Melanesian Cruise: Bat Heaven (Lautoka, Fiji 3.9.26)

March 9, 2026 was our second visit to Lautoka, Fiji.  When we stopped last year, we visited the impressive orchid garden, which is the top attraction of the area.  Dave was not interested, as I explored other alternatives-- a mud bath, a cave with human skulls, or a zip line tour.  We finally settled on Eco Park, a jungle wildlife sanctuary with turtles, cockatoos, parrots, fruit bats, and iguanas.  

As soon as we entered the park, our guide offered us snakes and iguanas to hold.  My bright green iguana promptly climbed on top of my hat! 

Our guide then led us from one enclosure to the next, as he made animal sounds.  

Ed and green parrots flew up and ate peanuts from his hand.

 

A fruit bat hung upside down on the wires of its cage and stuck its furry little head out to be petted. Sweet!

Outside, herds of bats hung upside down in the trees.

We walked along a swinging bridge, through a jungle, with bright tropical flowers in our hair.

Peacocks strutted on the grounds and bright corals grew in the aquarium.

As we drove back into Lautoka, we stopped to take photos of the ornate Indian temple.  Fiji has a large number of Indian residents whose ancestors came to work on the sugar plantations and in the sugar mills. Lautoka was, historically, the center of that major business.  One of our guides told us that, now, the Indians are the shrewd businessmen throughout Fiji.