All international flights to Samoa arrive on the main island of Upolu. To get to Savai’i travellers need to fly via Samoa Air or take one of the ferries from Mulifanua Wharf on Upolu’s west coast. There are three principal ferries that travel across the Apolima Strait between Upolu and Savai’i. Two of these are small landing craft – Fotu o Samoa II and Samoa Express – and one larger roll on roll off vessel – Lady Samoa III. The trips begin at 6 am (except Sundays) and normally run every two hours until 4 pm. All the ferries take vehicles as well as passengers.
Fotu o Samoa II at Mulifanua Wharf, Upolu
The larger Roll On Roll Off Ferry, Lady Samoa III
Samoa Express at the wharf at Savai’i
As there is a lot of traffic between the islands and the ferry trip is quite cheap it is essential to get to the wharf at least two hours before the ferry is due to depart to make sure you are able to get on. Even doing this you can miss out (as we did in 2014) if you only have ‘stand-by’ tickets.
Vehicles queued to catch a ferry
The ferry takes you past the two inhabited islands in Apolima Strait. These are Manono and Apolima and it is possible to get to them by small outboard-powered ferries.
The Apolima ferry returns to Upolu
A heavily laden Samoa Express rolls in Apolima Strait
There is no other land close to Samoa, so Apolima Strait can become quite rough at times. Lady Samoa III handles that quite well, but it can be disconcerting to see trucks on the smaller landing craft swaying and to hear the lashings creak as the vessels roll heavily.