Pemba Island
Description: An island just North of Mainland Zanzibar, Pemba is far-removed from the relative hustle bustle of Zanzibar. It is also known as the green island because it is lush with plant life.
There are often only a few dozen tourists on the entire island. Attractions include an ancient forest, archaeological ruins from the earliest Swahili civilizations, a few nice beaches and incredible scuba diving.
Location: Just Northeast of Zanzibar’s mainland, reachable by short flight from Zanzibar
Things 2 Do: Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Boat Tours, Visiting Ruins, Visiting Forest, Fishing, Big Game Fishing, Kayaking, Sailing
Time: Spend at least 3 nights.
Animals: Pemba flying fox, marsh mongoose, a small variety of primates including the endemic Pemba vervet monkey, and interesting birdlife.
Accommodations
$$$$
Manta Resort
Catamaran Julia
$$$$$
Fundu Lagoon
“Excellent staff. Casey was extremely responsive in planning the trip. I had certain things I did and didn’t want to do, he tailored our experience accordingly (and with keeping our budget in mind). The trip was perfectly proportioned, mostly because of him. Our guide on the ground, Wilfred, spent 12 days with us. We couldn’t have asked for someone better. We became comfortable companions, easily sitting together in silence over long drives or telling stories during dinner. He didn’t wait for us to ask something, he anticipated our needs. When he saw we didn’t finish our lunch boxes, he asked us what we liked and didn’t like. He made sure to relay the information to the hotels and we finished out lunches going forward. He saw I had an itch to get into the Wildebeest migration. Even though it was far away and our chances of finding it could be small, he made sure it happened. The staff set everything apart, especially when we compared it to our tour companies we saw in the area.”