An Unusual Travel Experience Wanted

Hi guys, I've been out traveling for a long, looong time and seen most of the world but there is one thing that i haven't done yet, and that i feel like i need to do.

I'm fascinated with indigenous people that live of nature, and one thing i must do before i go home is to live with them. My plan is to go to Vanuatu and try to live with an old school, self sufficient indigenous tribe. Dont know if Vanuatu still have them, and if they even would accept a foreigner to live with them? Could go anywhere around that area, doesnt have to be Vanuatu.

If anyone has any knowledge in this area, dont hesitate

Also, the wet season starts octobre i've heard, would it be very different if i went now (beginning of september) or in one month when the rain season starts?

You may want to take a look at the island of Mitiaro in the Cook Islands.

It doesn't fall into the self-sufficient indigenous tribe category but it is a charming out-of-the-way place with a what I would call a partial subsistence lifestyle.

They are in the process of putting several homestays together that will provide visitors an opportunity to experience island life with their host family. I understand it includes all or most normal activities like fishing, food gathering and tending the family's garden spots. Maybe even slaughtering a pig or two for a feast!

My wife and I stayed there for a week in 2009 and have many fond memories of the place.

Sounds interesting, how much do you think it would be for, lets say one month homestay, and how do I proceed if i want to go there and do it? Also I've got 2 things on my mind, 1, Im allergic to fish which is basicaly the cornerstone of an islanders diet, 2, doesnt seem like its convienient to travel to other islands, doesnt it get boring if you're stuck on a small one?

Did u guys have a good experience?

All the best,

/B

overlooked it a little bit and one island that i would absolutely love to live with tribes on is Mangari, look it up on google earth if you have it,

have any tips on anyone that would know if there is tribal exsistence on Mangari maybe the ones you booked throgh know of it, do you have any contact details on them?, seems like its most costly hotels to me

thanks for a really good tip!

You might find the Lau Lagoon in Solomon Islands meets your needs. If you can't eat fish, you might be prepared to pay for the occasional pig or chicken to supplement the sweet potato, yams and taro. These are the real "Saltwater People" of the islands.
The Kwaio are even more traditional, but I would not recommend visiting there.

@bellerofon #2... Stayed a week had a great time... we usually spend less than $1000/wk for food and lodging on the outer islands of the Cooks. A scooter is usually $20/day.

#4 Never heard of Mangari... do you mean Mangaia? There's only two or three places to stay there. Babe's place is NZD 120/day for two people with 3 meals included. All of the people there live in western-style homes. The last guy to live in a cave full time died 20 years ago. One interesting fact is that the four tribal villages on Mangaia were mapped out on the island in the same way a human body was quartered in preparation for being shared and eaten. A hold-over from the days of cannibalism!

Your concern about getting bored on a small island and your objective of living for a month with indigenous people living a subsistence lifestyle seem at odds.

Thanks for god tips guys, Lau Lagoon seems exactly like the place for me. Love the houses out in the water and general feeling of "water people" if u know what i mean its all about doing something from a fairytale, living out at sea and spearfish with indigenous will be something to tell the grandkids. Got a dreamjob for one month so I would be going mid october, but heard that wet season starts november, dont know if its too tight, wanna be there for looong. u guys think the wet season starts exactly beginning of november, is there a drawn line?

And no, I dont think lonely planet is right in this case saying it starts early december because i looked it up elsewhere, governmental pages saying it starts november.

Anyway, looked up Cooks and its been written that going october is the best time of the year to go, also cooks seems like its more beautiful than Vanuato or the Solomons, only thing is that island Mitiaro doesnt seem interesting enough, i need many islands to venture back and forth to and more stuff to explore. The name of the Island i was referring to is Mangere, and the town of the island is called Arutanga. Seems like lux hotel area.

Guys, more suggestions?

and thanks for good answers

Edited by: bellerofon

I doubt if the Cooks or Solomons will work for you. If I were you I'd head for the Southern Philippine Islands. They have everything you want, including some exciting stories for your grandchildren.

Why that sudden change? from what I've seen, Lau lagoon seems perfect, ecept I've only go one month there before the raining season. Which islands do you mean and have u heard from there? Is there indigenous homestays?

The rainy season is usually fine - a bit warmer and more humid, a few showers and the occasional storm. There is a chance of cyclones, but you would be unlucky to be caught in one. I visited the Cooks in the rainy season and thought the temperatures were perfect. I thought Vanuatu is far more interesting than the Cook islands - and more scenic, but I guess it depends on what you like. I agree that wanting to move round to stop boredom and living for 1 month with indigenous people don't really go together!

The Solomons have many microclimates around the different islands. Best weather in Lau Lagoon is October to March.

I opt for Lau Lagoon over E. Kwaio, as E. Kwaio is a bit difficult to visit because you need an invitation to stay in a 'real' animist bush village and there's no infrastructure to cater to wandering tourists other than a tourist outfit that takes visitors to stay in a traditional custom house, which is not really a real custom house, it was built for foreign visitors. And that negates the whole purpose of what you want to do. Having stayed in two E. Kwaio villages myself, neither one being totally 'traditional', I think Lau is a better bet - and more scenic - even though E. Kwaio is my preference, but that's because my 'family' is from there :-)

Edited by: Watsoff

In case anyone is checking this thread, the Lau village stay is temporarily closed for repairs. The house is built of traditional materials, and does need to be rebuilt from time to time.

Just got back from an experience somewhere along these lines in Vanuatu. Didn't necessarily live with a traditional tribe, but I hit it off with a local who offered to hike with me across Tanna to stay in his uncle's village. Was an excrutiating 4 days (physically demanding and got food poisoning) but it saved me hundreds of dollars in transportation and accomodation in the Mt. Yasur region. Also got an experience of a lifetime and seen some of the country and people that are very hidden from tourists. I was honored to hear that I was the only white man who's ever slept in the village.

In my experience the people of Vanuatu (at least Efete and Tanna which I visited) are very hospitable and welcoming to foreigners who are interested in their culture. If you'd like to live with a tribe I assume that it would be a decision the chief would have to make. My bet though is that it would not be a difficult task to find a trib that would say yes - permitted your willing to be a productive member of the village and not a food and resource burden.

best of luck.