Nakoroloaloa Cave

Snake God Cave - Wailotua Cave - Wailotu Caves

Useful Information

Location:	Wailotua Village, Viti Levu Island, Fidji. (-17.761421, 178.407511)
Open:	All year daily. [2020]
Fee:	Adults FJD 15. [2020]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	bring torch, lamps provided.
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Wailotua Cave, Kings Road Wailoatua, P.P. Box, 5219 Lautoka, Tel: +679-666-8773, Tel: +679-274-2899.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

Nakoroloaloa Cave (Snake God Cave) is as close to a show cave as you can get on Fiji. The cave has a rough trail and there is no light, but there is an advertisement sign, two guides with each tour, and even a facebook page. If you come to the place during daylight and there is nobody at the cave just ask at the village, any villager will inform the guides. They actually have two guides, one for telling the stories and walking ahead, and one for walking at the end and collecting the strays. Tours are held in English and Fijian.

The cave is named Snake God Cave because of a strange formation of six stalactites, which resemble snakes’ head. It was equipped with a path, but it is unclear if this was for tourism or for the use of a hideout by the villager. However, there is a level trail and stairs where necessary. Nevertheless, we recommend walking shoes. The cave passage is mostly spacious, but at several spots it is necessary to stoop. If you have a helmet we recommend to wear it.

The cave has a small limestone ledge with a hole. It is possible to sit on the ledge, but it is not very comfortable. According to legend this place was used when a married couple had problems. Divorce was not allowed, so they tried to fix it. The whole village went into the cave with the couple, and they had to sit on the ledge. Then every villager stuck his hand through the hole to shake hands and talk to them. At the end the couple had to stay on the ledge sitting back to back and talking about their problems. The procedure took a full day but seems to have worked.

The next stop is called the cannibalism prison. It was the place were the "food" was kept fresh. Prisoners of war, insubordinates and foreigners were thrown into a 10-meter-deep shaft. The slaughterhouse was nearby, the victims were hit with a special club until they were dead. The cannibalistic past of the islands is explained in detail.

The cave ends at the Auditorium. This chamber was used for functions, but also as a hideout in times of danger. A frequent danger were storms, and so the villagers held a kind of festival in the cave during each storm. For one thing, it was safe in the cave, but with a party it was less boring and less scary. And it was a good way to reduce the fear of storms, because every storm was the reason for a party.