GUNUNG · Samoa

Mount Silisili

Mauga Silisili (Samoan: gunung tertinggi)

Information

Elevation: 1.858 m
Country: Samoa (WS)
Location / Range: Central part of Savai'i Island, Gagaifomauga District, Samoa
Mountain type: Highest point of Samoa — a giant volcanic shield peak that forms almost the entire island of Savai'i, a volcano currently inactive (dormant)
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: -13.6183, -172.4858
Difficulty: Intermediate-Strenuous: long distance (about 25–30 km round trip) over muddy, slippery, and unmarked terrain; an overnight stay with a local guide from Aopo Village is required
Best Season: The relatively dry season (May–October) when the risk of heavy rain is lower; however, Samoa has a tropical climate so rain can fall at any time — high humidity year-round
Permits & Rules: No formal permit, but climbers must first contact the village chief (pulenu'u) of Aopo to arrange a local guide; pay the guide fee (around USD 40–50/day) and make a contribution to the host family if staying overnight before the climb
Hazards: Unmarked and unmapped trails — without a guide, climbers can very easily get lost; muddy terrain and slippery roots throughout the tropical forest; weather can change quickly with thick fog and sudden rain; no water source after a certain point on the trail (bring enough reserves); the final climb to the summit is almost vertical with no official trail

Description

Mount Silisili (Mauga Silisili) is Samoa's highest peak and the highest point in the Samoan archipelago, at 1,858 m according to Wikidata. It rises on Savai'i, a shield-shaped volcanic island. The Samoa Tourism Authority records Samoa's latest eruption in 1905–1911 at Mount Matavanu, also on Savai'i; that is an island-level volcanic record, not evidence of an eruption at Silisili's summit. The approach from Aopo takes about two to three days, crossing plantations and a conservation forest, camping near Mata o le Afi, then continuing roughly 1.5 hours to the summit without a clear path. Arrange the hike through Aopo's pulenu'u and go with a local guide; trails can be slippery and clouded in.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Aopo Village → Mata o le Afi camp → Mount Silisili summit

Berat: lintasan hutan dapat licin dan bagian akhir tidak memiliki jalur; pemandu lokal diperlukan

2–3 hari menurut Samoa Tourism Authority

From Aopo, the route crosses plantations and a grassy track before entering the Aopo Conservation Area rainforest. After roughly six hours, hikers reach an open rest area; the trail then climbs toward a crater ridge and ends near Mata o le Afi, where sheltered camping spots are available. Mount Silisili's summit is about another 1.5 hours away, but there is no clear path. Samoa Tourism Authority says to arrange the hike through Aopo's pulenu’u; this source does not state total distance or elevation gain.

Source

Aopo → puncak Silisili → kawah Mata o le Afi (variasi sehari dalam laporan pendaki)

Berat; hanya sebagai catatan historis dengan izin kepala desa dan dua pemandu lokal. Jalur dan kondisi akses saat ini perlu dikonfirmasi.

10 jam 18 menit menurut satu catatan lama; termasuk kunjungan ke Mata o le Afi

One hiker reported a day trip from Aopo with two local guides after asking the village chief for permission. The account gives about 6.5 hours to the summit and 10 hours 18 minutes overall, covering 26.73 km with 1,355 m cumulative ascent; the total also includes a visit to the Mata o le Afi crater. The trail was heavily overgrown at the time. These figures describe one past trip, not a standard route or current conditions; Samoa Tourism Authority recommends a guided two- to three-day hike.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Hiker accounts show different trip patterns: guided two-day summit attempts with an overnight near the crater, and an account that turned back before the summit because of water and terrain. A 2026 Vaea Footprints group report documents its approach to the campsite and notes sharp lava underfoot and the need to manage the group carefully. Older and partial accounts do not establish current trail conditions; arrange any hike with Aopo’s pulenu’u and local guides.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.