Thirty minutes after having one of the best massages of my life, I was driven through a lush jungle on the other side of the 525-acre property at Fiji’s Namale Resort & Spa.
My jaw dropped when I stepped out of the truck and caught sight of a table covered in a lunch spread, set in front of a striking waterfall. Butterflies flew around me as I ate and then followed me up a set of stairs to a larger waterfall that poured forth from a rock and into the watering hole where I swam.\
But this wasn’t the first time my eyes had feasted on so much beauty at Namale Resort. Set on a cliffside near Savusavu — a town on the south coast of Vanua Levu — the 22-key resort overlooks a large swath of tide pools that I admired from the restaurant, a heart-shaped hot tub on a cliff and even from the spa’s soaking baths. After checking in to my two-bedroom Grand Villa— which featured comfortable king- and queen-size beds, Jacuzzi-style tubs, private infinity-edge and plunge pools, outdoor rainfall showers and daybeds — I had made my way to the tide pools to explore.
The resort features a cliffside, heart-shaped hot tub.
Credit: 2025 Namale Resort & SpaAll-Inclusive Amenities and Local Culture
Beauty is not all that the five-star Namale Resort has to offer, though. It’s perhaps best known for its all-inclusive nature — a somewhat rare offering in Fiji. I freely enjoyed snacks and drinks in my room, ordered room service at any time, and ate and drank to my heart’s content in the on-site restaurant and bar. Namale Resort even accepts specific food and drink requests, all of which is included in the cost of a stay. Every dining experience I had was memorable, from the romantic, private dinner on an overlook to the cultural experiences hosted nightly before dinner.
One evening, I sat in a circle with local Fijians who played music on instruments before sharing cups of kava (a ceremonial Fijian drink) with us. Another night, I watched a phenomenal Fijian dance performance with a fresh coconut in hand. By the end of the show, they invited guests to join them in dancing.
However, it was the Indo-Fijian night that still stands out in my mind. While getting my hands hennaed and watching an Indo-Fijian concert and dance performance, I learned about the 150-year-old history and culture of Indo-Fijians, the second largest ethnic group in the nation.
Endless Activities
Activities at Namale Resort are endless. In fact, there wasn’t enough time in my stay to experience everything on offer. Though I visited a traditional village, I would have loved to engage in the resort’s other experiences, such as a Savusavu day trip, pearl farm tour or “lovo” (earth oven) dinner. But there was plenty I was able to partake in: I shot hoops at the on-site basketball court, visited the spa and beach area and, perhaps most exciting, went on a snorkeling adventure with a father-daughter duo who are scuba and snorkel experts. The property is a PADI Five Star Dive Resort, and as such, snorkeling experiences are included in a stay (scuba is an extra fee).
While the father took two guests scuba diving, I joined his daughter for a surreal snorkeling adventure. The water was so clear, and the coral and fish so bright, that I was able to capture some stunning videos on my phone.
Credit: 2025 Namale Resort & SpaA Home Away From Home
No matter what clients do at Namale Resort, they'll be surrounded by a community of people who are knowledgeable, welcoming and kind. The Namale staff were always willing to engage in conversation and took the utmost care of me. Even when I suffered a throat infection and needed to see a local doctor, employees set an appointment, and I was quickly directed to the kindest doctor for a medical visit.
While Namale Resort is already succeeding in many ways, in the coming years, guests will enjoy an even more elevated experience, as the property is currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation that will enhance the resort and villa pools, infrastructure and utilities. The hotel has also rolled out a brand-new golf fleet for transporting clients around the resort and will be modernizing the kitchens, dining spaces and menus.
I can’t imagine how much better Namale Resort will become with these enhancements, but I have no doubts that these updates will intrigue guests like me to return again and again.
