Pemba Island is located approximately 80 kilometers to the northeast of Zanzibar Island (Unguja) which is roughly a 30-minute flight from the airport in Stone Town. Although it’s sometimes compared to Zanzibar Island, Pemba Island is less developed. The bad roads that go through the villages in which women wearing bright kangas are seated talking, ox-drawn carts are fully packed with fruits, and the atmosphere is filled with the scent of spices.
Pemba Island – Beach
This Island is very fertile and always appears greener and much more arable as compared to Zanzibar Island. In addition to that, Pemba Island produces a lot more cloves compared to Zanzibar – and the economy here is still dependent upon agriculture and much less dependent upon tourism.
Pemba is one of the most populated areas of Tanzania, with a lot of people living in relatively customarily constructed square houses, constructed using mud stuck on a wooden frame to form mud walls, along with thatch roofs or corrugated iron. Chake Chake is the administrative capital as well as the main town of Pemba Island, and that is where the airport is located.
The large population of Pemba Island is Muslim and has a culture that is far more traditional compared to other islands. The island receives fewer tourists and there it is less exposed to the outside world. Therefore expect to see Pemba’s women dressed in veils and a lot of villagers speaking only Swahili.
The island currently has one accommodation facility we can recommend you consider your plan to visit Pemba Island – Fundu Lagoon. This is a really popular place for honeymooners and possesses a young and frequently lively environment.
How to Get Around
There are several ways you can move around this island and the most common one is organizing to travel with a safari company there are many good safari companies you can deal with like African Jungle Adventures Ltd, Jungle Safaris Tanzania, and many others. Another easy and convenient way to travel around Pemba Island is going self-drive, where you can contact any car rental agency in the region like, 4×4 Tanzania Ltd, 4×4 Self Drive Africa Ltd, and many others.
What to do on Pemba Island
Pemba Island is blessed with a variety of things tourists can enjoy on their visit to the island and these include;
Archaeological Sites
There are a lot of interesting archaeological sites that are rich in history and interesting to visit by tourists who are interested in learning more about African history.
Ras Mkumbuu Ruins
These include the Ras Mkumbuu, boasting a mosque, ancient tombs, and houses dating back to the 14th century, and Chakawa, which has the ruins of an ancient town from the 11th to the 15th century.
The common and most interesting ruin site is the Mkama Nduma. This 15th-century palace is the only known fortification on the Swahili coast.
To learn more about the culture in the area, you can visit the Pemba museum in the Chake Chake town which is the main and administrative capital of the island.
Spice Farm
Explore the variety of Spice Farms found on the island. Upon arriving at the spice farm, you’ll be guided by either a professional tour guide or the owner, who will lead you through the amazing journey of their farm, unraveling the secrets concealed within these aromatic treasures. Pemba Island boasts a remarkable 80% share of the world’s harvest of vanilla, nutmeg, and cloves. You will enjoy this amazing tour, delving into some of the Island’s most interesting clove and spice plantations.
Deep Sea Fishing
Deep Sea Fishing
Pemba Island, along with the 55-kilometer section of the Pemba Channel, is one of Africa’s most thrilling destinations for deep-sea fishing safaris. The deep blue waters of the ocean about 820 meters in depth, offer an exhilarating backdrop against the stunning surroundings of the island. When it comes to big game fishing around Pemba Island, it’s always done in compliance with IGFA regulations that don’t allow reef fishing. Your adventure begins aboard a specialized, custom-built boat, tailored to transport you to deeper waters, where you can test your luck against the ocean’s bounty.
