Kolombangara

Kolombangara is an extinct volcano on Kolombangara Island in the Solomon Islands, with a central peak rising approximately 1,800 meters above sea level. The steep slopes are covered with dense rainforest that shapes the entire landscape.

Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira documented the island in 1568 during his Pacific expeditions. The area later came under British control and became part of the British Solomon Islands protectorate in 1893.

The mountain holds significance in local traditions, with its name referring to Water Lord due to the numerous rivers cascading down its slopes. People recognize this connection to water in their daily stories and customs.

The mountain can be reached through a multi-day trek from Imbu Rano Lodge via maintained trails that pass through cloud forests. Along the way there are basic rest camps and you should prepare for wet, slippery terrain.

The mountain slopes contain ancient agricultural systems in Ndughore Valley with stone-faced pond fields and complex irrigation networks. These structures reveal the farming ingenuity of earlier generations who adapted to the mountain landscape.