Ambrym

Ambrym is a black island, a single wide shield volcano whose interior is an ash desert crossed only on foot. Two craters, Benbow and Marum, held active lava lakes for decades and drew a small stream of expedition trekkers who camped on the rim, a trade that stopped after the 2018 eruption and has not fully returned. What has never stopped is the island’s reputation across Vanuatu for sorcery, and its carving, since the tall tree fern figures and the sand drawings recognised by UNESCO both come from here. Ranon and Fanla in the north are where the Rom dance is performed.