What to do at Pemba Island

Pemba Island is part of Tanzania’s Zanzibar Archipelago, off the coast of East Africa. It’s known for its lush, green hills and clove plantations. The Pemba Channel, with its coral reefs and abundant marine life, separates the island from mainland Tanzania. The main town, Chake Chake, has a ruined 18th-century fort with a museum. Offshore, Misali Island is home to the Fischer’s turaco, a colorful rare bird. Some of the adventure activities includes; Sea Fishing Enjoy a day out deep-sea fishing on the 34 ft sport fishing boat, Lunatic, an experience you will never forget. The day fisshing will take you out to the famed North Pemba Channel fishing grounds, where a wide range of game fish species await under the clear blue waters (Striped Marlin, Black Marlin, Blues, Sail fish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo and more). Your fishing adventure will start minutes from the mooring and continues right up to your return with packed lunch, no time wasted running out and back. All fishing tackle / gear is provided, and refreshments/snacks will be provided throughout the day. You can as well head for a traditional fishing and casual fishing as well, which can still be arranged for you. Beaches & Wildlife Due to its protective mangrove forests, Pemba has fewer accessible beaches than Zanzibar. However, lodges and tour operators offer boat excursions to the coves that litter the island’s calmer east coast, where stretches of white or pink sand are devoid of tourists and washed by gin clear water. Vumawimbi Beach is probably Pemba’s most famous. It’s located in the extreme northwest of the island on the Kigomasha Peninsula and its secluded shores look like a postcard from paradise brought vividly to life. Companies like Coral Tours also run day trips to Misali Island, an uninhabited haven off Pemba’s central west coast famous for its beautiful beaches, premium diving and shallow reefs perfect for snorkeling.

On land, wildlife enthusiasts should pay a visit to the Kidike Flying Fox Sanctuary, home to approximately 4,000 endemic Pemba flying foxes. With a wingspan of 5.3 feet (1.6 meters), this enormous fruit bat is particularly impressive when flying in tandem with hundreds of its roost-mates above the forest canopy. You can also see flying foxes on the walking trails of Ngezi Forest Reserve. This untouched tract of indigenous forest provides a safe harbor for red colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys and a host of bird species including the much sought-after, endemic Pemba scops owl. All walks in the reserve must be accompanied by a local naturalist. Classic diving destination. To talk of Pemba and not mention the diving would be heinous as it offers some of the best along the entire east African coastline with a range of levels, from beginner to advanced. One of the best sites that we have heard about (but, unfortunately not yet dived) is a pinnacle dive out in the Pemba channel where it is possible to see schooling hammerheads…don’t worry, the never come in around the island! Dominated by pinnacles and magnificent submarine walls, the island’s underwater topography provides a natural habitat for all manner of sea creatures including turtles, reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse and big gamefish. Strong current is as much a hallmark of Pemba diving as excellent visibility and as such it’s best for experienced divers. Cultural Attractions There are many ways to experience Pemba’s rich culture. Join a village tour to learn how rural communities cook, fish and manufacture the goods they need to survive; or visit the old fort and slave port of the capital, Chake Chake, on a city tour. Pemba’s biggest export is cloves and there are more than 3.5 million clove trees growing on the island’s spice farms. You can visit the farms or discover how the clove stems are turned into essential oil at the ZSTC Clove Oil Distillery.