Kiribati

Continent

Oceania

Best States to Visit

Butaritari
Tarawa
Kiritimati

Best Cities to Visit

Tarawa
Betio
Bikenibeu
Teaoraereke
Bairiki

Size

811 KM²

Population

119,940

GDP

$199,600,000

Spending Budget

$300 - $500

Famous For

Adventure Sports
Scenic Landscapes

Best Time to Visit

January
May
June
July
August
September

History

The first settlers in the Gilbert Islands and Banaba came from Southeast Asia, by way of Micronesia, some 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. About the 14th century CE the southern islands received an influx of Samoans, and soon thereafter the islanders adopted a gerontocratic style of government. The Gilbert Islands became a British protectorate in 1892, and Banaba was annexed in 1900 after the discovery of its rich phosphate deposits. Kiribati gained its independence from the United Kingdom, becoming a sovereign state in 1979.

Present Day

Kiribati, officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an independent island nation in the central Pacific Ocean. The permanent population is over 119,000, more than half of whom live on Tarawa atoll. The state comprises 32 atolls and one raised coral island, Banaba. They have a total land area of 811 square kilometres and are dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres. Kiribati is the only country in the world to be situated in all four cardinal hemispheres.

Future

Kiribati is one of the least developed countries in the world and is highly dependent on international aid for its economy. Thus, it remains mostly isolated from the rest of the world. However, a new project supported by the government of Australia and New Zealand is expected to support wider access to telecommunications across Kiribati. It will focus on creating a policy, legal and regulatory environment that encourages new investment in telecoms, to ensure more people are able to connect via mobile phone and internet. This step allows lower costs and better living conditions.

Must Visit Places ------------

World War Two Remains

The Battle of Tarawa was fought on 20–23 November 1943 between the United States and Japan at the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, and was part of Operation Galvanic, the U.S. invasion of the Gilberts. Nearly 6,400 Japanese, Koreans, and Americans died in the fighting, mostly on and around the small island of Betio, in the extreme southwest of Tarawa Atoll. The aftermath of this bloody battle remains on the island to be viewed as a living museum.

Copra Factory

Copra refers to the dried coconut kernels from which coconut oil is expelled. Traditionally, the coconut kernels are sun-dried, especially for export, before the oil, also known as copra oil, is pressed out. This industry is the only major outlet for making products for export. Many people across the islands earn their living from collecting coconuts from the trees that grow there naturally, which is eventually sent to a factory on Betio for processing.

Giant's Footprint

The largest footprint is said to be that of Tabuariki, a giant who, according to the old men of Tarawa, was born and grew up on Tarawa. He was one of the original inhabitants and stories of his exploits are well known and often told in local circles. They also appear in the local vernacular in a London Missionary Society publication Rongorongo Tungaru. He could pick the nuts from the coconut trees without climbing and was renowned as a fisherman, being particularly noted for his exploits in roaming Tarawa Lagoon on foot, fishing as he went, especially in the vicinity of tiny Bikeman Island.

Highest Point on Tarawa

Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati. One of the most famous sites on South Tarawa is the highest point on the atoll. You’re unlikely to need hiking boots or suffer from altitude sickness since it’s only 3 metres above sea level. Due to the low mean height, local houses are traditionally built on stilts to protect them from floods and the high tides in spring.

Drinks

The local drink is toddy made from the sap of a coconut tree. This sweet toddy can then be fermented for a couple of days into the alcoholic sour toddy that is favoured by locals. The original sweet toddy can also be cooked into a syrup called Kamai Mai. The Kamaimai can then be drizzled on sweet buns or ice cream. Kava is also easily found throughout Kiribati with a large number of Kava bars appearing throughout Tarawa. The two main bars in Tarawa are Captains Bar in Betio and the Lagoon Club in Ambo. Friday nights at Otintaai are dance nights. Supply of wine and spirits is limited, however there is a good supply of beer which is always cold. There is a single night club in Tarawa called the Midtown which is open till late. Alcohol is not sold on a number of Outer Island in the Gilbert group.

House of Assembly

The House of Assembly is the Legislature of Kiribati. Three times a year, the elected representatives from all over the country make the long journey to Tarawa to meet in the parliament building which is built on an artificial island. When not in session, the security guard will usually permit visitors to pose for a photo and wander around the complex.

Maneaba

The heart of any Kiribati community is its maneaba or meeting house. The maneaba is not just the biggest building in any village, it is the centre of village life and the basis of island and national governance. A traditional maneaba is an imposing structure, with slabs of coral supporting a huge roof formed from coconut wood, held together with coconut string and thatched with pandanus leaves. The whole community is involved in its construction, and every aspect of the maneaba has a symbolic as well as a practical function.

Kiribati National Football Stadium

Bairiki National Stadium is located in Bairiki. The stadium is the home ground of the Kiribati national football team. Despite this, it has never been used for an international match because Kiribati have never played an international football match at home, due to the fact that the pitch surface in the stadium is sand, not grass which is required. The sand surface in the stadium is also a factor that has stopped Kiribati becoming an official FIFA member for the time being.

Bairiki Sqaure

The main square in Bairiki is a simple place to hang out. Around it are two roads that meet and there are also ATMs here, as well as a restaurant, the post office, an employment centre and the library. Nearby is also the church, café and shopping mall. The National Library of Kiribati is located here.

Fab Ace Bar

The pumping nightlife of the capital city is clear for all to see at the Fab Ace Bar. Cheap Chinese beers are sold for 7%, there is karaoke in one room, pool in another room and an empty dance floor in another room. It’s the biggest night out in the city!

Phoenix Islands Protected Area

The Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) is located in the Republic of Kiribati, an ocean nation in the central Pacific approximately midway between Australia and Hawaii. PIPA constitutes 11.34% of Kiribati's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and with a size of 408,250 square kilometers, it is one of the largest marine protected areas (MPA), and one of the largest protected areas of any type (land or sea) on Earth. The PIPA was also designated as the world’s largest and deepest UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.

Fanning Island

Tabuaeran, known in English as Fanning Island, is an atoll that is part of the Line Islands of the central Pacific Ocean and part of Kiribati. The deepest water in the lagoon is about 15 metres, but most of it is very shallow. A range of waves around the atoll offer a perfect spot for surfing. With its midway location in the equatorial Pacific, Fanning catches summer swells from the south and winter swells from the north. The same south swells that hit Fiji and Tahiti extend up to Fanning after a day or two. Similarly, winter swells that grace Hawaii reach Fanning in about 24 hours – with the benefit of grooming themselves to long-period perfection.

Culture

Kiribati is westernized, but the Islands retain traditional customs, evidence of which is best seen during festival time (folk music, dancing and outrigger canoe races) and in the more remote islands, such as the Outer Islands and Banaba. Kiribati culture can also be discerned through its handicrafts and there are markets in every town where visitors can pick up baskets and shark-tooth swords. The people are friendly and hospitable, and are always ready to chat.

Kiritimati Island

Kiritimati or Christmas Island is a Pacific Ocean coral atoll. The entire island is a Wildlife Sanctuary; access to five particularly sensitive areas is restricted. Week-long ecotourism packages during which some of the normally closed areas can be visited are also available. But the most interesting part is fishing in the shallow lagoon, especially for bonefish. The deeper waters around Kiritimati and the Gilbert Islands are also great places for record breaking game fishing.

Bird Watching

Kiritimati Island is a sanctuary and breeding ground in the Pacific for seabirds. With very little land in any direction, Kiritimati supports 18 different species of birds, including the endemic Christmas Island Warbler. The island is also home, and a population stronghold, to the endangered Phoenix Petrel and the White Throated Storm Petrel. Supporting nine designated protected zones to support the breeding and nesting of the various bird species, Kiritimati takes its role in supporting these birds very seriously. The Kiribati Ministry for Wildlife and Conservation is responsible for ensuring the breeding grounds are not disturbed.

Diving and Snorkeling

Diving in Kiribati can expose scuba enthusiasts to exotic marine life and diverse habitats. Because of the abundance of shallow waters around the atolls, much of the diving in Kiribati originates from shore or outrigger canoes. Motorized boats also take divers farther offshore. The islands are surrounded by colorful coral reefs that teem with exotic and abundant marine life.

Sacred Heart Cathedral

The Sacred Heart Cathedral is a religious building of the Catholic church that is located in South Tarawa on the atoll of Tarawa. Since 1966, the Sacred Heart Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru which was created in 1982 to replace the Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru Funafuti of 1978 and Diocese of Tarawa of 1966.

Ambo Island

A turquoise lagoon and long stretches of soft sand draw tourists to Ambo Island, ideal for relaxing waterfront walks under the shade of leafy palm trees. Though inviting, it is generally not advisable to swim in the lagoon due to the high levels of water pollution. Instead of swimming, take in the views from the nearby club, featuring a meeting house and bar.

Kiribati National Library and Archives

Find a wealth of knowledge at Kiribati National Library and Archives, containing a collection of educational books and documents pertaining not only to Kiribati but also to the Pacific region as a whole. Accessible to guests of any age, the library caters to children and students and often invites volunteers to conduct reading sessions with young visitors.

Aranuka Island

Aranuka is an atoll of Kiribati, located just north of the equator, in the Gilbert Islands. It has an area of 11.6 square kilometres and a population of 1,057 in 2010. By local tradition, it is the central island of the Gilbert group. It has white sandy beaches and blue waters, and is the only island in Kiribati to have tall mangrove trees with heights of more than 15 m. The uninhabited islets of the island also provide swimming and snorkeling spots for visitors. Aranuka Airport is situated near the northern tip of Buariki, and is served by two flights a week from South Tarawa, which also link to Kuria. Charter boat services are also available.