Samoa Activities

Game for some fishing?

Passionate anglers will find plenty to rock their boat in this part of the world. There’s heaps of fish available all year round, including black and blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, giant trevally and masi masi.

There are different ways to get your fishing kicks on Samoa. You can join one of the professional fishing operators and charters based in Apia and head to sea for a few hours, or opt for an adventurous charter to a secluded destination, which involves living on a boat for a while.

A handy point of contact is the Samoa International Game Fishing Association, in Apia Harbour, and there’s the annual Samoa International Game Fishing Tournament, which draws avid fishermen from all over the globe each May.

On Savaii, the world is your oyster when it comes to game fishing opportunities, especially out on the open seas way beyond the reefs. For a truly authentic experience, join a local fishing trip – speaking of which, on Savaii, the villagers own the fishing rights so ask nicely before you go for it, hook, line and sinker.

Robert Louis Stevenson

You don’t have to be a literary groupie to enjoy the scenic walk through lush rainforest up to the top of Mt Vaea where the famous Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson rests in peace – the views over Apia and bay are simply stunning. You have the choice of two routes – there’s a 45-minute track or, if you’re feeling less energetic, take the shorter half-hour trail. Whichever way you chose, go early in the morning or late afternoon, as the mid-day heat can be stifling, especially in the height of summer. This is the kind of place you won’t want to leave in a hurry, so pack a picnic and don’t forget your insect repellent.

In the village of Vailima, at the bottom of the track, you’ll find the beautifully restored colonial homestead the TB-ridden Stevenson and his family lived in for the five years prior to his death. Known to the Samoans as Tusitala or teller of tales, the author of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Treasure Island fame became intensely involved in the lives of the local folk and their plight to retain their cultural identity. The informative one-hour guided tour of the mansion and Tusitala’s many authentic personal belongings comes highly recommended, especially of the library where he penned 14 tomes in just four years.

Diving

Scuba diving is still a very new tourist activity in Samoa, which gives divers a virtually untouched territory to tap in to. Just as well, because both Upolu and Savai’i have fabulous dive spots, sporting around 900 fish species, including spinner dolphins, stingrays and whales.

To make their rich marine world more accessible to visitors, sites and facilities are now beginning to open up, and on Upolu, where the fish-densest reefs are situated along the South Coast, the number of companies offering dive excursions is rising rapidly. One Apia-based dive company has even signed up to be trained in rescuing stranded whales – they’re the first operator to do so all of Polynesia.
Samoa is also the ‘proud owner’ of 200 types of coral, and much is done to protect the existing coral reefs, as well as grow new ones. This, of course means the fish have more food to survive on, which gives divers more colourful Piscean delights to feast their eyes on!

Surf’s up Samoan style!

Both Savai’i and Upolu are dotted with grunty surf breaks and get good swells year round – northern swells in the wet season from November through April, and southern swells in the dry season in between.

Experienced surfers seeking a wave-inspired adrenaline rush will get their kicks in Samoa, that’s for sure. For grommets, the breaks are perhaps a little on the dangerous side, as many of the waves break directly onto the reef and the currents can be evil. In fact, even savvy surfers are advised to only tackle the waves in the company of locals, as they know the rips and rocks inside and out.

On Savai’i, surfing hot spots include Lano and Ananoa Beach in the southwest, and Manase and Fagamalo in the north. On Upolu, the best places to go for a paddle are from Apia east to Cape Utumauu, and on the south coast from Matautu to Matatufu.

Both Upolu and Savai’i have several resorts catering especially for surfies’ needs and wants, and taking on the ocean even means you’re contributing to a good cause: For each day in the surf, you’ll be paying a fee to the villages, to help further the young ones’ education.

Swimming with Turtles

For an animal encounter with a unique twist, head to the wetlands sanctuary at Savaii’s Satoalepai village and take the plunge with half a dozen or more green turtles.

These majestic prehistoric mammals have been hunted down for their flesh and eggs for year and years – as a result they are now an endangered species.

Fortunately, the good people of Satoalepai have made it their business to give the turtles a new lease of life. They raise them in a part fresh, part-salt water pool and once they’re grown up, they release them back into the ocean, where they prepare for ‘parenthood’. Did you know that these gentle giants can reach a weight of up to 185kg?

The Satoalepai Wetlands is the ideal place to bring your family – the kids will love feeding large tarot leaves to the gentle giants, and swimming amongst them.

And while you’re at it, why not stay in one of the over-water fales adjacent to the sanctuary, and take some time to explore the waterways by canoe, and enjoy stunning views of the mountains.

If you’d rather swim with green turtles in their natural habitat, the ideal place to do just that is in the ocean around Namua Island, just off the southeastern coast of Upolu.

Samoan Spas

Samoans are blessed with a myriad of therapeutic plants, and the traditional healers, the taulasea, have long used their juice, bark, leaves, roots and various other parts to help treat all sorts of ailments. You’ll find the most powerful specimens deep inside Samoa’s last remaining rainforest on Savaii – including the mamala tree, a traditional yellow fever treatment that’s now under investigation as a potential AIDS cure.

Today, the herbal knowledge the predominantly female taulasea passed on through the generations via their daughters and granddaughters is fast becoming a valuable spa resource. All around the islands, freshly plucked, cut and grated nutritious goodies are being used in body wraps, facials and the traditional Samoan massage or fofo to produce velvety smooth skins and lull senses into a state of bliss.

So what are the most sought-after spa ingredients this part of the world? One is nonu – its leaves, flowers and juice are great for soothing and nourishing irritated and sensitive skin. Besides, they also work wonders if you happen to have a fever, scratchy throat, upset tummy or out of control blood pressure…

Banana and papaya flesh, organic honey and coconut oil, too, are revered for their feel-good factor and health properties. Papaya is full of protein (which makes up ten percent of the skin) and the antioxidants vitamins A and C – they help prevent cell degeneration and so keep skin looking zesty and young. Banana has soothing and cooling properties (great after too many hours in the sun), while Samoan honey moisturises, nourishes and encourages the growth of new skin.

Oh, and the reason all these above make you feel and look like you’ve had an instant extreme makeover, of course, is that they are prepared fresh, just minutes before your treatment.