PEMBA ISLAND AT A GLANCE
LOCATION
East Tanzania​​
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BEST KNOWN FOR
Nature, diving & quiet island stays
GETTING THERE
Domestic flight, usually via Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar
COMBINE WITH
Zanzibar, Usambara, the coast & longer Tanzania journeys
RECOMMENDED STAY
4–6 nights
BEST TIME TO VISIT
June to March. Avoid heavy rains in April and May.
DISCOVER PEMBA ISLAND
Pemba is often described as Zanzibar's quieter neighbour, but the island deserves an identity of its own.
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It is greener and hillier, with clove plantations, villages, forest and a coastline that remains far less developed for tourism. There are fewer hotels, fewer restaurants and far fewer visitors than on Zanzibar.
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Pemba works best for travellers who deliberately want somewhere quiet. The attraction is not a long list of tourist sights, but the combination of nature, marine life, local island life and time to slow down.
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For divers, Pemba is particularly interesting, with coral reefs and dramatic underwater drop-offs. Non-divers can enjoy the marine life through snorkelling excursions.
WHY VISIT PEMBA ISLAND?
MARINE LIFE
Pemba is particularly strong underwater. Coral reefs, steep drop-offs and relatively low visitor numbers make it an interesting choice for experienced divers as well as travellers who simply enjoy snorkelling and marine life.
GREEN LANDSCAPES
Pemba is noticeably greener and hillier than Zanzibar. Clove plantations, forest, farmland and villages dominate much of the interior, giving the island a completely different feel from a conventional beach destination.
Pemba remains very much a lived-in island. Exploring villages, plantations and the countryside gives a completely different perspective from staying only at the beach.
FEW CROWDS
Tourism remains small-scale. You will not find anything comparable with Paje, Nungwi or Stone Town here, which is precisely why some travellers choose Pemba.
THINGS TO DO ON PEMBA ISLAND
NGEZI FOREST
Explore the forested north of Pemba for a complete change from the coastline. The island's natural environment is one of the reasons we think it deserves more than simply being described as a beach destination.
CLOVE COUNTRY
Cloves remain an important part of Pemba's landscape and identity. The harvest period (September to November) is particularly interesting if you want to see another side of the island's agricultural life.
DIVING
Diving is one of the strongest reasons to choose Pemba. The island is known for reefs, clear water and dramatic underwater landscapes, with many of the resorts operating their own PADI dive facilities.
VILLAGES & LOCAL LIFE
Travelling through Pemba's interior and villages is part of the experience. This is an island where tourism has not become the centre of everyday life.
SNORKELLING
Non-divers can still experience Pemba's marine environment through snorkelling trips and excursions from the resort.
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MANGROVES & BOAT EXPERIENCES
Depending on where you stay, activities can include mangrove canoeing, dhow trips, dolphin excursions and visits to nearby islands. Fundu Lagoon, for example, includes unguided mangrove canoeing and village walks among its activities.
WHERE TO STAY ON PEMBA ISLAND
Pemba has far fewer accommodation options than Zanzibar, and where you stay has a big influence on the experience. Most of the island's better-known properties are small-scale and quite remote, so we choose the accommodation based on your budget, interests and how much seclusion you actually want.
THE MANTA RESORT
REMOTE, UNIQUE & FOCUSED ON THE OCEAN
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The Manta Resort is located in the north of Pemba and is one of the island's best-known places to stay. It is small-scale and surrounded by nature, with different garden, oceanview and seafront rooms.
It is particularly interesting for travellers who want to combine a quiet island stay with diving, snorkelling and marine conservation.
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Manta is also home to its famous Underwater Room, a private floating room in the Pemba Channel with a bedroom below sea level. It is a very special experience, but also a significant extra cost, so we would see it as an optional experience rather than the reason everyone should choose Manta.
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BEST FOR:
Couples, honeymooners, marine life & something unique​​
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PEMBA PARADISE
COMFORTABLE & MORE ACCESSIBLE
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Pemba Paradise is located at Makangale in northern Pemba. It offers a more conventional beach resort experience, with a tropical garden, swimming pool, restaurant and different room categories including family rooms.
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This can make it an interesting option if you want to experience Pemba without choosing one of the island's most exclusive properties, or when travelling as a family.
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BEST FOR:
Couples, families & a comfortable beach stay
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THE AIYANA
LUXURY, BEACH & PRIVACY​
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The Aiyana is located on the northern tip of Pemba and offers a more luxurious resort experience. Its 30 private villas are spread along the coast, with plenty of space and views over the Indian Ocean.
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This is a good option when you want Pemba's quiet atmosphere and nature but still value a higher level of comfort, a beautiful beach and the facilities of a luxury resort.
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The north of the island also puts you close to Ngezi Forest and gives access to marine and cultural activities.
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BEST FOR:
Luxury, couples, honeymooners & a quiet beach stay
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PEMBA ECO LODGE
SIMPLE, REMOTE & CLOSE TO LOCAL LIFE
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Pemba Eco Lodge is a small, simple lodge on the quieter side of the island, surrounded by nature and away from Pemba's larger resorts.
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This is not the place to choose if you are looking for luxury or lots of facilities. The appeal is in the peaceful setting, personal atmosphere and a more down-to-earth island experience.
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It can be an interesting option for travellers who want to experience Pemba without spending the budget required for the island's high-end resorts.
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BEST FOR:
Budget-conscious travellers, nature, quiet & a simple island stay
FUNDU LAGOON
BAREFOOT LUXURY & COMPLETE SECLUSION
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Fundu Lagoon is hidden on Pemba's southwest coast and is only accessible by boat. Its tented rooms and suites are spread between the hillside and beachfront, surrounded by tropical vegetation and overlooking the Indian Ocean.
It has its own five-star PADI dive centre and works particularly well if you want the accommodation itself to be an important part of the experience.
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Fundu is very remote. From Chake Chake Airport, the transfer involves around 35–40 minutes by road to Mkoani followed by approximately 10–20 minutes by private boat, depending on the tides.
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Fundu Lagoon does not accept children under 12, so it is not an option for families with younger children.
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BEST FOR:
Couples, diving, honeymooners & complete seclusion
AFRO DIVERS
DIVING, SMALL-SCALE & RELAXED
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Afro Divers is a small lodge and dive centre for travellers who want the ocean to be a big part of their stay. The atmosphere is informal and the focus is much more on diving, nature and island life than on a traditional resort experience.
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This makes it particularly interesting for divers who would rather stay somewhere small and personal than at one of Pemba's luxury resorts. Non-divers can also stay here, but we would especially consider it when diving is one of the main reasons for choosing Pemba.
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BEST FOR:
Divers, small-scale stays & a relaxed atmosphere
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COMBINING PEMBA WITH THE MAINLAND
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HOW MANY DAYS ON PEMBA?
3 NIGHTS // A short extension​
Possible when Pemba is one part of a longer journey, although the travel involved means we generally prefer not to make the stay too short.
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4–6 NIGHTS // A good balance
Enough time for the ocean, exploring part of the island and several days where you don't need to plan anything.
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7+ NIGHTS // Take it slowly
Particularly suitable if diving is a major reason for choosing Pemba or if you want a very quiet end to your holiday.
GETTING TO PEMBA ISLAND
BY AIR
Flying is the way we recommend travelling to Pemba.
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Pemba has domestic air connections with Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Tanga. Zanzibar to Pemba takes around 30 minutes, while other routings depend on the flight schedule.
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We check the actual connections when preparing your trip and build the itinerary around them.
BY FERRY
Ferries also connect Pemba with Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania. They take longer and are more dependent on sea conditions, so for most tailor-made international trips we prefer to use flights.
WHEN TO VISIT PEMBA ISLAND
JUNE – OCTOBER // Dry season
Generally the easiest period for beach days, exploring and combining Pemba with mainland Tanzania. Pemba's tourism information identifies June to October as the main dry season.
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DECEMBER – FEBRUARY // Excellent for diving
This period is particularly interesting for divers and snorkellers, with good underwater visibility and marine conditions.
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SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER // Clove harvest
An interesting period if you want to experience one of the crops most closely associated with Pemba.
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MARCH – MAY // Rainy season
Wetter, greener and quieter. This can suit slow travellers, but the weather is less predictable and some tourism services may be reduced.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
EXPECT LESS INFRASTRUCTURE
Pemba's limited tourism development is part of the attraction, but it also means fewer restaurants, shops, hotels and organised activities than Zanzibar.​
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CULTURE & CLOTHING
Pemba is predominantly Muslim. Beachwear is fine at hotels and beaches, but when exploring towns and villages we recommend covering shoulders and knees out of respect for local culture.​
MONEY
Carrying some Tanzanian shillings for smaller local expenses is useful. Outside larger hotels and towns, don't assume that cards or ATMs will always be the easiest option.​
ACTIVITIES
Diving and marine excursions are often best organised through your accommodation or local dive centre, allowing plans to follow weather and sea conditions.
ZANZIBAR MANDATORY TRAVEL INSURANCE
All foreign visitors travelling to Zanzibar are required to purchase the official Zanzibar Mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance. This requirement also applies to Pemba Island.
The insurance is required even if you already have your own international travel or medical insurance. It should be arranged through the official Zanzibar Insurance Corporation before travelling to the islands.
The current cost is USD 44 per adult and USD 22 per child, but requirements and fees can change, so we recommend checking the official information before travelling.
ZANZIBAR, MAFIA OR PEMBA?
Zanzibar, Mafia and Pemba can all be combined with a Tanzania journey, but they offer very different experiences. Choosing the right island depends much more on what you want from your stay than on which island is supposedly the “best”.
ZANZIBAR
THE MOST VARIETY​
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Zanzibar is the easiest choice if you want a combination of beach, culture, restaurants and activities. You can spend time in Stone Town, choose between several very different coastal areas and decide how active or relaxed you want your stay to be.
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It also has by far the largest choice of accommodation, from small B&Bs to luxury resorts.
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Zanzibar is more developed and touristy than Mafia or Pemba, but that also makes it the most versatile of the three islands.
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BEST FOR:
First-time visitors, beach + culture, restaurants, activities & plenty of choice
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PEMBA ISLAND
GREEN, REMOTE & QUIET​
Pemba is the greenest and in many ways the most remote-feeling of the three. Forest, clove plantations, villages and a largely undeveloped coastline make it feel very different from Zanzibar.
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​It is also an excellent diving destination, but the experience is not only about the ocean. Exploring the island's green interior and local life is part of what makes Pemba interesting.
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Accommodation is limited and several of the best properties are deliberately secluded, making Pemba particularly suitable for travellers who genuinely want peace and don't mind having very little around them.
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BEST FOR:
Diving, nature, quiet, remote stays & travellers who want very few tourists
MAFIA ISLAND
MARINE LIFE & SLOW ISLAND DAYS​
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Mafia is much smaller and quieter than Zanzibar, with tourism centred largely around the ocean. It is particularly interesting for diving, snorkelling, Mafia Island Marine Park and seasonal whale shark encounters.
There are fewer hotels and restaurants, and evenings are generally spent at your lodge rather than going out. That is part of the appeal.​
​Mafia works especially well if you want to finish a safari with several quiet days focused on nature and marine life.
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BEST FOR:
Whale sharks, diving, snorkelling, marine life & a small-scale island stay
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STILL NOT SURE?
For most first-time visitors, we would...
Choose Zanzibar if you want plenty of variety and freedom during your island stay.
Choose Pemba if you deliberately want to get away from the tourist areas and are looking for diving, nature and a more remote island experience.
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Choose Mafia if marine life, whale sharks or diving are the main attraction and you prefer somewhere much quieter.
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There is no wrong choice. The islands simply suit different travellers, and we can help you choose the one that fits best with the rest of your Tanzania trip.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is Pemba better than Zanzibar?
They suit very different travellers. Zanzibar offers far more choice in hotels, restaurants, beaches and activities. Pemba is greener, quieter and much less developed for tourism.
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Is Pemba good for diving?
Yes. Diving is one of the strongest reasons to choose Pemba, with coral reefs, steep underwater drop-offs and relatively few other divers.
How many nights should I stay?
We generally recommend around four to six nights. Divers or travellers specifically looking for a very slow island stay may want longer.
Can Pemba be combined with safari?
Yes. We can include Pemba at the end of a tailor-made safari or longer Tanzania journey and plan the domestic connections around the rest of your route.
Can I combine Pemba and Zanzibar?
Yes. Domestic flights connect Zanzibar and Pemba, making it possible to experience both islands in the same trip.
Is Pemba good for families?
It can be, particularly for families who enjoy nature, diving or quiet. Accommodation choice matters, however. Some properties have age restrictions; Fundu Lagoon, for example, does not accept children under 12. Fundu Lagoon
Is Pemba very touristy?
No. That is one of its main differences from Zanzibar. Tourism is much smaller in scale and much of the island remains focused on local life, farming and fishing rather than tourism.
PLAN YOUR TANZANIA & PEMBA HOLIDAY
Pemba is not the right island for everyone, and that is exactly why we like it.​
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If you are looking for diving, green landscapes, local island life and somewhere much quieter than Zanzibar, we can include Pemba in a tailor-made Tanzania journey and plan the flights, transfers and mainland route around it.