Pemba remains largely ‘undiscovered’ by travellers, and this is part of the island’s appeal. Pemba is often overshadowed by its larger neighbour, Unguja, even though Pemba is hillier and more verdant. Pemba is a hidden masterpiece filled with forests, mangrove swamps, hidden beaches, lagoons, and tidal sandbanks. It is littered with the ruins of mosques and tombs, reminders of the Arab domination of the island in the 17th century.
Pemba’s pristine beauty has been preserved so well due to a lack of awareness about the island. There are few towns and hotels on Pemba, making this destination one for the intrepid traveller. Known as ‘clove island’ due to being the world’s main exporter of cloves (70% of all the world’s cloves are grown in Pemba) the island is also the centre for ju ju traditions of medicine, giving it a reputation as the world’s ‘magic’ island.
Spice farms
Pemba is the ‘Clove Island,’ famous as a major world exporter of cloves and other spices like cardamom and vanilla. Visitors can tour a spice farm to learn about cultivation, see cloves turned into essential oils, and shop for authentic spices.
Scuba diving
Pemba Island offers some of Africa’s best scuba diving, famous for magnificent underwater walls teeming with turtles, reef sharks, and big game fish. Best sites are on the west coast, offering excellent visibility year-round outside of the rainy seasons.
Deep-sea fishing
Deep sea fishing in Pemba Island offers half or full-day adventures, where the proximity to the Pemba Channel guarantees a good chance of hooking big game fish like marlin, tuna, or wahoo for a fresh barbecue dinner.
Kidike flying fox sanctuary
Located near Kangagani village on Pemba Island, the Kidike Sanctuary protects a colony of 4,000 endemic Pemba flying foxes. Visitors can watch these large bats hanging and occasionally flying from a designated viewing platform.
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