Pemba IslandAbout Pemba Island
Pemba Island is the northern major island of the Zanzibar Archipelago, characterised by lush hills, dense forest pockets and fertile soils that support spice cultivation. The island has a quieter tourism profile than Unguja and is noted for productive offshore reefs and traditional agricultural villages.
Visitors to Pemba typically focus on diving, snorkeling and visiting rural spice farms; the island’s towns are smaller and less tourist-oriented than those on Unguja. Natural highlights include coastal mangroves, fringing coral reefs and interior forest reserves such as Ngezi.
Historically Pemba has been an important clove-producing area within the Indian Ocean spice trade, and agriculture remains an economic mainstay. The island sits north of Unguja and is part of Tanzania’s Pemba North and Pemba South administrative areas.
- Agriculture and landscape: Pemba is hillier and more vegetated than Unguja and has long been noted for spice cultivation, particularly cloves, which remain an important crop on the island.
- Diving and reefs: The island’s offshore reefs are less developed for mass tourism and are prized by divers for cleaner, often less-crowded sites compared with Unguja.
What to See#
- Ngezi Forest Reserve: Ngezi Forest Reserve is a dense, moist forest on the northern end of the island that supports endemic plant species and forest birds.
- Chake-Chake town: Chake-Chake is one of the principal towns and transport hubs on the island, with ferry and road connections to other parts of Pemba.
Best Time to Visit Pemba Island
Best visited June-October for diving; Pemba is quieter year-round than Unguja and suits travelers seeking remote reefs.
Weather & Climate near Pemba Island
Pemba Island's climate is classified as Tropical Monsoon - Tropical Monsoon climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 20°C to 31°C. Abundant rainfall (1409 mm/year), wettest in April with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Excellent | 23° - 31° | 27° | 101 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 3.2 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 12.3h |
| February | Very Good | 23° - 31° | 30° | 82 mm | some cloud | 79% | 2.7 m/s | 2.8 extreme | 12.2h |
| March | Good | 23° - 31° | 30° | 148 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 2.7 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 12.0h |
| April | Good | 23° - 30° | 26° | 283 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 2.9 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 11.9h |
| May | Very Good | 22° - 28° | 25° | 238 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 3.4 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.8h |
| June | Excellent | 21° - 28° | 25° | 72 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 3.5 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.7h |
| July | Excellent | 20° - 27° | 24° | 45 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 4.0 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.7h |
| August | Ideal | 20° - 27° | 24° | 24 mm | some cloud | 77% | 4.1 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 11.8h |
| September | Ideal | 20° - 28° | 24° | 27 mm | some cloud | 78% | 4.1 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 12.0h |
| October | Excellent | 21° - 29° | 25° | 75 mm | some cloud | 78% | 3.6 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 12.1h |
| November | Very Good | 22° - 30° | 26° | 165 mm | some cloud | 78% | 3.0 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 12.3h |
| December | Excellent | 23° - 31° | 27° | 149 mm | some cloud | 79% | 3.2 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 12.3h |
How to Get to Pemba Island
Pemba is reached by flights from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar (Unguja) to Pemba Airport (Pemba-Karume) and by ferry services from Unguja; internal transfers arranged by lodges are typical.
Tips for Visiting Pemba Island
- Pemba offers excellent diving and is less developed than Unguja; bring cash for island-only services.
- Visit Ngezi Forest Reserve for endemic birds and a very different landscape from coastal coral fringe.
- Arrange boat transfers and dive operators in advance as services are more limited than on Unguja.