Sunset Lodge Promotes Sustainable Tourism on Savo Island
BY SHOREYANN RAGOSO
For Bernard Kemakeza, tourism is more than bringing visitors to Savo Island. It is about protecting the island’s natural environment, preserving its culture and creating opportunities for local communities.
Kemakeza, owner of Sunset Lodge Tours and Transfers, said the business was established to promote sustainable tourism while allowing visitors to experience the beauty, culture and adventure of Savo Island.
Located about an hour from Honiara by boat, Sunset Lodge offers visitors different activities, including volcano hiking, dolphin encounters and beach experiences.
“The inspiration behind Sunset Lodge is to promote sustainable tourism while protecting our natural environment and preserving our cultural identity,” Kemakeza said.
He described the visitor experience at the lodge in three words: conservation, empowerment and cultural identity.
One of the most popular activities is hiking Savo’s volcano. Kemakeza said many visitors who travel to the island are interested in exploring its volcanic landscape.
“The volcano is the most visited one because every visitor who comes to Savo wants to hike it,” he said. “Savo is a volcanic island, and the megapodes are unique here.”
The island is also famous for its megapode birds, which bury their eggs in warm volcanic sand to allow the natural heat to hatch them.
Dolphin encounters have also become popular among visitors. The lodge has introduced opportunities for tourists to swim and observe dolphins underwater.
“We often see dolphins, and we have now added an experience so visitors can swim and see dolphins underwater,” Kemakeza said.
He said the business hopes to introduce two or three more tourism activities in the coming year to give visitors more reasons to explore Savo.
Kemakeza believes the island has a lot to offer because of its close location to Honiara and its natural attractions.
“We are close to Honiara, and all the tours we offer are unique. Besides the white beaches that tourists love, our products are different,” he said.
He also wants international visitors to recognise Savo as a main holiday destination rather than simply a place to visit briefly.
“When tourists come from overseas, they should already know that their destination is Savo,” he said.
For Kemakeza, the future of Sunset Lodge is about growing the business without forgetting the environment and culture that make the island special.
“We hope to create more unique experiences for visitors. That is our next goal to achieve,” he said.
Through its tourism activities, Sunset Lodge hopes to help more people discover Savo while encouraging the protection of its natural beauty and cultural heritage.
