Takalana was one of five stops in Fiji during our visit for a friend's wedding in Suva; it was the highlight. We were a family of five travelling with a "friend family" of seven and kids ranging from near sixteen to three years of age. We arrived in the evening having been collected by boat from Naigani island by Gebbye. We travelled via Moon reef where we snorkelled and watched the spinning dolphins which were both magical experiences. From the moment we stepped into the simple two-roomed wooden bure with paraffin lamps and neatly made beds topped with mosquito nets I felt totally at home.
Sovo produced meals three times daily in different settings according to the weather and I can't tell you how delicious the plain, simple, local produce tasted. How she managed to produce it in a small and very basic kitchen I don't know.
Daytime activites consisted of a walk to a beautiful waterfall up the hillside, horse rides up the beach and kayaking up the local river to get a look at the mangroves.
Ratu was the most serene and centred guide I have experienced and he came into his own coaching ours and his children in the game of rugby with animated games on the lawn in the evening including his two year old Jojo.
The last night was magical with Pai and Ratu producing a Fijian feast (lovo) of chicken, fish, taro, spinach and coconut cooked in palm leaves in a pit over heated rocks served under the moonlight next to a bonfire. Jay and friend provided the music with guitar and gentle melodious singing........I felt connected to the earth and universe and much more.
The special ingredient of this amazing place is the simple serenity, connectivity and beauty of the place and the people.
If sophistication and five star amenities are your bag you may not get on with Takalana, but if you want to connect with a very special place and people who live in harmony with themselves, the earth and others then this is for you.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC