Kiribati Quick Guide

A Kiribati Travel Guide is your key to a fun-filled, relaxing, and easy-going holiday in this unique tropical island destination. Kiribati consists of two atolls, namely, Tarawa and Banaba, which are situated approximately 40 miles northwest and southwest of Papua New Guinea, approximately 110 miles east of the capital city of PNG, and southeast of the Cook Islands. At the eastern part of the atolls, called Tarangire, there are many scattered small villages of worship. The western part, known as Banaba, boasts white sandy beaches and resorts.

Kiribati is composed of two major islands the smaller, Vanuata, lies in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the larger, Kiribati Island, lies in the South Pacific Ocean. Kiribati is composed of two major islands, namely, Kiribati and bingo. Tinago Island was originally part of Vanuatu before it was added to Kiribati by the former Federation of Vanuatu. In the late 1990s, tinago was removed from the roster of the Federation of Vanuatu Islands and placed under the control of its Dutch colonial master, Kintaro Arjuna. Kintaro Arjuna reigned continuously for thirty-five years until his death in 2021.

The majority of the people who call Kiribati "Kiaying" or "Bermuda" are actually visitors from neighboring countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The reason why the locals call the island "Kiaying" or "Bermuda" is because that's the original language spoken on the island during their centuries-old aboriginal culture. In recent times, due to pressures from neighboring countries, many foreigners have started to speak the local language in an attempt to preserve their own cultural identity. In this manner, the natives of the island may be able to read the words of their foreign neighbors and still be able to understand them.

The two largest atolls in Kiribati are Bouvet Island and Mano Juan Andaman. Together, they comprise approximately half of the total land mass of the island. These two atolls offer several interesting places to visit, but on different atolls. For example, Mano Juan is home to the National Atoll, the oldest building on the island. To the north, there are several historical buildings, while to the south, there are white sandy beaches and a variety of water sports.

Just to the north of Mano Juan at the southern end of the island chain is the small island of Gilber. Gilber Island is home to the only hotel facility on the island. On the south side of the island, there are three more atolls; Willemburg, eline and Flic en Flac. Willemburg Atoll is home to a fishing village, while Flic en Flac is home to a small airport and commercial center. All three of these small island atolls make good destinations for Kiribati Travel Guide excursions.

Getting around the small island groups of Gilber and Mano Juan at the north of the atoll chain, and to the south are easy with local buses, minibuses and taxi services. However, getting around the large group of Bonriki Atolls, which consists of twenty-two atolls, is a bit more difficult. For that, you will need to hire a vehicle such as a four-wheel drive or a car.

You will find many commercial establishments at the Bonriki Airport in Gilber, including a supermarket, a bank and an information office. If you wish to go deeper into the island, you should take a boat from the port. The nearest hotel to the Bonriki Airport is Tarawa Maru, which provides accommodation to travelers who have booked a trip to the outer islands of Kiribati. Tarawa Maru is about 30 minutes away from the port by car, taxi or bus. You can easily reach it by taking the main road towards Bonriki.

Tarawa Maru's restaurant offers a variety of meals, from delicious Japanese meals to meals specially prepared for locals and visitors. There is a variety of accommodation options to choose from, including resorts, hotels, guest houses, beach villas and camping sites. One of the main attractions of the island is the volcano, which is covered with black volcanic ash during the day and orange and red lava at night. There are also many hiking trails that you can explore, from the main road to the atoll. This gives you an opportunity to see colorful birds and even monkeys enjoying the cool shade of the volcanic ash on a hot summer day.

What vaccinations do I need?

Up to date information for vaccinations before you travel to Kiribati are available from the NHS Fit for Travel website.

Is it safe to travel?

Best time to visit?

The best time to visit the Western Kiribati Islands (i.e. the Gilbert Islands) runs from May to November, and even more from September to November, which is the least rainy period of the year.

Do I need a Visa?

You don't need a visa to enter Kiribati provided you hold a return/onward ticket and sufficient funds for your stay. You'll normally be granted a 1 month stay

See which forms you may need for entry into Kiribati.

What currency do i need?

The official currency of Kiribati is the Australian Dollar (AUD). If you're looking to transfer or spend money in Kiribati you can grab amazing Australian Dollar deals via Wise.com (GBP to AUD).

What about the wildlife?

The island also has fish and crab species unique to this nation. Reed Warbler and the Bokikokiko. The other bird species native to Kiribati is the Kiritimati Sandpiper which, unfortunately, is extinct. The most popular animal species in Kiribati is actually a bird, the Magnificent Frigate bird.

What is the traditional food?

Gilbertese food? Palusami is a dish that is common in the Pacific Islands. It is considered the national dish of Kiribati. The two main ingredients of Palusami are coconut milk and taro leaves as coconuts and taro are plentiful on the populated parts of the islands.

What Languages are spoken?

Gilbertese or taetae ni Kiribati, also Kiribati (sometimes Kiribatese), is an Austronesian language spoken mainly in Kiribati You can learn some basic Gilbertese before you travel to Kiribati and really impress the locals!

How much do you tip?

The currency in Kiribati is the Australian Dollar (96% of the people in the Kiribati average tipping percentage in restaurants is between 8% to 15%. The actual tipping percentage is determind according to the level of service given in the restaurant and the tipping percentage can go above 8% if service was suberb or go under 15% if the service was bad).).

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Useful Numbers

  • Police: 192
  • Ambulance: 194
  • Fire: 193
  • UK Embassy: (01873) 840 375

Time Difference

The GMT time difference is 11 hours

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Learn Gilbertese

Learn some Gilbertese before your trip to Kiribati


Kiribati Guidebook

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