GUIDE ON PEMBA ISLAND IN TANZANIA

A beautiful, verdant jewel set in the shimmering romantic azure of the Indian Ocean is the Pemba Island dubbed "El Huthera" or The Green by early Omani sailors. Although, located to the north of Zanzibar, a mere 50 miles (80 kilometers) away, Pemba has managed to retain her laid-back charm, unlike the bustle of her larger sister island. She is still unspoiled by modern civilization, and here you will find very few modes of transport.

There are limited accommodations here for your barefoot beach vacation, and the best night-time activity is to fall asleep underneath the twinkling heavens and to the scents of cloves augmented by the cool ocean breezes while being serenaded by the calls of resident fauna, from vervet monkeys, bushbabies to tropical birds. Pemba Island has a hilly landscape and is densely covered with vegetation, another contrast to Zanzibar.



Spend your days while on your Tanzania island holiday in this verdant expanse by exploring the Ngezi Forest Reserve with its unusual denizens or the tiny market bazaar festooned with exotic fruits like durian, fenesi and shoki-shoki. Bite into one and savor its taste to the sound of friendly amusement from the vendors as they watch your reactions to unfamiliar tastes. Sit with them a while and they will be happy to share with you the interesting history of this much-coveted island.

As you will learn on your day tour of Pemba with AfricanMecca, it is said that in the 17th century, the Sultan of Muscat, present-day Oman, was entirely captivated by the beauty of the isles and chose to move his rule to Zanzibar so he could control the Spice Islands. The coming of the colonial British Empire sowed the seeds to separate the natives of Zanzibar and sovereigns of Muscat allowing them to be protectorate rulers of the archipelago.



Arab dhows with their white triangular sails would be seen in the waters of the ocean carrying cloves, textiles, silver and wood between Arabian Peninsula, India and the Spice Islands. It is not difficult to imagine their charm because you can see them even today sailing between the Wete township on Pemba and Shimoni in Kenya or even all the way to Mozambique. But the most fascinating aspect of Pemba Island is clearly its awesome beaches with their powdery soft pristine white sands and amazingly clear waters.

Here, when on your dream marine trip with AfricanMecca, you can explore the stunning underwater kingdom of colorful coral reefs and their even more vibrant inhabitants, each more enchanting than the other. Or simply laze on the sands soaking up the warm tropical sun with cool drinks in hand. You are unlikely to be disturbed because there are very few beach visitors traveling on Pemba Island (read more on when is the best time to go).



You could spend your entire trip in complete tranquility reveling in solitude thanks to the island’s scant population. The Pembians have a quaint Swahili culture having evolved untouched by outside influences. They are fiercely protective of it and seem to resist all attempts of modernization. This spirit has succeeded in preserving the storybook charm of the island in which there are seafaring masters, marooned sailors and whispers of treasure hidden in the coastal valleys and hilly prominences. Natural treasures that can be uncovered by following ancient forested trails that lead down to the turquoise seashore of the Indian Ocean.

Read More On Reasons On Why You Should Visit Pemba