Where to Stay at Pemba Island : Pemba Island, which is only 80 km northeast of Zanzibar, is less developed than its southern cousin and has unmatched natural beauty. Pemba, which is only a short flight from Stone Town airport, enthrals tourists with its patchwork of forests, mangroves, undiscovered beaches, and ancient ruins from the 17th-century Arab occupation. Though it is a favourite location for honeymooners, Pemba Island is one of the lesser-known islands within the Zanzibar Archipelago. Unquestionably one of the most breathtaking locations on the earth is this emerald island. This is the ideal location if you’re seeking relaxation, serenity, and a romantic safari tour ambiance. The world’s top dive spot and a peaceful retreat. We’re going to list a handful of the relatively limited lodging options available in Pemba.
Constance Aiyanna Pemba Island
Aiyanna, from the upscale Constance brand, is the newest addition to Pemba Island. It is brand new, extremely gleaming, and equipped with all the modern conveniences and luxury (including a strong air conditioner!) one could ask for an exceptional, off-the-beaten-path Indian Ocean trip. It is located right next to the Manta and offers a nice beach as well as a variety of fun activities. It’s also wonderful food.
Pemba Island Underwater Hotel
Located somewhat offshore, the Manta Resort features a unique underwater room where guests can spend the night submerged with the fish or stargazing from the top deck. If you’re not afraid of confined confines and don’t get sea sick easily, it’s a favourite choice for newlyweds! Visit our blog on the renowned underwater bedroom to have a little understanding of this very unique experience that Pemba offers.
Funduu Lagoon Lodge Pemba Island
The other choice, which is more expensive, is Fundu Lagoon, where tented cabins are scattered across a beachside hillside. While this isn’t the greatest beach on the island, you can take a boat to Misali Island, which has a gorgeous beach with excellent diving and snorkelling.
Manta Resort Pemba Island Zanzibar
We only offer three lodges on Pemba. The first is The Manta, a reasonably priced, albeit simple, hotel located in the island’s north with access to some excellent diving. Though a little rough around the edges and rather secluded, the lodge is a lot of fun. However, the beach is arguably the greatest on the island.
Misali Island
Misali Island, surrounded by gorgeous coral reefs and crystal-clear waters, offers some of the best diving in East Africa. Snorkelling is equally amazing and conveniently accessible from the beach. Turtles that are nesting on the island prefer the beaches on its western side, whereas Baba Bab Beach, located on the north-eastern shore, has good sand and a tiny ranger centre (albeit there isn’t much information there).This is one of the busiest locations on Pemba Island, providing the best adventure activities with fewer visitors so you can fully enjoy the experiences. The island is included in the Pemba Channel Conservation Area, which spans the whole west coast of Pemba. The entry fee is required of all beachgoers, snorkelers, and divers. Although local fisherman utilise the island regularly, there are no permanent settlements, and tourists are not allowed to sleep there. There are caves inland from the seashore that are thought to be inhabited by ancestor ghosts.
The island is included in the Pemba Channel Conservation Area, which spans the whole west coast of Pemba. The entry fee is required of all beachgoers, snorkelers, and divers. Although local fisherman utilise the island regularly, there are no permanent settlements, and tourists are not allowed to sleep there. There are caves inland from the beaches that are thought to be haunted by ancestral spirits. Although you may schedule a boat from Wesha to Misali Island, it’s simpler and not that much more expensive to plan trips here to take in this stunning region. Please contact our sales staff to plan a fantastic trip here. They will put together the best of Misali Island for you in an all-inclusive package, so you can start exploring this incredible place right away.
Ngezi Forest Reserve
The dense and incredibly beautiful Ngezi Forest Reserve, located in far north-eastern Pemba, is as near to a rainforest as you can find on Zanzibar and is one of the last remaining sections of the indigenous forest that formerly covered much of the island. Enclosed within a 1476-hectare protected area, the forest boasts a true double canopy, with vines serving as swings for boisterous vervet monkeys. Situated on the primary dirt road leading to the Kigomasha Peninsula, 5km west of Konde, lies the entrance gate and visitor centre.
Two nature trails wind through the forest from the visitor centre, and off-trail strolling is permitted. There must always be a naturalist guide present, some of whom can speak English. The Joshi Trail, which takes around one hour to complete, is popular with tourists because it offers superb views of birds, red colobus monkeys, and Pemba flying foxes, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. You can still see the remnants of the sawmill that was located here until the 1960s. A more extensive choice is the Taufiki Trail, which travels four to five hours north through the forest to reach Vumawimbi Beach. From there, you can either hike back through the settlements that border the reserve or arrange for a lift in a local pickup.
Specialised walks for bat and birdwatching are also offered. Night trips can be scheduled to view bush babies and to allow observant birdwatchers to spot the unique Pemba scops owl (Otus pembaensis). On the way to the beach hotels on the Kigomasha Peninsula, vehicles travel through the Ngezi Forest. Unless you stop in the forest, there is no transit fare. If you don’t have a car, you can take a boda-boda (motorbike taxi) or an unofficial taxi from Konde to go to the visitor centre. Please get in contact with our sales team to plan a fantastic trip here. We will put up a package that includes everything you need to see the finest of Ngezi Forest Reserve, so you can start exploring this incredible place right away.
