Kiribati Holidays – Tours & Adventure Travel Guide

PureTravel Says
“The Republic of Kiribati, an island nation, is located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. English and Gilbertese are the official languages. English, however, is not commonly used outside the Tarawa, which is the capital of Kiribati and largest city. Because of the presence of as many as 32 atolls and one raised coral Island with 3,500,000 square kilometers of area, it allows you to enjoy your Kiribati holidays to the optimum level. It is because of its location that you can take part in several water sports in Kiribati like scuba diving, snorkeling, wind surfing, sailing, fishing and many more.”

Kiribati Holiday Highlights

Bird Watching - Bird watching is popular in Kiribati as there are more than 74 bird species and eleven of them are globally threatened. On your tour to Kiribati, you will come across several special birds including the procellariids, which have joined nostrils. There are around 75 species of procellariids in the world and 18 of those can be found Kiribati.

In Kiribati, there are tropical birds, which are slender birds with long tail feathers and have black markings on their wings. They are a delight to watch in flight. In Kiribati there are two types of tropic birds; red-tailed and the white-tailed tropicbirds.

When in Kiribati you will also come across ducks, geese and swans. Along with these, there are around four species of pigeons and doves in Kiribati. Parrots, cuckoos, anis, allies, macaws and old world warblers are also there to complete the 74 bird species in Kiribati.

Fishing - There are many fishing techniques which can be used in Kiribati such as hand fishing, fishing nets, kite fishing, dredging, fishing lines, ice fishing, lobsters and crab pots. More than 80% of households in Kiribati depend on fishing which is why fishing is so popular here.

Scuba Diving – As well as fishing, scuba diving can also be found in Kiribati, and Christmas Island is absolutely perfect for diving. One of the largest coral atolls in the world, 45 miles long and 25 miles wide. You can also see some amazing reef formations, which have specific cut and groove patterns. Around the Korean Wreck, which is on the south side of the Island, diving is enjoyable as reefs here allow you to see some whale sharks, rainbow runners and black-tipped reef sharks.

If you are not a trained diver, it is better to dive near London Village as the easterly trade winds make things easier for divers. Snorkeling is also possible at this point but do ensure you have a local tour operator who knows the best diving spots.

When To Go

A good time to visit Kiribati is from April to October when the weather will be relatively hot but northeasterly winds will make things comfortable. To observe the traditional culture visit in July when Kiribati celebrates its Independence Day.

Top Tips

• Respect the local customs and be friendly.
• Though Kiribati is a safe place in general, take care while exploring the beach in South Tarawa after dark.
• Drink bottled water otherwise boil water before drinking.
• In south Tarawa, seek local advice before going into the lagoon as the water could be contaminated.
• Nudity is strictly forbidden by local law.

Classic Itineraries

• Visit Christmas Island for scuba diving.
• Visit South Tarawa.