Taba, the Iguana sanctuary

Lying next to Yadua is the little island of Yadua Taba. Though uninhabited it is the only home to a particular species of crested iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis), and thus lies under the protection of the National Trust of Fiji.
The National Trust Ranger looking after Taba was our main contact and friend in the village, Pita Biciloa, though another villager, Sepu, had recently become a ranger too. As Nawaisevu bay lay on the way from the village to Taba we would often be visited by both, and they were very much part of our camp.
Pita driving his boat, the Vokai Warrior:


We were lucky enough to visit Taba during our time there (setting foot on the island is controlled to protect the iguanas), some of us even twice! It was a very rugged island covered in a thick forest, whose cliffs and slopes soared up out of the sea. The only major fauna was the iguanas (goats had invaded the island at some point, but it was believed they had all been killed off (to protect the iguanas)), which to the untrained eye were pretty hard to spot, camouflaged high up in the canopy.
A sheltered valley on the little island:


Jone, from the National Trust, plucks an Iguana from the canopy to show us:


Around the island lay extensive reefs, with some deep walls and large fish, including many sharks. The first time I visited a few of us went snorkelling round these and got a bit spooked as a small group of black-tip reef sharks started showing a little too much interest.
The main beach on Taba:


Unfortunately we never had much time there, and together with Yadua itself I would have loved to have the chance to really explore.