What's on in Savai'i (Savaii), Samoa through the year

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Busy — Mother's Day holiday

• Season

  South-coast surf season

  1 May – 31 Oct · usually

  Southern Ocean swells reach the south coast through the southern winter, with Aganoa and the reef passes near Satuiatua the best-known breaks. Most are reef breaks for experienced surfers; mornings are glassier before the trade winds. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Mother's Day holiday

  8–15 May · usuallyNational holidayClosures

  Samoa gives the Monday after Mother's Day off as a public holiday; the Sunday is spent at church and family feasts, and government offices close for the long weekend. Source ↗

Busy — Independence Day, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Independence Day

  1–3 JunNational holidayClosures

  Samoa marks 1 June with several days of parades, sport and church services. Savai'i is quieter about it than Apia, but the ferry across is packed in both directions either side of it. Source ↗

Still on: South-coast surf season (1 May – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Nature

  Humpback whales offshore

  1 Jul – 31 Oct · usuallyWhale season

  Humpbacks from the Oceania population pass through Samoan waters in the southern winter and are sometimes seen from the south coast. Numbers are far lower than in Tonga, so treat a sighting as a bonus, not a plan. Source ↗

Still on: South-coast surf season (1 May – 31 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — Father's Day holiday, Teuila Festival, Apia

• Holiday

  Father's Day holiday

  8–15 Aug · usuallyNational holidayClosures

  The Monday after Father's Day is a public holiday in Samoa, so the island takes a long weekend of church services and family meals, and government offices close. Source ↗

• Festival

  Teuila Festival, Apia

  30 Aug – 8 Sep · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Samoa's national culture festival fills Apia for a week with fire-knife dancing, fautasi longboat races, siva and a float parade. From Savai'i it means the ferry to Upolu and the drive into town, so stay over rather than day-trip. Source ↗

Still on: South-coast surf season (1 May – 31 Oct (usually)), Humpback whales offshore (1 Jul – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — Teuila Festival, Apia, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: South-coast surf season (1 May – 31 Oct (usually)), Humpback whales offshore (1 Jul – 31 Oct (usually)), Teuila Festival, Apia (30 Aug – 8 Sep (usually))

Busy — White Sunday, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  The palolo rising

  5–31 Oct · usuallyWildlife season

  For one or two nights in October, seven days after the full moon, the reef worms spawn and every village is in the shallows after dark with nets and lamps. What is caught sells for a fortune at Salelologa. Source ↗

• Holiday

  White Sunday

  8–14 Oct · usuallyNational holidayClosures

  The second Sunday in October belongs to the children: they lead the service in white, recite what they have learned, and are served first at the meal afterwards. Nothing else happens that day. Source ↗

Still on: South-coast surf season (1 May – 31 Oct (usually)), Humpback whales offshore (1 Jul – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Hazard

  Cyclone season

  1 Nov – 30 Apr

  The South Pacific season runs November to April. Savai'i's beach fale are built to be rebuilt, and the road round the island washes out in places long before a storm is anywhere close. Source ↗

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)