If you’re looking for a real-life paradise, you should find Pemba on your map. Think: lush hills, forests, plantations, amazing snow-like white sand beaches, and serene small towns. This is Pemba, the green paradise of Zanzibar.
Pemba has three major towns: Chake Chake (where the airport is), Mkoani (where the ferry port is), and Wete, which is close to Ngezi Forest and the amazing beaches on the northern tip of the island.
Pemba is still mostly untouched by tourism. There are some hotels, some of which are listed below. There are high-end hotels with excellent service and several in-town stays at very affordable prices.
Walking around towns like Wete is a pleasure, especially after the more crowded beach towns of Zanzibar. Since tourism is not yet a major source of income, shopping is stress-free, with far less bartering. Just note that town shops close early, as the late afternoon is family time in local homes.
The main income for Pemba is the cultivation of cloves, which you can sometimes even smell in the air.
Pemba Island Tours
These tours start and finish on Pemba Island. Note that we don’t recommend taking them as day tours from Zanzibar (Unguja). Instead, we encourage you to stay at least one night on beautiful Pemba Island.
All tours can be paid for and booked online. Full refund before 24 hours and always free rescheduling. Ask for tour prices, since they vary based on where you’re staying and how many participants there are.
Ole Village Tour
Ruins, cooking, fishing, handicrafts, and fruit bats. This is a full day on Pemba Island with Kidike Environmental Conservation Club, visiting the village of Mini Ole. Villagers will show you their traditions and customs of daily life.
Full Day • Private Tour • From $120
Misali Island
Misali’s treasure is its rich ecosystem, which boasts 42 types of corals, over 300 species of fish, a rare subspecies of vervet monkeys, rarely seen coconut crabs, and a nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles. Snorkeling here is breathtaking!
Full Day • Private Tour • From $150
Ngezi Forest
Beautiful Ngezi National Park is a place where you can find species such as monkeys, bush babies, fruit bats, all different kinds of birds, flowers, spices, and natural lakes. This is the only large patch of tropical forest located on the northwestern corner of Pemba.
2 Hours • Private Tour • From $120
Hotels on Pemba Island
All reservations made through us are the same price as you would get directly from the hotel. No booking fee added.
The Manta Resort
This luxury hotel is found in the very northern tip of Pemba, by the Ngezi Forest and best beaches.
Price: High-end
Pemba Lodge
This ecologically constructed and run lodge offers luxury accommodation in the most southern Pemba, Shamiani.
Price: Mid-range
Misali Sunset Beach
This hotel has an extremely convenient location near to Chake Chake and beautiful Misali Island.
Price: Mid-range
The Annex to Sharook Gusethouse
This guesthouse in Wete is amazing, especially at sunset. The place is a combination of town and jungle.
Price: Economic
