Kiribati holidays

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• Overview
• Country info
• Holiday ideas

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Destinations » Australasia and Pacific holidays » Kiribati holidays

By a quirk of geography, the International Date Line used to split the islands of Kiribati down the middle - until 1995, when they decided to have the same day nationwide

Taken from The Traveller's Handbook.

Kiribati holiday experts at WEXAS will tailor-make all aspects of your itinerary to create a Kiribati holiday, personal to you.

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Kiribati tailor-made holiday highlights

Background:
Formerly called the Gilbert Islands, the central Pacific nation of Kiribati - pronounced 'Kiribass' - actually comprises three separate island groups. Scattered across a vast area of ocean, the groups are namely Kiribati, the Line Islands and the Phoenix Islands. Between them, they contain 33 individual islands.

Christmas Island
Try bone-fishing, or perhaps try spotting some of the unique local bird species on the world's largest coral atoll, also known as Kiritimati. Game fishing is especially popular, while the island's lakes and ponds form an ideal habitat for vast colonies of birds. A large bay on the east coast is known as the Bay of Wrecks, due to the numbers of ships that have foundered there. Charmingly, the main towns are London, Paris and - best of all - Banana.

Tarawa
One of the most densely-populated areas in the Pacific, this group of islands contains the principal island of Bairiki, the capital. It also affords some beautiful views over Tarawa Lagoon. Swimming in the south of the Lagoon is advised against, however, on account of pollution. But then, surely it's far better to save your waterwings for the aquamarine depths off the many white sand beaches spread throughout the islands.

'Island nights'
Take part in one of these fun and entertaining social occasions featuring traditional Polynesian music and dancing, together with tasty feasts held in maneabas, local meeting houses.

Abaiang
Meaning 'north land' this is the most easily accessed of the outer islands. Small children shout a timid 'mauri' to an I-Matang (white person) and women can be seen weaving thatch or salting clams to send to Tarawa. The Catholic church, which has rainbow-coloured window frames, can be easily reached by bicycle.

People & place

Kiribati facts

Capital: Bairiki
Language: Kiribati and English.
People: Micronesian.
Religion: Roman Catholic, Kiribati Protestant Church.
Size (sq km): 811.
Population: 107,817.
Population density/sq km: 132.9.

Etiquette

Like other Pacific islanders, the people of Kiribati are very friendly and hospitable and retain much of their traditional culture and lifestyle. European customs still prevail alongside local traditions. Bikinis should not be worn except on the beach. Nudity and overly scant swimming costumes are forbidden by local law.

Shopping

Baskets, table mats, fans and cups (made from pandanus leaves, coconut leaves and shells, and sea shells), sea shell necklaces, shark-tooth swords (shark teeth, sharpened and lashed to the edges of polished coconut wood).

Food & drink

A Kiribati favourite is palu sami, coconut cream with sliced onion and curry powder, wrapped in taro leaves and baked in an earth oven filled with seaweed. It is often served with roast pork or chicken. Local specialities in the southern islands include the boiled fruit of pandanus (screwpine), sliced and served with coconut cream.

International Airports

Bonriki (TRW), 11 km from Bikenibeu, Christmas Island (CXI).

Internal travel

Internal flights to main islands. Passenger ferries to smaller islands. All-weather roads are limited to urban Tarawa and Christmas Island, the only places where car hire is available. Buses and taxis also available here.

Red tape

Visas

(UK/US) Required, except for UK visitors for up to 30 days.

Vaccinations

BCG, Hep. A, Hep. B, Polio, Typhoid, Y. Fever2.

Driving requirements

International Driving Permit.

Reps in UK/US

UK: The Great House, Llanddewi, Rhyddderch, Monmouthshire NP7 9UY, tel/fax (01873) 840 375, email michael.walsh@sema.co.uk. US: 95 Nakolo Place, Room 265, Honolulu, Hawaii 96819, tel (808) 834 6775, fax (808) 834 7604, email kiribaticonsul@aol.com.

UK/US reps in Kiribati

UK: The British High Commission in Suva, Fiji, deals with enquiries. US: n/a.

Currency

Australian dollar (A$) = 100 cents.

Finance

Limited acceptance of traveller's cheques, very limited acceptance of cards.

Business hours

0800-1230, 1330-1615 Monday-Friday.

Safety & life expectancy

Safety information

Safe.

Life expectancy

Life expectancy: M 59.41, F 65.63.

Useful websites for travel

www.spto.org/, www.visit-kiribati.com/, www.janeresture.com/kirihome/.

Local media

Te Uekera and Kiribati Newstar are both weekly and published in Kiribati and English, Kiribati Business Link is in English.

Tourist boards

UK: Commonwealth Resource Centre, The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Clock Tower Yard, Temple Meads, Bristol BS1 6QH, tel (0117) 925 4980, fax (0117) 925 4983, email admin@empiremuseum.co.uk. (Provides information on Kiribati).

Kiribati tailor-made holiday ideas

Background:
Formerly called the Gilbert Islands, the central Pacific nation of Kiribati - pronounced 'Kiribass' - actually comprises three separate island groups. Scattered across a vast area of ocean, the groups are namely Kiribati, the Line Islands and the Phoenix Islands. Between them, they contain 33 individual islands.

Christmas Island
Try bone-fishing, or perhaps try spotting some of the unique local bird species on the world's largest coral atoll, also known as Kiritimati. Game fishing is especially popular, while the island's lakes and ponds form an ideal habitat for vast colonies of birds. A large bay on the east coast is known as the Bay of Wrecks, due to the numbers of ships that have foundered there. Charmingly, the main towns are London, Paris and - best of all - Banana.

Tarawa
One of the most densely-populated areas in the Pacific, this group of islands contains the principal island of Bairiki, the capital. It also affords some beautiful views over Tarawa Lagoon. Swimming in the south of the Lagoon is advised against, however, on account of pollution. But then, surely it's far better to save your waterwings for the aquamarine depths off the many white sand beaches spread throughout the islands.

'Island nights'
Take part in one of these fun and entertaining social occasions featuring traditional Polynesian music and dancing, together with tasty feasts held in maneabas, local meeting houses.

Abaiang
Meaning 'north land' this is the most easily accessed of the outer islands. Small children shout a timid 'mauri' to an I-Matang (white person) and women can be seen weaving thatch or salting clams to send to Tarawa. The Catholic church, which has rainbow-coloured window frames, can be easily reached by bicycle.