Salt lake, mangroves and red prawns give Naweni a distinctive natural character; tours also connect the landscape with local stories. When planning your trip, it is worth considering two different highlights: Qaloqalo Salt Lake and its connection to the outer reef, and the limestone pools with red prawns on Yanuyanu Island near Naweni. The picture of the area ranges from a distinctive aquatic landscape to wildlife with cultural significance.

Qaloqalo Salt Lake between lake and outer reef

According to a 2018 conservation report, Qaloqalo Salt Lake is the only known inland salt lake on mainland Fiji. It is more than one kilometre wide. A narrow, two-kilometre-long channel lined with mangroves connects it to the outer reef. The striking contrast between the broad expanse of water and the narrow channel shapes the lake’s geographic character.

Yanuyanu Island: limestone pools and red prawns

A 2018 conservation report describes two saltwater limestone pools on Yanuyanu Island near Naweni, at the outer edge of a small limestone island. Mangroves line the pools, which are home to red prawns. The species found in Naweni, Antecaridina spp., is uncommon in Fiji; red prawns occur in only a few places there and are often of great cultural significance. Unlike Qaloqalo Salt Lake, the focus here is on the two pools and their prawns, while the lake is defined by its breadth and its connection to the outer reef.

Tours to see the red prawns

The Naweni Sacred Prawns Excursion follows a path through bushland, along the beach and through a narrow stretch of mangroves to the pool where Naweni’s red prawns live. On the Naweni Red Prawns Tour, a walk of about one mile leads from Naweni village across a sandy beach to the island where the prawns are found. After arriving, the route includes a short climb onto a rock; from there, visitors can watch the colourful Ura-Buta prawns in the water below. The tour also shares legends about the red prawns and village beliefs about protecting them.

The routes differ: the Sacred Prawns Excursion passes through bushland, along the beach and through mangroves to the pool; the Red Prawns Tour is characterised by the sandy beach walk followed by a short climb onto a rock. Routes and trail conditions may change. Confirm the tour itinerary and trail conditions before taking part.

A fishing tradition as a cultural reference

A 2017 article describes a traditional line of fishers in Naweni called Gonedau. At the call of the chiefly household, they brought fish and other delicacies from the Qoliqoli for that household. While the Naweni Red Prawns Tour shares legends and village beliefs about protecting the prawns, the Gonedau role relates to fishing and supplying the chiefly household. These are distinct cultural themes: beliefs surrounding red prawns and a named fishing tradition.

For the broader travel overview: Savusavu.