Pemba Island
Zanzibar's wilder northern sister. World-class diving, no crowds, and the highest clove production on Earth.
The Pemba Island at a Glance
The scale and character of this destination, briefly.
An Pemba Island Primer
Everything worth knowing before you visit.
Pemba is what Zanzibar was 30 years ago — green, quiet, largely agricultural (cloves, the island's economic mainstay), with beaches to itself.
The diving here is Tanzania's best: the Pemba Channel has 50m+ visibility and unbroken reef walls dropping to 200m. Fewer hotels, fewer tourists, deeper immersion in traditional Swahili life.
What You'll See
The species you can realistically expect in Pemba Island — with honest context on season and where.
Inside Pemba Island
The distinct areas and experiences within Pemba Island.
The diving
Pemba's western side (the deep channel side) is a world-class dive destination. Manta, tuna, napoleon wrasse, sharks. The underwater topography is dramatic — vertical walls, caves, swim-throughs.
Fundu Lagoon
The legendary eco-luxury lodge on Pemba's south. Accessible only by boat. A proper bolt-hole.
Ngezi Forest
Rare primary forest in the north of the island. Pemba flying fox, Pemba green pigeon — species that exist nowhere else on Earth.
Accommodations in Pemba Island
From mid-range classics to ultra-luxury tented camps. Swipe to compare.
Ultra-luxury
$1,480 / night
Eighteen tented suites on a mangrove lagoon, accessible only by boat. The island's legendary eco-luxury property. Diving, spa, total seclusion.
Premium
$780 / night
Seventeen rooms on the island's northern tip. Home of the famous Underwater Room — a room submerged 4m below the surface.
Premium
$590 / night
Thirty suites with plunge pools, excellent spa, quieter end of the island. Easy access to the northern dive sites.
From the Field
A visual sample of what Pemba Island offers.
What You'll Do
The experiences we build into every Pemba Island itinerary.
Pemba Channel drops 200m — vertical wall diving with 50m visibility. Sharks, tuna, napoleon wrasse, huge schools of reef fish.
Dives from $80ppRare primary forest in the north of the island. Pemba flying fox, Pemba green pigeon — species that exist nowhere else on Earth.
Half-day · $40ppTraditional Zanzibari dhow, sail out at sunset, drinks on board. The classic way to end a Pemba day.
2 hours · $45pp
Cycle through clove plantations and traditional villages. Pemba is agricultural — 70% of world clove production. See a clove harvest in season.
Half-day · $35ppWhen to Visit Pemba Island
Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb
Practical Details
The key info for fitting this destination into your trip.
Safaris That Include Pemba Island
Our signature trips that feature Pemba Island on the itinerary.
Zanzibar
The Spice Island. Turquoise water, Stone Town's labyrinth, and the archetypal African beach.
Mafia Island
The whale shark island. Tanzania's southernmost archipelago and its most protected marine park.
Bush & Beach
Five days on safari, four on the Indian Ocean. The quintessential Tanzania combination.