to Luganville International Airport (SON). The flight schedules in this region remain fluid, so we will advise on the best connections closer to the date of departure.
Day 2: Leaving early we will be transported around the coast and then begin hiking towards the interior with our group of friendly porters and local guides. Today will be a long one (approximately 8km ascending from sea level to 600m), but we expect to reach our camp on the mid mountain slopes before dusk.
Day 3-4-5-6-7-8: We will continue to our main camp on Day 3 (4km from 600m to 1000m), before spending the following four full days working our way up and down a trail which leads to the peak of the mountain. The best birding is along a ridge between 1200-1400m about 2km away from the camp. It is a steep hike, but well worthwhile knowing that recent surveys have detected extraordinary numbers of several endemics which have been previously out-of-reach, and probably recorded by less than a dozen foreigners since the early days of collecting. These include Mountain Starling, Vanuatu Thicketbird, the astonishing Royal Parrotfinch, and the Vanuatu subspecies of Island Thrush which is due for splitting! Other poorly-known species we will see in this pristine island cloud forest include Santa Cruz Ground Dove, Vanuatu Imperial Pigeon, Palm Lorikeet, White-bellied Honeyeater, and Rusty-winged Starling. We will also have our first encounters with some endemics like Buff-bellied Monarch which can be seen in the lowlands, but are likely to be much more abundant and cooperative up here. Our extended time up here may seem lengthy, but we consider this necessary to allow for rain and other logistical problems which may arise.
Day 9: Today we will descend after some final morning birding and return to Luganville for welcome hot showers and a fine meal!
Day 10: Exploring the easily accessible Loru Conservation Park, we can search out any remaining targets. In particular, the impressive Vanuatu Megapode is common in this forest, as is Vanuatu Kingfisher. Other endemic birds here include Tanna Fruit Dove and Vanuatu White-eye, while Pacific Imperial Pigeon, Mackinlay’s Cuckoo-Dove, Melanesian Whistler, and Polynesian Triller may also make an appearance.
Day 11: The tour ends this morning with departures from Luganville International Airport.
Cost: $ TBC
Deposit: $ 750
Single room supplement: $ TBC
Accommodation: Comfortable beachside resort on our few days in the lowlands, very basic camping for the remainder.
Walking difficulty: This expedition will be extremely strenuous, with at least 5 days of >8 hour steep treks on uneven, rocky, and muddy trails far from any professional medical assistance. We will be using local porters so participants are only expected to carry day-packs with water and birding gear, but an excellent level fitness, stamina, and balance is essential.
Tour cost includes: All accommodation, main meals, drinking water, internal flights (as stated in itinerary), overland transport, tips to local drivers and guides, travel permits, entrance fees, and guide fees.
Tour cost excludes: Flights before and after the tour start/end, visa, travel insurance, tips to tour leaders, laundry, drinks and other items of a personal nature.