Things to see and do Sigatoka

It is a very pleasant walk, in the middle of the tropical vegetation, to meet the birds mainly, but not only. There are also the rarest iguanas in the world and a nursery of young turtles, before they reach 60 kilos as adults... A visit to be made, if possible, at meal times of the animals, to have a chance to feed them yourself. You will leave impressed by the incredible colors of the parrots. A nice visit to make with your family, the children will not fail to be amazed!

The area is also called the "salad bowl" because only fruits and vegetables grow here. The Sigatoka Valley is deeply eroded by limestone outcrops along its banks. It was a major settlement area centuries ago, its configuration making it a very protected area and therefore easy to defend. The Tavuni Hill Fort is a fine example of the fortified hills that once lined its banks. Most importantly, its river provided a means of communication between the inland and coastal inhabitants.

There are two pottery villages, and since it is useless to make the same visit twice, choose one of them. Between Lawai Village and Nakabuta Village, we recommend the second one. It is bigger and you will see more clay items. They are generally small handmade clay objects with irregular curves and shapes. We also discover, and especially, a small Fijian village and its particularly friendly and smiling inhabitants, a nice detour! It is also possible to attend pottery demonstrations.

The 45-minute tour is more than enough time to enjoy this magnificent site. It takes us to a height of 30 m for a lovely view of the coast: big waves, the sound of foam crashing against the sand... Before arriving at the dunes, you'll also pass through the forest.

Sand Dunes National Park stretches along the Coral Coast from the mouth of the Sigatoka River to Naqarai Bay, a distance of around 5 km. The dunes stretch for almost 2.5 km and vary in height from 20 to 60 metres. They are much more than just sand dunes: they cover a large part of Fiji's history. Research carried out since the ^mid-19th century, and even more recently, has provided important information on the periods of occupation of the Fiji Islands. The first archaeological digs in the late 1980s unearthed pottery dating back over 2,500 years, as well as one of the largest burial sites in the Pacific. Following this discovery, experts hypothesized that the first inhabitants of this region were of Lapita origin, a nomadic people who colonized many Pacific islands over 3,000 years ago. "Lapita" takes its name from an archaeological site in New Caledonia where similar pottery has been discovered. Whatever the case, this research plays an essential role in establishing a chronology of local and regional history.

Inside, everything is dark, only the torch of the guides illuminates us. Extremely deep, the cave is impressive and the myths that accompany it give you shivers down your spine. It is the last stronghold of the cannibal tribes of Fiji, hundreds of people lived there comfortably: we can observe in particular an altar which hosted the rituals and an oven. The highlight of the show is the thousands of small birds' nests hanging on the wall that we discover when we leave. A pretty and atypical stroll in the time!

Moving deeper into the Sigatoka Valley, one arrives at Tavuni Hill Fort, which was established by the Tongan chief Maile Latamai. The fortified site at Tavuni was maintained until 1875, when war broke out following the signing of the cession act to Britain. In 1876, the fortified village of Tavuni was destroyed by government troops. This place has also kept many testimonies of the period of its settlement and cannibalism. There is a "killing stone" on which the enemy was killed before being eaten.