Tanna Island
There is a lot to see and do in Tanna so, if you want to swim in underwater caves, snorkel on some of the best coral in the South Pacific, visit untouched waterfalls, see the island’s wild horses and experience an ancient culture that remains largely unchanged to this day, allow time to explore. Yakel and Ipai are villages where life has remained largely unchanged for centuries.
Tanna is best known as the home to one of Vanuatu’s most popular tourist attractions, the Mount Yasur volcano. Considered one of the world’s most accessible volcanoes, Mt Yasur is just a one hour drive from Tanna’s White Grass Airport followed by a short 10-minute walk to the crater rim. Local chiefs on Tanna have formed marine and wildlife sanctuaries and one can indulge in surfing, cycling, horticulture or vulcanology. The volcano is best viewed at dusk so at least a one-night stay in Tanna is recommended. Most accommodation venues will organize a tour and there are tour operators running overnight and day tours from Port Vila. If you do go, buy a card and mail it from the world’s only post office atop a volcano.
Anthropologically, Tanna is fascinating with the local culture largely unaffected by the western way of life. To experience the traditional Tannese culture there are day tours to local villages as well as kastum ceremonies throughout the year like the renowned Nekowiar and Toka ceremony (every 3 years in August). You can learn about cult tribes including the Prince Philip cult and the John Frum’s cargo cult.
The religion centering around John Frum arose in the late 1930s, when Vanuatu was known as the New Hebrides. In 1941, followers of John Frum rid themselves of their money in a frenzy of spending, left the missionary churches, schools, villages and plantations, and moved further inland to participate in traditional feasts, dances and rituals.
In 1957, a leader of the John Frum movement, Nakomaha, created the “Tanna Army”, a non-violent, ritualistic organisation which organised military-style parades, their faces painted in ritual colours, and wearing white t-shirts with the letters “T-A USA” (Tanna Army USA). This parade still takes place every year on February 15.
The cult is still active today. The followers believe that John Frum will come back on a February 15 (the year of his return is not known), a date which is observed as “John Frum Day” in Vanuatu.
If you visit on a Friday (admission) you will be privy to the weekly ceremony when John Frum members conduct rituals including raising flags and marching in unison, holding the belief that mimicking these American acts will lead to the delivery of magical cargo such as radios, jeeps, fridges and other manufactured items owned by American soldiers during WWII.
Tanna best anchorage is the beautiful Port Resolution. It has quaint bungalows, a yacht club, marine sanctuary, white sand beaches with a top spot for surfing.
