Safaris & 4x4 Adventures in Tahiti

The island of Tahiti has the largest and most complex 4 wheel drive road system of any of the Polynesian islands. The island's sheer magnitude is the reason for this. It has more land mass than any other island, and also more than one large, interconnected valley, perfect for trails and off roading fun. 
    
Although the roads are open all year round, they are not always passable... 4x4's, motorcycles, or quadrunners are the only vehicles able to handle the often treacherous conditions. The passability of these roads depends on the amount of rainfall and the season, with the winter months being the wetter. (and, according to more than one guide, the most interesting because of the amount of waterfalls and plants blooming...)

The most commonly traveled circuit for 4x4 tourism is a 40 kilometer journey cutting through the heart of Tahiti, beginning and ending at Papenoo and Mataiea valleys, respectively. From either end, you'll start off at sea level and meander through steep valleys as you climb and climb until finally reaching the apex (and tunnel) at nearly 760 meters high. Depending on the season, this island crossing can take 5 hours to 3 days... There's also some great offroading possibilities on Tahiti's smaller island peninsula, Tahiti-iti.
    
Although nowadays the entire interior of Tahiti and the peninsula of Tahiti-iti are completely undeveloped, this wasn't always the case... On a typical 4 wheel drive excursion, you will see and learn about how Tahiti's interior used to have a large native population living within its valley walls. You will pass by old Maraes, numerous archeological stones marking ancient villages and places of importance, and see the ancient valleys where the inhabitants grew their crops. 

You will also visit French Polynesia's only lake- a place that also shares a rich and interesting history, see countless waterfalls and mountain streams, and vertical, tropical cliff walls that will astound you with their beauty. 

Along the whole journey, you will also be learning about the fascinating botanical nature of Tahiti. There are over 15,000 kinds of plants living on the island! Many have been introduced by man and have interesting characteristics worthy of picture taking and notes!