Pemba Island
Zanzibar’s green, hilly sister island: clove farms, forest, quiet beaches and some of the best diving in East Africa, with very few visitors.
At a glance
- Getting there
- A short flight from Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam
- Best for
- Diving and snorkelling, quiet beaches, island life
- Best time
- June to October, and December to February
Why go
Pemba is part of the Zanzibar archipelago but feels a world away from Unguja’s busy beaches. The island is hilly and green, covered in clove and spice farms, and edged with mangroves, lagoons and sandbanks. Off the coast, the deep Pemba Channel brings walls of coral, turtles and big fish, which makes Pemba one of East Africa’s best places to dive.
Highlights
- Diving and snorkelling on Pemba’s reefs
- Clove and spice farms
- Ngezi Forest
- Pemba flying foxes, found only here
- Quiet beaches and island villages
The conservation story
Pemba’s reefs and forests hold species found nowhere else, such as the Pemba flying fox, a large fruit bat that came close to extinction and has recovered thanks to community protection. Marine conservation areas, including around Misali Island, protect the reefs that local fishing families depend on. Choosing responsible dive operators and community-run visits helps keep these efforts going.
How your visit helps. The park and conservation fees in your trip price go to the authority that protects this place, paying for rangers, anti-poaching patrols and park upkeep. We hire local guides and staff and use locally owned suppliers wherever we can.
A trip built around Pemba
We do not have a set itinerary here yet, so we plan each visit around you: how long you have, how you like to travel, and what you most want to see. Pemba is easy to add to a Zanzibar holiday or the end of a safari.
When to go
The dry seasons, roughly June to October and December to February, are best for diving and beach days. The long rains, around March to May, bring heavy showers.
Where to stay
We choose your lodges and camps to suit your budget and travel style, from simple tented camps to luxury lodges, and name them in your personal itinerary and quote.
Ready to plan your visit to Pemba?
Tell us your dates and how you like to travel, and we will send you a personal itinerary and quote. No obligation to book.
Adventure That Gives Back
Private safaris, treks and beach holidays across Tanzania, planned by a Tanzanian team.
Forest Hill, Kihimbwa St, Morogoro, Tanzania
Talk to us
WhatsApp +255 622 191 154
ecolegacy@ecolegacy-africa.com
★ 5.0 on Google, from 2 reviews
Tourism licence No. 035908
Insured with Sanlam Allianz