Salelologa () is a
village
A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...
district at the east end of
Savai'i island in
Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited ...
. It is the main entry point into the island with the only ferry terminal on Savai'i. It also serves as the main township for shopping and public amenities with a market selling fresh produce and arts and crafts.
Salelologa is made up of smaller sub-villages ''pito nu'u'' and falls within the electoral district of
Fa'asaleleaga.
Township
The township consists of one main shopping street. Fresh fish, locally grown produce and arts and crafts are sold at the Salelologa Market (''makeki'') which was recently moved to a new site by the wharf in 2009. The market is open six days a week, Monday to Saturday. Most shops and markets in Samoa close on Sundays with a few small outlets opening in the late afternoon. There are also several small supermarkets, a wholesaler, petrol stations, bakeries such as Retzlaff's bakery, budget hotels and accommodation,
as well as public amenities such as internet access, banks and Western Union money transfer outlets.
Transport
The main island highway which reaches most parts of Savai'i is tar-sealed and well maintained. Salelologa is the only township on Savai'i and is the main destination for arrivals and departures for local public transport and visitors to the island.
Ferry terminal
Salelologa wharf is the main port of entry into the island and is the only ferry terminal on Savai'i. The inter-island passenger and vehicle ferries operate in the
Apolima Strait between Salelologa and
Mulifanua wharf at the north west corner of
Upolu. The ferries are managed by the government and operate seven days a week during the day. Ferry arrivals and departures are usually every two hours. A one-way trip takes about 90 minutes with views of
Apolima and
Manono islands to the south during the crossing.
Maota Airport
Maota Airport is an airstrip 10 minutes south of Salelologa. Most flights operate between
Faleolo International Airport on Upolu; however, the service can be sporadic.
Local transport
There are buses, taxis and rental car companies at the ferry terminal and in the township. The bus route is via the main highway which generally follows the coastline of the island where most villages and settlements are situated. The buses are usually scheduled around the ferry arrivals and departures with short stops at the market and shops before heading out of town. There are no 'bus stop' signs on Savai'i and catching a bus involves standing by the side of the road or signalling with a wave at the driver. Local buses are the cheapest form of transport on the island, although they can fill very quickly at the ferry terminal. There are plenty of taxis at the wharf and around the township during the day. Rental cars are available on Savai'i, although prior bookings are essential.
Public library
Savai'i Public Library, the only
public library
A public library is a library, most often a lending library, that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil servic ...
on the island, is situated in Salelologa by the old market. It is sometimes referred to as Salelologa Library.
It is the only branch of Samoa's central
Nelson Memorial Public Library in the capital
Apia
Apia () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Samoa. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō'') of Tuamasaga.
The Apia Urban A ...
on
Upolu island.
Climate
Gallery
File:View at Salelologa wharf - Samoa 2009.jpg, View from the wharf looking south.
File:Samoa - Salelologa market - people at Dawn.jpg, Salelologa market at dawn.
File:Samoan bus savaii.jpg, Local bus on the island.
File:ISS012-E-23609 NASA Apolima strait between Upolu and Savai'i islands.jpg, NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...
Satellite image with Savai'i (top) and Upolu (bottom) with Apolima and Manono islands between them.
File:Salelologa market, Savai'i, Samoa - August 2016.jpg, Salelologa market.
File:Road_in_Salelologa,_Savai'i,_Samoa_-_August_2016.jpg, Road in Salelologa
File:Samoa ferry Fotu o Samoa II.jpg, ''Fotu o Samoa II'' ferry at Salelologa wharf.
File:Church in Salelologa - Savai'i - Samoa 2009.jpg, Church in Salelologa
File:Paradise in Heaven bus at Salelologa market, Savai'i, Samoa - August 2016.jpg, A bus at the Salelologa market
References
External links
Official Samoa Visitors Bureau websiteLibrary Association of Samoa website
{{Fa'asaleleaga
Populated places in Fa'asaleleaga
Savai'i