Pemba Island : One of the most gorgeous spots on earth is this immaculate green island. This is the place to go if you want serenity, rest, and a romantic setting. A peaceful haven with some of the best diving in the world. Forests, mangrove swamps, secret beaches, lagoons, and tidal sandbanks make Pemba a hidden masterpiece. Bird Life International has named Pemba as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of Pemba green pigeons, Pemba scops owls, Pemba white-eyes, and Pemba sunbirds.
Due to awareness about the island, Pemba’s unspoiled beauty has been preserved so well. Pemba has few towns and hotels, making it a destination for the adventurous traveler. While Zanzibar Island is recognized for its flat, sand-covered terrain, Pemba Island is noted for its cloves, mangoes, and hillocks covered in fruit and spice plants. The whole of the coastline is littered with traditional dhows, and fishing is an important aspect of Pemba’s culture.
Pemba’s culture has been impacted by Arab traders from Oman and the original inhabitants who have resided on the island for generations, and according to the Tanzania census of 2012, it has a population of 406,808 people. Pemba has long been known as the “Green Island” because of its fertile soil, which produces coconut, bananas, and cassava.
Because of its sheer drop-offs, undisturbed marine life, and colorful coral reefs, the island is surrounded by warm, sub-tropical waters that are known for some of the best diving and snorkeling in the archipelago. Pemba Island provides a more real island experience, with a tourism industry that is not as developed as Zanzibar‘s, making it ideal for those looking to capture the archipelago’s unspoiled natural beauty.
PEMBA CULTURE
Pemba Island offers a variety of cultural and environmental activities. Traveling across Pemba, you’re struck by how many rural agricultural and fishing settlements there are. Large swaths of cloves sit dry in the sun during harvest, infusing the air with their smell. Mangoes in six-foot-high piles line the roadsides, waiting to be trucked to the Mkoani port and subsequently sent to the mainland. Women in vivid kangas tend crops in emerald fields, while wooden pirogues and dhows glide gracefully across the turquoise seas. It’s a tranquil and pleasant island with enough to see and do.
WHEN TO VISIT PEMBA ISLAND?
The rainy season lasts from April through May, Between November and December, the rainy season is shorter. The visibility for diving is substantially poorer during these seasons, but there are also fewer malaria-carrying mosquitos. Because it is in the dry season, July through October is the best time to visit this island.
GETTING TO AND FROM PEMBA
While Pemba is a little off the main path, there are a few ways to get there. Coastal Air or Auric Air charter flights are the most popular ways to arrive on the island. The majority of visitors fly from Unguja, which takes only 30 minutes. Flying from other locations in Tanzania, such as Dar es Salaam and Arusha, is also an option. Traveling by ferry from Zanzibar to Pemba is possible, although the voyage is difficult and sometimes dangerous.
GETTING AROUND PEMBA
Many sites are inaccessible due to Pemba’s lack of a primary tarmac road that passes through the island’s center. Bicycles, which can be rented or organized by your Tanzania tour operator, are one of the most popular means of transportation. Buses and dala dalas are also available for those who cannot cycle (they are simple buses that only leave when they are full and do not have a set timetable). Both alternatives cover the major highways connecting towns and villages.
TOURISM ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTION IN PEMBA ISLAND
Pemba Island may not be as well-known as other Tanzanian cities and attractions, but don’t be misled. Pemba Island is a modest, but lovely, up-and-coming tourist location worth visiting. Some of the unique attractions, activities to do, and places to see in this secret area will astound you. You might want to return sometimes to Pemba Island to take a break and unwind.
The coral reefs that surround the entire island provide a spectacular playground for snorkelers and divers, and are one of Pemba Island’s most well-known and well-known tourist attractions. Marlins, barracudas, clown fish, turtles, sharks, dolphins, and even whales can all be seen. Apart from diving and snorkeling, this green island offers a wide choice of tourism activities, including kayaking through the mangrove jungle, cultural village walks, dolphin safaris, plantation visits, and wind surfing, as well as a romantic sunset ride on a traditional sailing boat.
Breathtaking Pemba Island scuba diving
The diving near Zanzibar’s Pemba Island is nothing short of spectacular. Pemba is one of the best dive destinations in the world because of the unspoiled coral reefs that surround the entire island. With one of the healthiest coral reefs in the Indian Ocean, Pemba, Tanzania is the ideal site to begin your diving trip.
WHERE SHOULD YOU STAY IN PEMBA ISLAND?
Because there are few hotels on the island that are of varying quality, you should pick your lodging carefully. Most hotels provide tourist activities. However, you should double-check their offerings before booking because it is critical to select a hotel that provides activities that you are interested in. Alternatively, you might request that your tour company make the arrangements for you. The following are some of the places where you could spend the night when visiting this peaceful island.
Fundu Lagoon
A luxurious boutique hotel that specializes in “barefoot luxury.” It offers a private diving center and 18 safari-style tented bungalows, some with direct beach access and plunge pools. The views of the Indian Ocean from each house are breathtaking. The hotel boasts a spa, three bars, and a fantastic restaurant, making it ideal for honeymooners and couples.
The Aiyana Resort
A huge luxury hotel featuring 30 minimalist villas on a private beach. The hotel features an infinity pool and spa, as well as more active sports like diving and golf on its 18-hole golf course. This resort is ideal for families, with a dedicated kids’ club, but it also hosts fantastic weddings and honeymoons.
The Manta Resort (Pemba Island Underwater Hotel)
The Manta Resort is one of the island’s most opulent accommodations. The Underwater Room, a floating platform in the midst of the ocean with a submerged, glass-walled bedroom offering breath-taking views of the underwater life, is its main feature. Sandbank excursions, deep sea fishing, local school tours, catch-and-release fishing, kayak Tanzania safaris, and snorkeling are all available at the lodge. It has a separate diving center where you may take diving courses.
